A western Alberta community is mourning the deaths of two youth hockey players who were killed in a collision while returning home from practice Monday evening.
The players, two girls ages 17 and 18, were on a 75-kilometer trip from Jasper — where they play on the Jasper Bearcats U18 hockey team — to their home in Hinton.
“They were on their way home from hockey practice,” said Hinton Mayor Brian LaBerge, adding many local residents travel between communities every day for work and other commitments.
“There are a lot of people who work in Jasper and live in Hinton. We run a daily bus service there, so it’s a very connected community.”
The accident occurred at around 19.15, about 45 minutes after practice ended. The 17-year-old girl was behind the wheel of the pickup, and her 18-year-old teammate was a passenger, when the truck and a semi tractor-trailer collided on Highway 16, east of Jasper.
Both girls died at the scene. RCMP say slippery road conditions are believed to be a factor.
LaBerge said news of the death shocked the town of about 10,000 people.
Get daily National news
Get the day’s latest news, politics, economics and headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day.
“It’s a small town. It really involves young women who are known to a lot of people and it’s tough,” LaBerge said.
The team just advanced to the second round of the playoffs last weekend.
The Jasper Minor Sports Council said the community mourns and thanks those who have provided support.
“Jasper Minor Sports extends our deepest condolences to the family, friends, teammates & community members of our beloved Bearcats U18 teammates who were bright lights on Jasper ice,” the local organization said in a statement Tuesday afternoon.
“There are no words to describe the sadness our hockey community is feeling.”
The girls attend Harry Collinge High School in Hinton, where classes were canceled Tuesday and will also be canceled Wednesday.
The Grande Yellowhead Public Schools Division said they are deeply saddened by the tragic loss.
“Our hearts and minds are with the families and friends of these students during this unthinkable time,” the school division said in a statement Tuesday, which also said support had been sent to Hinton.
Even though classes are not in session, the division said the high school remains open as a supervised and safe space for students who want to gather, support each other and talk with professionals.
“The high school is open and available to any student who wants to go there,” LaBerge said.
Kevin Zahara, mayor of Edson, located about an hour east of Hinton, offered his deepest condolences Tuesday: “We share your sadness and loss. Our thoughts are with everyone facing this tragic event.”
Jasper Mayor Richard Ireland also said “a loss of this magnitude is beyond comprehension,” adding that the girls were part of the Jasper family through their hockey activities.
“We grieve with them and hold space in our hearts and minds for everyone affected.”
“I’m not surprised,” LaBerge said. “Between us, Jasper, Edson and Yellowhead County — we are all connected communities in many ways.”
The identities of the girls have not been released.
This is the second fatal crash involving a youth hockey player in Alberta this month. On February 2, three boys playing on the Southern Alberta Mustangs Junior hockey team were killed while trying to practice in Stavely, south of Calgary.
© 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
Comments are closed, but trackbacks and pingbacks are open.