'Heartbreaking day' for hockey community after 3 junior players killed in Alberta crash

3 Alberta jnr hockey players killed in motor vehicle stroke | Hanomansing this night

'A sad day': Kamloops minor hockey president reacts to fatal crash

This is the second recent tragedy for the hockey community in Kamloops. Six-year-old Eli Jones, a U7 Kamloops Canuck, died in December 2023 due to complications with an illness.

Bosa says he saw everyone come together to honour Jones, who now has a Player of the Year award named after him in the U7 division, and he has no doubt there will be a similar pulling-together now.

"The kids will bond together and help each other through this," he said. "Everyone just kind of puts everything aside for the moment and concentrates on what’s important."

The Kamloops Minor Hockey Association has now shared their official statement, calling it a "heartbreaking day" for the entire hockey community.

"​Cameron and JJ grew up in our association, spending many years as part of the KMHA family. JJ played in KMHA from 2011 to 2025, and Cameron from 2012 to 2025. Their presence and impact will be remembered by teammates, coaches, and families throughout our community.

"Although their journeys began here in Kamloops, they found a second hockey family and a new bond with the Southern Alberta Mustangs. We stand in solidarity with the Mustangs organization as they navigate this devastating tragedy.

​"Our thoughts are with the Casorso, Wright, and Fine families. These three young men were teammates and friends to many. We are grieving together, as one hockey family forever changed by the loss of these young men."

The Calgary Flames are showing their support for the Mustangs in the wake of today's deadly crash. The team held a moment of silence ahead of their game against the Toronto Maple Leafs this evening. 

The team posted a message extending its condolences to the players' family, friends and teammates writing "Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone who knew them ❤️."

The Flames and Maple Leafs hold a moment of silence for three members of the Southern Alberta Mustangs junior hockey team who have passed away. <a href="https://t.co/LOiLLqHjPz">pic.twitter.com/LOiLLqHjPz</a>

The leader of the Official Opposition, Pierre Poilievre, has posted about the crash, writing that "three young lives were tragically lost."

"To their families, teammates, coaches, and everyone in the Southern Alberta Mustangs community: we mourn with you.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with you as you grieve this heartbreaking loss."

The hockey arena is one of the biggest buildings in the community. It's dark and quiet tonight. 

Stavely is the epitome of a small Alberta town.

Incorporated in 1912, it’s nestled alongside Highway 2 between Calgary and Lethbridge. On its website, the town lists its population as "approximately 544 residents." An agricultural community, Stavely is known for its professional rodeo that has run for nearly 70 years.

Bosa says both of the Kamloops players have family in the community, with Wright playing in the local minor hockey league from 2011 to 2025 and Casorso from 2012 to 2025.

"They were a tight-knit group," he said. 

Claresholm RCMP said the truck driver, a 40-year-old man living in Stavely, received minor injuries that were treated at the scene.

Police said they’re continuing their investigation into the collision. Normal traffic has resumed in the area.

'A sad day': Kamloops minor hockey president reacts to fatal crash

Three hockey players have been killed in a bus crash in Alberta. Two of them were from Kamloops, B.C., president Nathan Bosa confirms, where they only recently aged out of the minor hockey association.

Bosa says he’s met with his board and they will be putting out a statement shortly.

For now he’s asking people across the country to put a stick out in memory of the players lost, a callback to the practice of placing hockey sticks on the front porch following the 2018 Humboldt Broncos bus crash. 

I just spoke to Nathan Bosa, president of the Kamloops Minor Hockey Association. He told me both Casorso and Wright were playing in his league last year and only moved to Alberta to continue to pursue their hockey dreams after aging out of the minor league.

Bosa says his son is roughly the same age and despite the competitiveness of the sport, the players have a closeness and are supportive of each other.

"This is gonna hit hard for sure," he said.

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