Three teen hockey players from the Southern Alberta Mustangs died Monday morning after their car collided with a semi truck on Highway 2 in Stavely, just an hour south of Calgary. JJ Wright, Cameron Casorso, and Caden Fine, aged 17 to 18, were on their way to practice when the crash occurred, leaving families, teammates, and the community reeling. Authorities are investigating the collision, while local hockey programs and supporters struggle to comprehend the sudden loss of the young athletes.
The crash occurred at an intersection with Highway 2 in Stavely, about an hour south of Calgary. According to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the accident involved a northbound semi truck and an eastbound passenger vehicle. The truck driver, a 40-year-old man from Stavely, suffered minor injuries. Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the collision.
Smith posted a photo of the three victims’ hockey jerseys and sticks, expressing condolences to the families and the entire Alberta hockey community. “The whole Alberta hockey family is standing with you in sorrow and in prayer,” she wrote. First responders and medical teams rushed to the scene, but the teens could not be saved.
The deaths have sent shockwaves through the hockey world, both in Alberta and in Kamloops, British Columbia, where two of the victims grew up playing in the Kamloops Minor Hockey Association. The association called the losses “heartbreaking” and expressed solidarity with the Southern Alberta Mustangs. Fans, teammates, and local communities are grappling with the sudden loss of these young athletes who had dreams and futures ahead of them.
A GoFundMe has been established to support the families with funeral costs and day-to-day expenses, aiming to raise $28,000. As of Monday evening, nearly $8,000 had already been donated. The fundraiser used the same image of the victims’ hockey jerseys and sticks shared by Premier Smith, making the impact deeply personal for supporters.
Authorities have not released additional details about the cause of the crash. The incident highlights the real dangers young athletes face traveling to and from sports events, a concern that resonates far beyond this single tragedy. Communities across Alberta and Canada are mourning and questioning how such accidents can be prevented in the future.
Premier Smith’s statement reinforced the communal grief, emphasizing that the loss extends beyond the families to teammates, coaches, billet families, and the entire hockey community. “In the days ahead, I know Albertans will wrap these families and this team in love and support as they navigate a pain no one should ever have to bear,” she wrote.
As investigations continue, local residents and hockey organizations are left processing the sudden deaths, supporting one another through shock, and rallying around the victims’ families. The tragedy serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerability of young athletes and the fragility of life on the road.
