Inferno plan to Spark awareness and score some goals
China’s Vanke Rays in town for Start the Spark game
The Calgary Inferno are out to raise the roof, raise awareness for youth mental health and raze the Vanke Rays.
Sounds like a busy weekend for the city’s Canadian Women’s Hockey League club.
The Inferno host China’s Rays, one of two Chinese teams added to the CWHL this season, for two regular-season games this weekend.
At the same time, the Inferno, in conjunction with the Sheldon Kennedy Child Advocacy Centre, will host the third annual Start the Spark game to help bring awareness to youth mental health. The Inferno will wear limited edition purple jerseys that will be auctioned off in support of the SKCAC, and special guest Sheldon Kennedy will perform the ceremonial puck-drop. The opening ceremonies also feature a recognition of the nine Inferno players heading to the Olympics next month.
Puck drop for Saturday’s Start the Spark game is at 6:30 p.m. at WinSport Arena A, while Sunday’s tilt goes at 12:30 p.m. at WinSport B, the Joan Snyder Arena.
“Start the Spark is so important because it brings mental health awareness to people of all ages,” said Inferno forward Brittany Esposito, who is playing in her second Start the Spark game. “Jessica Campbell, the founder of Start the Spark, did an amazing job bringing this initiative to youth across Calgary. We’ve gone to different schools the past two years and have been able to show students that it is important to talk about their mental health. An event like this helps to lift the stigma associated with mental illness.
“It’s important that people know it’s OK not to be OK. We try to inspire conversation about mental health and help youth understand that they can discuss their mental health with others but also show they can be part of a support system for their friends who may have mental health issues.”
As for the on-ice excitement, the Rays and Inferno are tied in the standings with 23 points, although the Calgary club holds two games in hand. Les Canadiennes de Montreal and Kunlun Red Star, China’s other CWHL club, are three points ahead at the top of the standings.
This is the only visit Vanke will make to Calgary for the regular season. Calgary heads to China in the first week of February.
The Inferno will look for an offensive spark from rookie Sophie Shirley, who returns to CWHL action after playing on Team Canada’s national development team in Germany. Shirley is tied with Esposito for the team lead in points with 11. Esposito and Rhianna Kurio are tied for the team lead in goals with six apiece.
Goaltender Delayne Brian has plans to be back in net for one game this weekend after suffering a lower-body injury in the fall.
The Rays have four players in the Top 10 in league scoring. Forward Cayley Mercer leads the way with 30 points, followed by Ashleigh Brykaliuk with 23, Brooke Webster with 20 and Hanna Bunton with 19. All four are in their rookie season.
The Vanke squad is backstopped by another rookie, netminder Elaine Chuli. Chuli has a .938 save percentage, 2.10 goals-against average and four shutouts.
Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at the door.