Santa Clarita residents are uniting to support the Santa Clarita Flyers 12-and-under girls’ hockey team after members of the team were involved in a fatal crash that killed the father of one of the players Thursday in Colorado.
The father was identified Friday as Manuel Alejandro Lorenzana Villegas, 38, of Chatsworth, according to Chris Hegmann, coroner for Clear Creek County in Colorado.
The SC Flyers chose to play in their Western Girls Hockey League playoff tournament Friday morning, not only competing against the Utah Lady Grizzlies at the Edge Ice Arena in Colorado, but also winning the game.
Prior to that game — the first of several scheduled this weekend — both teams took a moment of silence to honor the father who was killed when a snowplow crossed the center median of Interstate 70, colliding with the Sprinter van driven by the hockey player’s father.
The van carried 10 occupants, of whom three adults and four children were transported to a hospital Thursday morning.
Head coach Todd Stelnick wishes this was all just a dream, and called the past couple of days “surreal.”
“The driver swerved around the [plow truck] and rolled down the hill. Three of our players have been released. They’re OK. The moms are still in surgery, and so is one of the siblings. Unfortunately, one of the fathers did pass away, and this has been a wreck for the girls,” Stelnick said in a phone interview Friday from Colorado. “We’ve had so much support from the Santa Clarita Flyers Hockey Club, the city of Santa Clarita, all of California, the Los Angeles Kings. There’s been so much support out here.”
Stelnick let the players make a decision on whether they would want to compete in Friday morning’s game, and after two-and-a-half hours, they decided to play for their teammates and their families.
“The girls decided to play in the playoffs … in lieu of their teammates’ families and their support. We won, 3-2, with a short bench. We had originally eight players and two goalies. One of the players that did get injured ended up playing in this morning’s game, and it was just wonderful to see her play out there with her friends, doing what she loved to do,” Stelnick said.
The camaraderie has been shown not only within the team, but also in how the other teams have stood by the SC Flyers.
“The Utah Grizzlies made all these ribbons for our players, and gave it to them after the game. It’s not just about hockey — it’s about these girls just playing with each other. They love the locker room talk, the outdoors, the hotel, and just hanging with each other,” Stelnick said. “I can’t say enough; it was nice to see it. I’m also a dad, so it’s been super hard.”
Through the tragedy that has struck the team, Stelnick commended the girls for their bravery as they continue competing in the WGHL league championships.
“These girls are so brave. They are tenacious. Every skate, every goal, every save that we did today, these girls were just playing for themselves, and their teammates, and their families. There’s a good chance we could make it to the championship game. It’s been nice to see that the whole community is just behind us,” Stelnick said. “The patrol people have been great. They’ve been giving us food last night and this morning. Everyone has been fantastic in Littleton, Colorado.”
Prescott Littlefield, president of the SC Flyers, released a statement on the club’s Facebook page Thursday night, asking for community members to keep the families in their prayers.
“Dear Flyers, this is a message I never imagined I would send. I’m writing to confirm that there was a terrible traffic accident this morning in Colorado involving members of our Lady Flyers 12AA team. Words cannot express the heartbreak we are experiencing. Please hold these families in your prayers,” the post read.
A Givebutter fundraiser was made for the team Thursday evening, with proceeds exceeding their $30,000 goal by over 170%, as of this story’s publication on Friday, to help with urgent travel expenses, lodging and other needs. A portion of the funds raised will be used to book flights home for those who had been traveling to the tournament in the van.
“Flyers hockey family was involved in a tragic accident. While traveling to Colorado for what was meant to be a joyful and exciting tournament, their lives were changed forever. Now, their moment of anticipation has become a frightening ordeal. Families find themselves far from home, focused not on the game they love, but on grieving the loss of one of their own and in need of returning to the safety, care, and comfort of home,” according to the fundraiser description.
Santa Clarita residents have stopped by the club’s home rink, The Cube in Valencia, to leave hockey sticks and flowers in support of the team.
To donate, visit givebutter.com/QQNVqG.
