A bus transporting a junior hockey team from Athabasca veered off a highway in northern Alberta and landed in a forested area during the early hours of Friday. RCMP officers attended the scene of the solo vehicle accident on Highway 2, just south of Athabasca, discovering multiple injuries among the bus occupants. Two teenagers were taken to the hospital with injuries deemed non-life-threatening, as stated by the police.
Although several others sustained injuries, there were no reported fatalities. The National Junior Hockey League (NJHL) confirmed that the bus was transporting members of the Athabasca Rivermen Junior A Hockey Club, with players aged between 15 and 19, in a statement released on Friday afternoon. Law enforcement authorities suggested that icy road conditions played a role in the incident and advised drivers to be prepared for winter driving conditions.
The NJHL disclosed that the bus was en route to a game in Crowsnest Pass, Alberta, situated approximately 165 kilometers south of Calgary. The league assured that it is coordinating with the team and local officials to provide necessary support for the mental health and well-being of the team members. Athabasca, located about 150 kilometers north of Edmonton, serves as the hometown of the affected junior hockey team.