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The hockey world has been left in mourning after three teenage players from the Southern Alberta Mustangs team were killed in a tragic car crash while traveling to team practice in Canada.
The accident claimed the lives of JJ Wright, Cameron Casorso, and Caden Fine, sending shockwaves through the tight-knit hockey community across borders.
"It is with unimaginable heartbreak that we confirm three players from the Southern Alberta Mustangs were killed in a motor vehicle accident earlier today while traveling to team practice," the team announced in a statement shared on Facebook on Monday.
According to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the crash occurred around 11 a.m. in Stavely, approximately 10 miles south of Calgary.
A vehicle carrying the three Mustangs players collided with a gravel-hauling semi-truck, authorities confirmed via CTV News. The 40-year-old driver of the semi-truck survived and sustained only minor injuries.
A community united in grief
Wright and Casorso, both 18, were residents of Kamloops, British Columbia. Casorso was a goaltender, while Wright played forward.
Fine, a 17-year-old forward, hailed from Birmingham, Alabama. All three teenagers were pronounced dead at the scene and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police said the investigation into the deadly crash is ongoing.
In the aftermath of the tragedy, the Southern Alberta Mustangs emphasized that the loss extends far beyond the rink.
"There are no words that can adequately express the depth of our grief," the organization wrote.
"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 team added: "We are a family, and today our family is hurting," while noting it is working closely with authorities and continuing to support players, staff, and the families affected.
The devastation has been felt deeply in Kamloops, where the Kamloops Minor Hockey Association released a statement echoing the Mustangs' sorrow.
"These three young men were teammates and friends to many," the association said. "We are grieving together as one hockey family."
The Southern Alberta Mustangs are competing in their inaugural season in the US Premier Hockey League's Premier Division.
Hockey unites together
On Monday evening, a memorial honoring Wright, Casorso, and Fine was established at the Stavely Arena, featuring their jerseys and hockey sticks.
Tributes poured in from across the country. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney shared his condolences in a message posted on X.
"My heart breaks for the families of the three young hockey players," Carney wrote.
"Canadians are keeping the entire Southern Alberta Mustangs community in our thoughts as they face this unimaginable grief."
The tragedy was also acknowledged at the professional level, as the Calgary Flames held a moment of silence before their game against the Toronto Maple Leafs, honoring the lives lost and the families forever changed.
As the investigation continues, the loss of Wright, Casorso, and Fine serves as a heartbreaking reminder of the fragility of life.