Hockey Nightmare — All Three Dead!

A wooden casket with a white rose placed on top in a solemn setting — TRAGIC DEATHS

American teenager Caden Fine, just 17 from Birmingham, Alabama, lost his life alongside two Canadian teammates in a devastating highway crash in rural Canada, cutting short promising hockey dreams.

Story Snapshot

Three Southern Alberta Mustangs junior players—JJ Wright (18), Cameron Casorso (18), and Caden Fine (17)—died February 2, 2026, en route to practice near Stavely, Alberta.
Their passenger vehicle collided with a gravel-hauling semi-truck at Highway 2 and 55 Avenue; all three perished at the scene.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith led tributes, voicing province-wide grief for the young athletes from Kamloops, BC, and Alabama.
GoFundMe launched for families has raised nearly $8,000 toward funeral and travel costs, highlighting community support.

Crash Details and Victims

Three junior hockey players from the Southern Alberta Mustangs died in a collision at approximately 11:00 a.m. MST on February 2, 2026. JJ Wright, 18, a forward from Kamloops, British Columbia, Cameron Casorso, 18, a goalie also from Kamloops, and Caden Fine, 17, a center from Birmingham, Alabama, traveled in a passenger vehicle to team practice.

The vehicle struck a semi-truck hauling gravel at the Highway 2 and 55 Avenue intersection near Stavely, Alberta. All three occupants died at the scene. The 40-year-old truck driver, a Stavely resident, suffered minor injuries. Royal Canadian Mounted Police reported these facts during the initial investigation.

Team and Community Response

Southern Alberta Mustangs confirmed the deaths on social media February 3, 2026, noting the players headed from accommodations to a scheduled practice in Stavely, a rural town one hour south of Calgary. The team competes in the U.S. Premier Hockey League, drawing American and Canadian talent for development.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith posted a tribute that evening, sharing jerseys and sticks while stating Alberta is devastated and extending deepest sympathy to families, teammates, coaches, and billet families. She thanked first responders for their efforts. The response fostered community unity amid profound loss.

All of us at the P.A.L. Jr. Islanders organization extend our condolences and sympathy to the Southern Alberta Mustangs and to the families of Mustangs players Cameron Casorso, Caden Fine and J.J. Wright, who sadly passed away Monday in a tragic accident in Alberta. pic.twitter.com/8SPIzh7akL

— P.A.L. Junior Islanders (@paljrislanders) February 3, 2026

Investigation and Support Efforts

RCMP leads the ongoing crash investigation with no charges announced as of February 3, 2026. The incident occurred on Highway 2, a major north-south route with heavy truck traffic, including gravel haulers connecting small towns to Calgary. Junior players often carpool in private vehicles due to limited team transport, distinguishing this from bus crashes in other leagues.

A GoFundMe launched February 2 evening supports families with funerals and travel, raising nearly $8,000 toward a $28,000 goal by Monday evening. Families span U.S. and Canadian communities, including Kamloops and Birmingham.

This tragedy underscores risks of rural highway travel for young athletes pursuing dreams across borders. Short-term, team practices halt as coaches and players grieve; long-term, it spotlights needs for safer transport protocols in junior leagues like USPHL without immediate policy changes announced.

Ripple Effects on Hockey Community

The loss impacts Mustangs teammates, coaches, Stavely locals, and broader Alberta hockey networks. Kamloops and Birmingham communities mourn promising talents—Fine had played 23 games this season.

No prior incidents tie to this team or route, but the randomness amplifies shock in a sport with strong rural traditions reliant on billet families and road trips. Premier Smith’s role as mourner-in-chief builds solidarity; RCMP controls inquiry facts. Economic strain hits families, eased by crowdfunding, while social bonds strengthen through shared grief and first responder appreciation.