Southern Alberta Mustangs Hockey Tragedy: Father Remembers Son JJ Wright
Chris Wright, father of 18-year-old hockey player JJ Wright, is sharing heartfelt memories of his son following a devastating collision that claimed three young lives. The tragedy occurred on Monday, February 2nd, near Stavely, approximately 100 kilometres south of Calgary.
A Father's Early Memories on the Ice
Chris Wright vividly recalls taking his four-year-old son skating at a Kamloops, British Columbia arena before the hockey season began. "I'm holding his little hands and I'd let him go of him, and he'd fall. And he tried to take a step and he'd fall," Wright remembers. "We were out there for probably half an hour, and he's just going to be bruised."
When Wright asked his young son if he wanted to stop, JJ's response revealed his character: "I just got to keep trying." That determination would define JJ's approach to hockey and life throughout his teenage years.
The Tragic Collision That Claimed Three Young Lives
JJ Wright was one of three Southern Alberta Mustangs players who died when their vehicle collided with a semi-truck hauling gravel. The other victims included teammates Cameron Casorso, also 18 and from Kamloops, and 17-year-old Caden Fine from Birmingham, Alabama. All three were declared dead at the scene while on their way to practice.
From Martial Arts to Hockey Dreams
Chris Wright described his son as a kind-hearted young man who loved sports but hated school. JJ had spent seven years training in martial arts before the pandemic forced the closure of his training facility. This disruption led to a renewed focus on hockey, with Wright embracing the "hockey dad" role.
"We kind of got serious about hockey, and I started doing the hockey dad thing, driving him around western Canada to go to tryouts and camps," Wright explained. What began as house league play evolved into a serious pursuit, with hockey becoming the primary bonding activity between father and son.
The Bond Forged Through Hockey
For the Wright family, hockey represented more than just a sport. "That was our thing together, and it enabled us to spend a great deal of time with one another, which was amazing," Wright shared. "And we bonded even closer. He and I were always really close."
JJ, who played forward, told his father he "just wanted to play real hockey." While Chris Wright acknowledges that few players make it to the NHL, he never discouraged his son's aspirations. "I never said that to him. He just wanted to take it as far as he could," he said.
Finding the Right Team in Southern Alberta
The Southern Alberta Mustangs spotted JJ Wright at an Edmonton camp and extended an offer. Despite having other opportunities, the Wright family felt strongly about the Mustangs organization. "We really liked this team, and although the end was tragic, this was 100 per cent the right choice to bring him here," Wright affirmed.
A Lasting Connection and Moving Forward
Chris Wright plans to maintain a connection with the Mustangs organization and visit Stavely in the future. He will attend a Mustangs fundraiser game on Sunday evening and has offered to assist the team however possible, suggesting he could scout players in British Columbia.
The tragedy has left a profound impact on the hockey community, particularly in Kamloops where JJ Wright was born and raised. His father's memories paint a picture of a determined young athlete whose love for hockey created special bonds and lasting memories, even as his journey was tragically cut short.
