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A celebration of life for Brooklyn Anderson will take place on Friday at the Shellbrook Community Hall. (Image Credit: Submitted)
Brooklyn Anderson

This one’s for Brookie’: Shellbrook teen remembered after fatal crash.

Sep 16, 2026 | 5:47 PM

The regular season hadn’t even started, but Brooklyn Anderson was already planning which of her brother’s hockey games she could attend this fall.

Her mother Brandee Anderson said she had become ‘such a big fan.’ She even went to watch tryouts and decided with her mom who the team should pick and who they should cut.

“Maybe the coaches wouldn’t agree with us, but we had our choices,” Anderson recalled.

Tragically, Brooklyn’s plans to be in the stands ended Saturday, when the 16-year-old girl from Shellbrook died in a collision near Hepburn. Anderson was in the the SUV with her daughter when it happened. A Blaine Lake man has since been charged with impaired driving causing death.

“I really, truly hope that he gets the book thrown at him hard,” she said.

Anderson said she and Brooklyn were travelling on Highway 12 when she saw a truck coming toward them.

“He kind of, he came out of nowhere,” she said. “And he barreled right into us.”

She remembers the impact and the SUV spinning before it came to rest in a ditch. Anderson said she got out, found a phone and called 911 while yelling for help and for Brooklyn.

“It was horrifying,” she said.

RCMP said Brooklyn, who was driving, was pronounced dead at the scene. Anderson and the truck’s driver were taken to hospital with injuries described as non-life-threatening.

Riley Farthing, 22, of Blaine Lake appeared in Saskatoon provincial court Monday. The charge against him has not been proven in court. Rosthern RCMP continue to investigate with the help of a collision reconstructionist.

Anderson loved softball and was looking forward to returning to the Prince Albert Aces.
Anderson loved softball and was looking forward to returning to the Prince Albert Aces. (Image Credit: PAMSA/Facebook)

Anderson described her daughter as responsible and ‘rarely still’. Brooklyn got herself up for school, sometimes worked afterward and spent time with a close group of friends. She played volleyball and loved softball. An injury had actually kept her out of softball for a time, so when Brooklyn made a team in Prince Albert, she didn’t care which team it was, Anderson said. She was just happy to play. Even after the season ended, Brooklyn went to extra practices through July. She wanted her coaches to know she hoped to be back next year.

“She wanted to make sure she was playing,” Anderson said.

Tributes and support have been pouring in for Brooklyn and the Anderson family. A Go Fund Me was created to raise funds so they can have the time to grieve, recover, and heal.

On Friday, the U18 AA Parkland Elks hockey team plans to honour Brooklyn at their game. Anderson said her daughter had friends on the team and had plans to go to the final tryouts on Sunday to see who made the roster. Two of those friends will now be among her pallbearers.

The team posted on it’s social media page about the love, generosity and support the community has shown. They plan to give proceeds from their 50/50 to the Brooklyn Anderson Fund and the pot is already guaranteed at $3,500 thanks to local businesses and donors.

“This community has shown us once again just how incredible it truly is,” the team’s post read. “One team. One community. One family. This one’s for Brookie.”

Anderson said they’re grateful for the support, and she hopes people will continue to keep them in their minds.

“Keep coming by after this funeral,” she said. “I think that’s when it’s going to get pretty scary and quiet.”

Anderson wishes people who never met Brooklyn could have known the daughter she knew.

“She was just…she was a joy. She was amazing. I wish everybody could understand that. She certainly had a light about her.”

A celebration of life will be held for Brooklyn at 2 p.m. on Friday at Shellbrook Community Hall. In lieu of tributes, memorial donations can be made in memory of Brooklyn to the Prince Albert SPCA.

panews@pattisonmedia.com