The Southern Alberta Mustangs are hosting a memorial game for the 3 players who died in the crash
An Alberta junior hockey team returned to the ice Sunday night for the first time since losing their teammates in a fatal accident on Feb. 2.
The Southern Alberta Mustangs hosted a memorial game against the Stavely Spurs Alumni team to honor JJ Wright and Cameron Casorso, both 18, from Kamloops, BC, and Caden Fine, 17, from Alabama.
The three hockey players were on their way to practice last Monday morning when the car they were traveling in collided with a rock pulling a truck at the intersection of Highway 2 and 55th Avenue, at the northern gate of Stavely. Three boys died at the scene.
“We respect our guys for doing what they love, and before we even asked the question, our players were asking to get back on the ice,” said Mustangs owner Lisa May.
“This will be difficult for them, but the important thing for me is that I have to put them on the ice because if I don’t do that I’m afraid that they won’t come back on the ice.”
The memorial game was the first of many fundraisers to be held in honor of the players, with the money being paid to cover funeral expenses and support for their teammates and families.
“We’re going to go to all the funerals, including Alabama,” May said. “We will be holding our memorial here, so we are covering the cost of that. And making sure our players get time to mourn, and not worry about paying their money next season.”
Before Sunday night’s game, the Mustangs showed love to the youth, sharing an insight into their very unique personalities.
Forward Tyson Tozer was the billet brother of the three. He describes Casorso as “the light of the team.”
“He brought joy, he brought motivation, he brought energy to every game,” said Tozer. “I roomed with Caden and not a day went by that I didn’t smile because of that kid.”
Defense attorney Taydon Perkins says Casorso was soft-spoken and intelligent.
“He studied a lot, you needed him to do something, he did it, like he was an amazing kid, and I’ll always remember him for that,” Perkins said.
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Defenseman Kayne Anderson remembers Wright as the quietest of the three.
“JJ was a shy person in the room, but when he wanted to be heard, he was heard,” Anderson said.
Getting back on the ice may have been difficult for the Mustangs, but the team was met with huge support at Stavely arena, with hundreds in attendance for Sunday night’s game.
“It definitely won’t be easy, but I think we will all decide to stick with these three because they were brothers,” said Perkins. “We’re close and it hurts a lot when we’re not there, so we’re going to stop you.”
“I am happy to represent them and show that we will play hockey for them,” said Tozer.
The families of Wright and Fine were at the game and echoed the players’ sentiments.
“I am amazed by the support and thoughts and prayers of so many people, but especially the hockey community and especially this Mustangs team and the communities of Stavely and Nanton,” said Wright’s father, Chris Wright.
“It’s been great. It feels like a warm hug to be here at a bad, bad time.”
Chris Wright says he and his family drove to Stavely from Kamloops the day after the accident and never returned home.
“Part of me can’t wait to get home and part of me is afraid to go home because we can feel him here and I know we’ll be home too, but it would be hard to get away from this, honestly,” Wright said.
Fine’s father, Daniel Fine, came to Stavely from Birmingham, Ala.
“Everybody out there, the love and support has been overwhelming. It’s just amazing. It’s great, but it’s amazing. Everyone we’ve met is so nice and supportive,” said Daniel Fine.
“I will miss seeing my son on the ice.”
The game started with a memorial service for the three players. His teammates put jerseys, gloves and helmets in their places on the ice.
The fathers of Wright and Fine stood in their sons’ places during the puck drop ceremony following a moment of silence on the field.
The memorial game ended with a victory for the Mustangs, defeating the Spurs 9-6.
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