NCAA champion hockey player killed in crash. Now, former teammate charged, MN cops say
A former college hockey player was charged a year after causing a crash that killed one of her teammates, Minnesota authorities say.
The 20-year-old woman, who McClatchy News is not naming, is charged with a single count of gross misdemeanor reckless driving following the Aug. 20, 2023, crash in Chippewa County.
The crash killed Jori Jones, a 19-year-old rising sophomore who was a part of the Gustavus College women’s hockey team that won the NCAA Division III championship her freshman year.
“Jori ... is remembered as a talented athlete and a beautiful soul, known for her infectious smile and genuine spirit,” Gustavus Athletics said of the goaltender from Roseville, Minnesota.
‘I’m sorry, I’m so sorry’
A Minnesota State Patrol trooper said the driver, who was 19 at the time, was speeding as she went through a stop sign.
With three of her teammates also in the SUV, the driver crashed into a van that was proceeding through an intersection after having made a “full stop,” according to a criminal complaint.
“I didn’t notice that it was a four-way intersection until way too late,” she told the trooper, noting that she had been driving 68 mph moments before the crash.
The driver of the van recalled her vehicle “turning over and turning over” after the hockey player’s SUV struck hers, authorities said.
The hockey player driving the SUV said she drank the night prior, but a preliminary breath test revealed a 0.00 result, troopers said.
She said she should have taken her Adderall, which she told authorities helps her focus.
Multiple witnesses observed the SUV driver speeding through the intersection, including two men who said she was driving at least 60 mph, the trooper said.
“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry,” she said after learning Jones was being worked on by first responders, according to the complaint
Jones was pronounced dead at a hospital the same day as the crash, police said.
A crash report shows the other three women in the SUV, as well as the driver, had non-life-threatening injuries. The driver of the van was also injured.
If found guilty, the SUV driver faces up to 364 days in jail and/or a $3,000 fine, court records show.
An extraordinary human being
Jones was lauded in social media tributes for her kind spirit and her excellence on the rink.
A star goalie for Roseville High School from 2018 to 2022, Jones contended for the state’s Goaltender of the Year award as a senior, according to The Rink Live.
Her high school coach, Craig Rosenthal, described Jones as “the best teammate” who always came to the rink “with a positive attitude.”
Jones’ dad, a captain and training officer with the Little Canada Fire Department, coached her various youth hockey teams, according to SouthernMinn.com.
“Jori was not only a talented athlete but also an extraordinary human being, both inside and out,” Gretchen Hopeman, president of the Roseville Area Youth Hockey program, said in a statement posted on Facebook. “Her infectious smile and laughter could light up any room, and her spirit was as genuine as they come. On and off the ice, she remained a beacon of leadership and positivity.”
Outside the rink, Jones was as a camp counselor for two summers at Hidden Pines Ranch and worked for the Ball Park Cafe at the Minnesota State Fair. Both places of employment noted the teen’s kindness.
According to an obituary, Jones had a “passion for being a good human.”
“Being in the same room or part of a conversation with Jori, you knew you mattered to her no matter how long you knew her,” the obituary says.
This story was originally published August 22, 2024 at 1:15 PM with the headline "NCAA champion hockey player killed in crash. Now, former teammate charged, MN cops say."