An Alberta junior hockey team returned to the ice on Sunday night for the primary time because the lack of their teammates in a fatal collision on Feb. 2.
The Southern Alberta Mustangs hosted a memorial game against the Stavely Spurs Alumni team in honour of JJ Wright and Cameron Casorso, each 18, from Kamloops, B.C., and Caden High-quality, 17, from Alabama.
The three hockey players were on their method to practice last Monday morning when the vehicle they were travelling in collided with a semi-truck pulling gravel on the intersection of Highway 2 and fifty fifth Avenue, the north entrance of Stavely. The three teenagers died on scene.
“We honour our boys by doing what they loved, and before we even asked the query, our players were begging to return on the ice,” Mustangs owner Lisa May said.
“That is going to be a rough one for them, but an important to me is that I want to get them on the ice because if I don’t, my fear is that they’ll never return on the ice.”
The memorial game was the primary of several fundraisers to be held in honour of the players, with proceeds going towards the price of funerals and support for his or her teammates and families.
“We’re going to be travelling to all of the funerals, including Alabama,” May said. “We will likely be holding our memorial here, so covering the price for that. And ensuring our players get time to grieve, in addition to not having to fret about paying their fees next season.”
Ahead of Sunday night’s game, the Mustangs reflected fondly upon the kids, sharing some insight into their very different personalities.
Forward Tyson Tozer was a billet brother to all three. He describes Casorso because the “light of the team.”
“He brought joy, he brought motivation, he brought energy to each game,” Tozer said. “I shared a room with Caden and there wasn’t a day that went by where I didn’t have a smile on my face due to that child.”
Defenceman Taydon Perkins says Casorso was soft-spoken and smart.
“He’s very well-educated, you needed him to do something, he did it, like he was a tremendous kid, and I’ll at all times remember him for that,” Perkins said.
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Defenceman Kayne Anderson remembers Wright because the quieter of the three.
“JJ was more of a shy style of guy within the room, but when he desired to be heard, he was heard,” Anderson said.
The return to the ice can have been difficult for the Mustangs, however the team was met with an outpouring of support on the Stavely arena, with a whole lot in attendance at Sunday night’s game.
“It’s definitely not going to be easy, but I feel we’re all going to come to a decision to stay it out for the three because they were brothers,” Perkins said. “We’re close and it really hurts once we’re not on the market, so we’re going to stay it out.”
“I’m excited to go represent them and show that we’re going to go play hockey for them,” Tozer said.
The families of Wright and High-quality were present at the sport and echoed the players’ sentiments.
“I’m astounded by the support and thoughts and prayers of so many individuals, but especially the hockey community and particularly this Mustangs team and the communities of Stavely and Nanton,” said Wright’s father, Chris Wright.
“It has been amazing. It appears like a warm hug to be here during an awful, awful time.”
Chris Wright says he and his family travelled to Stavely from Kamloops the day after the collision and haven’t returned home since.
“A part of me can’t wait to get home and a part of me is truthfully afraid to go home because we are able to feel him here and I do know we are going to at home too, nevertheless it could be hard to drive away from this, quite truthfully,” Wright said.
High-quality’s father, Daniel High-quality, travelled to Stavely from Birmingham, Ala.
“Everybody on the market, the love and support have just been overwhelming. It’s just amazing. It’s a very good overwhelming, nevertheless it’s amazing. Everybody that we’ve are available contact with is so nice and really supportive,” Daniel High-quality said.
“I’m going to miss seeing my son on the ice.”
The sport kicked off with a memorial service for the three players. Their teammates laid their jerseys, gloves and helmets of their respective positions on the ice.
Wright and High-quality’s fathers stood of their sons’ places throughout the ceremonial puck drop following a moment of silence in the sector.
The memorial game resulted in victory for the Mustangs, who defeated the Spurs 9-6.
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