February 4, 2026 l By Dalena Reporters
CALGARY / STAVELY, Canada — The junior Canadian hockey community is in profound grief after three players from the Southern Alberta Mustangs were killed Monday morning when their vehicle collided with a commercial truck while heading to team practice near Stavely, Alberta, about an hour south of Calgary. Authorities and team officials confirmed the fatal incident on Tuesday, as family, teammates, and the wider Canadian hockey community mourned the loss.
The victims were identified as Caden Fine, 17, a centre originally from Birmingham, Alabama; JJ Wright, 18, a left-wing forward; and Cameron Casorso, 18, a goaltender both from Kamloops, British Columbia. All three were rising talents in the Mustangs’ junior program and were en route to practice when the collision occurred at an intersection with Highway 2 in Stavely.
According to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), the vehicle carrying the three players collided with a northbound semi-truck hauling gravel shortly before noon. The truck driver, a 40-year-old man from Stavely, sustained minor injuries and was treated at the scene, police reported.
In a statement posted on social media, the Mustangs organisation expressed heartbreak and sorrow, emphasising that the 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 loss has resonated beyond the local community. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney conveyed his condolences via social media platform X, saying his “heart breaks for the families of the three young hockey players” and that Canadians are keeping the Southern Alberta Mustangs community in their thoughts during this period of grief.
The tragedy drew reactions from across the hockey world. Prior to an NHL game between the Calgary Flames and the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Flames honoured the Mustangs players with a moment of silence, underscoring the deep connections within Canada’s hockey culture and the shared sense of loss across leagues.
Officials have said the RCMP investigation into the collision is ongoing, examining the circumstances that led to the tragic crash. Local leaders and hockey organisations have called for support for the families and team in the days ahead, as tributes continue to pour in for the young athletes whose lives were cut short on a routine trip to practice.