Memorial photo of jerseys belonging to 18-year old's JJ Wright and Cameron Casorso from Kamloops, along with their 17-year old American teammate Caden Fine, who were killed in a tragic crash on Monday in southern Alberta/via Danielle Smith on X
The tight-knit hockey community in Kamloops is said to be coming to terms with the death of two of its own in a tragic incident Monday morning on a stretch of rural highway northwest of Lethbridge.
“At 11 a.m., Claresholm RCMP responded to a report of a collision between a semi truck pulling gravel and a small passenger vehicle,” stated the RCMP in the Southern Alberta District in a release late Monday afternoon, providing more details into the deadly crash.
“The collision occurred at the intersection of Highway 2 and 55 Avenue, at the north entrance to Stavely,” added the RCMP.
The Mounties say initial indications are the driver of the tractor-trailer was headed north on Highway 2 on the north end of the town of Stavely, where their team — the Southern Alberta Mustangs — is based out of.
Indications are the young hockey players were killed in the crash as they tried to cross the Highway and were slammed into by the northbound semi.
Three young players — including 18-year old’s JJ Wright and Cameron Casorso from Kamloops, along with their 17-year old teammate Caden Fine from Montgomery, Alabama were pronounced dead at the scene.
The 40-year old driver of the semi was treated for minor injuries.
“RCMP sends deepest condolences to the family and friends of the deceased,” concluded the Mounties in their release.
The deaths of the young men has sent shockwaves across the hockey world in Kamloops, as well as across Alberta and the rest of the country — drawing condolences from the highest levels of Canada’s leadership.
Statement issued by Prime Minister Mark Carney following the death of the two young men from Kamloops and their teammate from Alabama Monday morning in Alberta/via Mark Carney on X
In Alberta, where the young Kamloops players were hoping to advance their game, the shock is also said to be reverberating throughout the province.
Message of condolence from Alberta Premier Danielle Smith following the death of two 18-year old’s from Kamloops and their American teammate in a crash in southern Alberta Monday/via Danielle Smith on X
Wright and Casorso were graduates from the Kamloops Minor Hockey Association, and left for Alberta to take their chance with the U.S. Premier Hockey League, which bills itself as one of the largest developmental leagues across North America for players hoping to crack the U.S. college hockey system.
“We are devastated to hear the news about Cam, JJ, and Caden,” Zac Carnelly, Executive Director of Kamloops Minor Hockey, told Radio NL late Monday afternoon. “Cam and JJ have been a part of KMHA since 2012 and 2011, and we are proud to have them as part of the KMHA family.”
“Our thoughts are with their families, friends, and teammates,” added Carnelly.
Their team, the Southern Alberta Mustangs, also issued a brief statement online on Monday afternoon.
Message of condolence issued by the ownership of the Southern Alberta Mustangs/via Facebook
–With files from Jon Keen
