I’ve never been to Stavely, Alberta, but the town was shocked to its core tonight upon hearing the news that three young hockey players were killed today after a car accident. The three Southern Alberta Mustangs players were reportedly on their way to practice when their small car collided with a gravel truck at an intersection just outside the city on Highway 2. This is a heartbreaking moment for the city and the team, and I cannot imagine the grief being suffered in the town of approximately 550 people and by the families of the three players. This is a tragedy and HBIC extends its deepest condolences to the players’ families, friends and teammates.The three players – 18-year-old players JJ Wright and Cameron Casorso of Kamloops, B.C., and 17-year-old player Caden Fine of Birmingham, Alabama – were pronounced dead at the scene following the accident. RCMP are still investigating what led to the collision, but the driver of the truck, a 40-year-old man from Stavely, was treated for minor injuries. I can’t imagine what he’s going through tonight, and I hope he can find peace at some point.
The loss of these three young men will undoubtedly ripple through the hockey community, and incredible gestures have already been made as the Calgary Flames held a moment of silence in honor of these young men while Prime Minister Mark Carney made a statement upon discovering this tragedy. We can talk about scores and statistics all we want, but in times like these, the humanity of the game shines through as the hockey community comes together to support each other in times of need.
Mike Gilroy, a former player coordinator with the Mustangs, worked with the three players last summer. narrate The Canadian Press“They had the spark in their eyes and the fire in their hearts every day, enjoyed being part of a team and took the time to put in the extra work to be successful.
“It’s way too early for these kind of young, talented people.”
Gilroy’s statement makes perfect sense, as forward JJ Wright, goaltender Cameron Casorso and center Caden Fine were just starting to find their way in the United States Premier Hockey League with the Mustangs. The USPHL prides itself on having a “top junior hockey level, with more than 1,000 alumni in college hockey each season” and these players looked like they were following that path before this tragedy. With pain in the heart, their stories come to an end today.
The Southern Alberta Mustangs released the following statement today:
“It is with unimaginable sadness that we confirm that three Southern Alberta Mustangs players were killed in a car accident earlier today while en route to team practice.‘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 much-loved members of our Mustangs family and the communities we call home.
“Our hearts are with the families, friends, bat families, teammates, coaches and all who loved them. We ask that their families be given privacy and compassion as they cope with this devastating loss.
“The Southern Alberta Mustangs organization is working closely with authorities and will continue to support our players, staff and families in every way possible during this incredibly difficult time.
“We are a family, and today our family is hurting.”
Signed by team owners, I can’t even understand how hard it would have been to draft that statement. Games will undoubtedly be suspended while the Mustangs work through the grieving process, but I don’t know how any team would regroup for games after a loss like this. They seem pointless considering what happened.
My thoughts tonight are with the team, the coaches and the families in this unimaginable tragedy. I cannot imagine the pain they are feeling, and I would like to express my deepest condolences to all whose lives have been touched by these three men as they have gone far too soon.
Until next time, remember these three young men.
#Major #losses #Stavely