'This Is The Best Day Of My Life': Influencer Surprises Brothers With Special Needs With Stanley Cup Tickets

June 13, 2025

This uplifting story takes place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

Two Edmonton brothers received the surprise of a lifetime—and their reaction has touched millions.

special needs brothers hockey game MDmotivator
Davin and Eric with Wayne Gretzky @mdmotivator

Davin and Eric Stitzenberger, both living with special needs, are devoted fans of the Edmonton Oilers. But despite their love for the team, they had never been to a hockey game. That changed last Friday, thanks to a heartwarming act of kindness from popular influencer Zach Dereniowski, better known online as MdMotivator.

After hearing about Zach’s inspiring good deeds, the boys' mother reached out to share their story—and Zach showed up at a local dollar store with a surprise they’ll never forget. In a now-viral video, Zach presents the brothers with two tickets to Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Finals, along with $1,000 cash to use however they like.

Their reaction? Pure joy.

In a moment that captured hearts, the brothers immediately handed the $1,000 to a stranger in need. Then, with beaming faces, they announced the big news over the store’s intercom: “We’re going to the Stanley Cup!”

Marine, the store manager on duty, was moved to tears. “Seeing what was happening was so amazing I wanted to cry! It is incredible to see what they experienced that night! Thank you for making their day—but ours at the same time!”

The surprises didn’t stop there. The tickets were donated by none other than hockey legend Wayne Gretzky, who met Davin and Eric at the game and even signed a jersey for them.

“This is the best day of my life,” Davin says in the emotional video, which has now garnered millions of views and an outpouring of support.

One commenter summed it up best: “This is the best video on the internet!”

Watch the full video here: