Southern Alberta Hockey Community Reeling After Tragic Crash Claims Three Junior Players
The Southern Alberta hockey community is grappling with profound grief and shock following a devastating vehicle collision that claimed the lives of three teenage junior hockey players south of Calgary. The tragic incident has sent ripples of sorrow through the region and across Canada's hockey landscape.
Tragic Details of the Fatal Collision
According to Royal Canadian Mounted Police reports, the fatal crash occurred at approximately 11 a.m. on Monday, February 2, 2026, at the intersection of Highway 2 and 55 Avenue at the north entrance to Stavely. The three young athletes, members of the Southern Alberta Mustangs junior hockey team, were traveling to a team practice when their vehicle collided with a northbound semi-truck hauling gravel.
All three players were declared deceased at the scene of the accident. The driver of the semi-truck, identified as a 40-year-old man from Stavely, Alberta, sustained only minor injuries and received treatment from paramedics at the location.
Remembering the Young Athletes
The victims have been officially identified as:
- Cameron Casorso, an 18-year-old goaltender from Kamloops, British Columbia
- JJ Wright, an 18-year-old forward also from Kamloops, British Columbia
- Caden Fine, a 17-year-old centre from Birmingham, Alabama
These young men represented the diverse composition of junior hockey teams, with players coming from different regions to pursue their athletic dreams.
Team and Community Response
The Southern Alberta Mustangs, a newly formed team competing in the United States Premier Hockey League (USPHL), released an emotional statement confirming the tragic loss of three of their players. The team is based in Stavely, approximately 100 kilometres south of Calgary.
"There are no words that can adequately express the depth of our grief," the Southern Alberta Mustangs organization stated. "These young men were more than hockey players – they were teammates, sons, brothers, friends, and deeply loved members of our Mustangs family and the communities we call home."
In a powerful display of community mourning, a makeshift memorial featuring the players' jerseys and hockey sticks was established at the Stavely Arena later on Monday, allowing teammates, friends, and community members to pay their respects.
Ongoing Investigation and Community Impact
RCMP continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the collision. Preliminary information indicates the semi-truck was traveling northbound on Highway 2, while the car carrying the players was traveling eastbound at the intersection.
This tragedy has highlighted the close-knit nature of junior hockey communities across Canada, where young athletes often travel significant distances to pursue their sporting ambitions. The loss of these three promising players has created a void that extends far beyond the ice rink, touching families, teammates, coaches, and supporters throughout the hockey world.
The Southern Alberta Mustangs, though a newly established team, had already begun building connections within their community and the broader hockey network. This devastating event serves as a sobering reminder of the fragility of life and the profound impact such losses have on sports communities that function as extended families.
