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Crash kills Gustavus women’s hockey player from Little Canada, injures 3 teammates

nick ferraro, pioneer press
·2 min read
10

Four members of the reigning national champion Gustavus Adolphus College women’s hockey team were injured — one fatally — in a two-vehicle crash Sunday afternoon in west-central Minnesota.

Jori Lynn Jones, 19, of Little Canada, was killed in the crash that happened about 12:40 p.m. in Grace Township, about 25 miles west of Willmar, the State Patrol said. Jones, who was a passenger, died at Montevideo Hospital.

Jones was a goaltender on last season’s Gustavus team that won the college’s first NCAA Division III national championship in March. She was a graduate of Roseville High School.

Her teammates, Kayla Marie Bluhm, 20, of Chisago City, Gianna Kate Gasparini, 19, of Lakeville and Lily Kay Mortenson, 19, of Champlin were taken to the hospital with injuries not considered life-threatening.

The other driver, Brandi Kay Rasmussen, 28, of Benson, Minn., also suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was hospitalized.

According to the State Patrol, Gasparini was driving a Chevrolet Equinox east on Highway 40, while Rasmussen was in a Dodge Caravan headed south on Highway 29.

The vehicles collided when one of the drivers failed to stop at a stop sign, according to the State Patrol, which did not specify which one.

All five women were wearing seatbelts, the State Patrol said.

“My heart is torn to pieces for Jori’s family, friends, and all that loved her,” wrote Tracy Mortenson, Lily’s mother, in a Facebook post Monday morning. “She was a beautiful, kind, and vibrant girl. Please keep the girls in your thoughts and prayers, most importantly Jori Jones’ family as they need the most strength to navigate through this indescribable tragedy.”

Lily is “banged up pretty good,” she wrote, adding “we are very lucky that she is ok.”

As news of the crash spread on social media, Minnesota Hockey and others offered their sympathies and support to the Jones family and Roseville and Gustavus hockey communities.

“We also ask everyone to keep those who were injured in their thoughts,” read a statement by Minnesota Hockey, the governing body for youth and amateur hockey in the state.

In a Twitter post, Roseville Area Youth Hockey wrote, “We are gutted and at loss for words. Please keep the Jones family in your prayers. She was truly a remarkable human. We love you Jori.”

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