Three Southern Alberta Mustangs Junior Hockey Players Killed in Crash
Three junior hockey players from the Southern Alberta Mustangs were killed in a motor vehicle crash on Monday while traveling to practice, the team announced in a statement. The players have been identified as JJ Wright, Cameron Casorso, and Caden Fine, according to Alberta Premier Danielle Smith in a post on X.
“There are no words that can adequately express the depth of our grief,” the team’s statement read. “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.”
The Southern Alberta Mustangs play in the United States Premier Hockey League (USPHL) and are based in Stavely, Alberta, approximately 72 miles (117 kilometers) south of Calgary. The USPHL comprises more than 150 junior teams across multiple divisions in the U.S. And Canada.
The team stated they are working with authorities and will support players, staff, and families “in every way possible during this incredibly difficult time.” They closed their statement saying, “We are a family and today, our family is hurting.”
Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney expressed his condolences in a post on X, stating his heart broke “for the families of the three young hockey players” and that “Canadians are keeping the entire Southern Alberta Mustangs community in our thoughts as they face this unimaginable grief.”
The Calgary Flames also offered their condolences on X, extending thoughts and prayers to the “family, friends and teammates” of the players. The Flames held a moment of silence ahead of their game against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Monday.
The tragedy follows a recent incident involving the Santa Clarita Lady Flyers 12AA girls hockey team from California. Days prior, a snowplow from the Colorado Department of Transportation collided with a van carrying members of the team, resulting in the death of the van’s driver and injuries to eight of the nine passengers. One passenger sustained critical injuries, according to the Colorado State Patrol. Reports indicate the driver was the father of one of the players.
Despite the tragedy, the Lady Flyers continued to compete and ultimately won the Western Girls Hockey Championship in Littleton, Colorado.
The Southern Alberta Mustangs last played on Thursday, defeating the Diamond Valley Rockies in a shootout. Their next scheduled game is on Sunday against the Calgary Bandits.
