'I just saw him a day ago,' Jordan Stoll's grandfather in disbelief following fatal crash near Yorkton, Sask.
Fatal crash on Saturday claimed 2 lives including NHL player Jarret Stoll's 17-year-old nephew
A Yorkton-area family is at a loss for words after a car crash claimed the life of a 17-year-old over the weekend.
On Sept. 24, RCMP responded to a two-vehicle crash on Highway 10 just south of Yorkton, Sask., about 188 kilometres northeast of Regina.
Jordan Stoll, from Rhein, Sask., was killed in the crash along with a 29-year-old driver in the other car. An 18-year-old boy in the car with Jordan is still in a Regina hospital recovering from injuries.
This week Stoll's grandfather Garry Liebrecht told CBC the loss has left a gaping hole in his family and he hasn't had a full night's sleep since the crash.
"It's just a big loss. So hard," Liebrecht said. "We're going to try and do the best we can and our prayers are with the other families."
His first thought when he heard the news: sheer disbelief.
"It can't be happening, it can't, you know. I was wondering how, I just saw him a day ago and it's just so hard."
Liebrecht added the night before the crash, Jordan and the family were all out at the farm in Rhein, Sask., for a harvest wind-up. The next day Jordan was heading to Regina with a friend to watch his third Saskatchewan Roughrider game of the season.
Liebrecht said that night was the last time he saw his grandson, who he depended on for years on the farm running all the equipment.
"He drove me out to Madge Lake that night and the next day he texted me on his way to Regina and that's how fast things can change a guy's life, unreal," Liebrecht said.
A day after the crash, Jordan's uncle Jarret Stoll, NHL player with the Columbus Blue Jackets, flew home. Liebrecht said Jordan idolized his uncle and Jarret also held Jordan close to his heart.
"Jordan was very special to him," Liebrecht said. "When Jarret started playing hockey he just idolized Jarret all the way through, he went to almost every playoff game Jarret played."
Liebrecht added Jordan would go to games in Winnipeg, Edmonton and Calgary. Any chance he could watch his uncle — he was there. Jordan was also there both times Jarret hoisted the Stanley Cup with the Los Angeles Kings (2012 and 2014).
On Monday, Jarret's girlfriend and host of Dancing with the Stars Erin Andrews sent a message on Twitter saying she won't be hosting the show this week to be with Jarret's family following the death of his nephew.
Thank you to my <a href="https://twitter.com/DancingABC">@DancingABC</a> Family for supporting me while I take the week to be w/ family. Can't wait to be back in the ballroom next week!
—@ErinAndrewsBright future ahead lost
After graduating from Yorkton Regional High School, Liebrecht said Jordan was looking forward to moving over to work for his father's security company, eventually taking the business over.
Like many Canadians, Jordan grew up playing hockey, culminating in his time with the Yorkton Terriers in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League. Jordan was also an avid snowmobiler according to his grandfather.
While RCMP have released few details about the crash, Liebrecht said it's his understanding that the car Jordan was in, hit a large puddle of water on Highway 10, lost control and slammed into a car coming in the opposite direction.
Jordan's funeral has been planned for Wednesday Sept. 28 at Nexera Flexihall in Yorkton.