Canadians and Americans are grieving after three teenage players from the Southern Alberta Mustangs were killed in a highway collision while travelling to morning practice in southern Alberta.
The victims were identified as 18-year-old Cameron Casorso and 18-year-old JJ Wright, from Kamloops, and 17-year-old Caden Fine of Birmingham, Alabama.
RCMP said the crash occurred around 11 a.m. Monday, February 2, 2026, at the intersection of Highway 2 and 55th Avenue at the north end of Stavely, about 100 kilometres south of Calgary. The vehicle carrying the players collided with a gravel truck travelling northbound on Highway 2. All three players were pronounced dead at the scene.
The driver of the semi truck, a 40-year-old man from Stavely, suffered minor injuries and was treated by paramedics. Alberta RCMP said there is currently no indication that criminal charges will be laid, although the collision remains under investigation.
The deaths have reverberated strongly in Kamloops, a city where minor and junior hockey play a central role in community life. Casorso and Wright both came up through Kamloops Minor Hockey and were described by those who knew them as deeply committed teammates who made others feel welcome on and off the ice.
Cameron Casorso, a goaltender, was known for the strong support of his family. JJ Wright, a forward, was remembered as energetic and competitive while maintaining a lighthearted presence in the dressing room.
Fine, who joined the Mustangs from the United States, had previously played with the Birmingham Jr. Bulls program. His former club said he brought an infectious smile to the locker room and grit on the ice, qualities that quickly endeared him to teammates in Alberta.
In a written statement, the Mustangs confirmed the deaths of the three players and asked for privacy for the families, billet families, teammates and staff.
RCMP said the intersection where the collision occurred is open and unobstructed, with no immediate visibility concerns noted by officers at the scene. Police records show several collisions have occurred at the site since 2019, including one fatal crash in 2025.
As the Canadian News Hub team, we extend our condolences to the families.