Three junior hockey players from the Southern Alberta Mustangs were killed Monday in a devastating collision with a semi-truck while traveling to practice. JJ Wright, 18, and Cameron Casorso, 18, both from Kamloops, British Columbia, and Caden Fine, 17, from Birmingham, Alabama, lost their lives in the crash near Stavely.
🔥 Quick Facts
- Location: Crash occurred near Stavely, Alberta on February 2, 2026, at approximately 11:00 AM
- Victims: JJ Wright, 18, Cameron Casorso, 18, and Caden Fine, 17, all junior hockey players
- Team: Southern Alberta Mustangs, a U.S. Premier Hockey League team established in 2023
- Cause: Passenger vehicle collided with a gravel-hauling semi-truck at an intersection
Three Lives Lost on the Way to Practice
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The Southern Alberta Mustangs announced the tragedy on social media, shocking the hockey community across North America. The three junior players were traveling together to a team practice when their passenger vehicle collided with a semi-truck. All three occupants of the car, including the two Canadian teenagers and the American player, were declared deceased at the scene by Alberta Royal Canadian Mounted Police Corporal Gina Slaney.
The driver of the semi-truck, a 40-year-old male, sustained minor injuries and was treated at the scene. An investigation into the cause of the collision is underway by authorities.
Remembering the Young Athletes
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JJ Wright and Cameron Casorso, both 18 years old from Kamloops, British Columbia, had grown up through the Kamloops Minor Hockey Association system. JJ played in KMHA from 2011 to 2025, while Cameron played from 2012 to 2025. They brought their passion for the game and community spirit to the Mustangs organization in their search for higher-level competition.
Caden Fine, 17, from Birmingham, Alabama, had played for the Birmingham Jr. Bulls from 2021 to 2023 before joining the Southern Alberta Mustangs for the 2025-2026 season. The Bulls remembered Fine as bringing “an infectious smile to the locker room and undeniable grit to the ice.”
Tragedy Strikes Another Junior Hockey Community
The Southern Alberta Mustangs, founded in 2023, are part of the U.S. Premier Hockey League, based in Stavely, Alberta. The organization released a statement expressing profound grief: “It is with unimaginable heartbreak that we confirm three players from the Southern Alberta Mustangs were killed in a motor vehicle accident. These young men were more than hockey players, they were teammates, sons, brothers, friends, and deeply loved members of our Mustangs family.”
| Player Name | Age | Hometown | Previous Team |
| JJ Wright | 18 | Kamloops, BC | Kamloops Minor Hockey |
| Cameron Casorso | 18 | Kamloops, BC | Kamloops Minor Hockey |
| Caden Fine | 17 | Birmingham, Alabama | Birmingham Jr. Bulls |
“It is with unimaginable heartbreak that we confirm three players from the Southern Alberta Mustangs were killed in a motor vehicle accident. There are no words that can adequately express the depth of our grief.”
— Southern Alberta Mustangs Organization, Official Statement
A Hockey Family Mourns Across Two Countries
The reaction from the hockey community has been immediate and heartfelt. The Kamloops Minor Hockey Association called it a “heartbreaking day” and vowed to honor the two young men who grew up in their system. The Birmingham Jr. Bulls extended deep condolences to the Fine family, emphasizing that “Once a Jr. Bull, always a Jr. Bull.”
The scope of grief extends across international lines. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney issued a statement saying, “Canadians are keeping the entire Southern Alberta Mustangs community in our thoughts as they face this unimaginable grief.” Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre added, “To their families, teammates, coaches, and everyone in the Southern Alberta Mustangs community, we mourn with you.”
Will This Tragedy Spark Broader Conversations About Junior Hockey Safety?
This collision marks another devastating moment for Canadian junior hockey, echoing the 2018 Humboldt Broncos tragedy that claimed 16 lives when a semi-truck struck a team bus in Saskatchewan. The Humboldt Broncos posted on social media: “There are no words, only heavy hearts. We stand with you. We mourn with you. We are with you.”
Memorials have been set up at Stavely Arena, decorated with hockey sticks and the three players’ jerseys. A GoFundMe page set up for Fine’s family had raised over $10,000 in donations. The Calgary Flames held a moment of silence before their game against the Toronto Maple Leafs, demonstrating the impact these young athletes had on the broader hockey community.
Michael Brown is a seasoned sports journalist bringing years of experience covering professional athletics and sporting culture. With a keen eye for breaking stories and player dynamics, this veteran journalist delivers in-depth analysis and exclusive insights from the world’s biggest sporting events. His passion for the game shines through in every story, keeping fans connected to the action both on and off the field.