3 Junior Hockey Players Killed in Crash on Way to Practice

Teens who played for the Southern Alberta Mustangs died in a collision with a semi-truck.

Feb. 3, 2026 at 7:47pm

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Three junior hockey players from the Southern Alberta Mustangs were killed in a vehicle crash while heading to practice on Monday. The victims were 18-year-olds JJ Wright and Cameron Casorso from Kamloops, British Columbia, and 17-year-old Caden Fine from Birmingham, Alabama. The crash involved their passenger vehicle and a semi-truck at an intersection in Stavely, Alberta, about an hour south of Calgary.

Why it matters

The tragic loss of these young athletes has devastated their teammates, families, and the broader hockey community in Alberta and beyond. The accident raises questions about road safety and the risks faced by student-athletes traveling to practices and games.

The details

According to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the crash occurred at an intersection on Highway 2 in Stavely. The passenger vehicle carrying the three players was traveling east when it collided with a northbound semi-truck hauling gravel. The driver of the semi sustained minor injuries, while the three young hockey players were killed. The US Premier Hockey League team the Southern Alberta Mustangs said they are working closely with authorities on the investigation and asked for privacy for the players' families.

  • The crash occurred on Monday, February 4, 2026.

The players

JJ Wright

An 18-year-old hockey player from Kamloops, British Columbia who played for the Southern Alberta Mustangs.

Cameron Casorso

An 18-year-old hockey player from Kamloops, British Columbia who played for the Southern Alberta Mustangs.

Caden Fine

A 17-year-old hockey player from Birmingham, Alabama who played for the Southern Alberta Mustangs.

Danielle Smith

The Premier of Alberta who offered condolences to the players' families and teammates.

Kamloops Minor Hockey Association

The hockey organization in Kamloops, British Columbia where Casorso and Wright grew up playing.

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What they’re saying

“The whole Alberta hockey family is standing with you in sorrow and in prayer.”

— Danielle Smith, Premier of Alberta

“Although their journeys began here in Kamloops, they found a second hockey family and a new bond with the Southern Alberta Mustangs. These three young men were teammates and friends to many. We are grieving together, as one hockey family forever changed by the loss of these young men.”

— Kamloops Minor Hockey Association

“There are no words that can adequately express the depth of our grief. 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. We are a family, and today our family is hurting.”

— Southern Alberta Mustangs, Team Statement

What’s next

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police are continuing their investigation into the cause of the crash.

The takeaway

This tragic accident has devastated the hockey community in Alberta and beyond, highlighting the risks student-athletes face while traveling to practices and games. The loss of these three young players has left their teammates, families, and communities in mourning, and underscores the importance of road safety measures to protect young athletes.