A devastating accident took the life of young hockey player <a href='https://www.woodfuneralhome.com/obituary/Carter-Barnes' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>Carter Barnes</a>, which has plunged the entire hockey community into a deep state of mourning. The Idaho Falls hockey world mourned the loss of young player and popular referee Carter Barnes, 17, <a href='https://localnews8.com/news/2025/04/14/sticks-out-4-carter-local-hockey-fans-honor-youth-player-carter-barnes/' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>who tragically lost his life in an automobile accident</a> this past weekend. <div align='center' class='pl20 pr20'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/EastIDNews/status/1911885563541729698'><div style='border:1px solid #CCCCCC;border-radius:10px;padding:20px;width:300px;'>Loading from Twitter ...</div></a></blockquote></div> Carter started skating at the age of five with the Idaho Falls Youth Hockey Association. He grew to love the sport that only grew stronger over the years, and he paid it forward by <a href='https://www.woodfuneralhome.com/obituary/Carter-Barnes' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>volunteering as a youth referee, his obituary said.</a> In the aftermath of the devastating news, the Idaho Falls Spud Kings and local fans have extended their deepest condolences to the Barnes family. The Idaho Falls Youth Hockey Association posted on Facebook honoring Carter and calling him more than a teammate--he was a remarkable young man who brought kindness, grit, and positivity to every rink he stepped on. His loss is deeply felt, and our thoughts are with his family, friends, coaches, and teammates. Our thoughts and prayers are with Carter's family and the entire local youth hockey community during this incredibly difficult time, wrote the Idaho Falls Spud Kings and Mountain America Center in a post on Facebook. Throughout the area, players and fans alike have participated in the social media trend #sticksout4carter, placing hockey sticks on their doors in a warm gesture of support and respect. We at Snake River Youth Hockey Association would like to offer our deepest condolences to the Barnes family, wrote the group on Facebook. Carter was not a member of our Yeti family, and we didn't know him personally, but many of our players and coaches did! Today, we honor Carter by placing our sticks out for him! Carter is survived by his parents, who loved him so much, his brothers and sisters, and his stepsisters. We wish Carter's entire family and friends our deepest condolences, and may he rest in peace.