Youth will have to fuel the Inferno
Three veteran mainstays retiring from CWHL to pursue career opportunities
The Calgary Inferno will turn the page on what marks the end of an era with three of their veteran leaders — goaltender Delayne Brian, blue-liner Jacquie Pierri and forward Brittany Esposito — officially announcing their retirements.
All three opted to explore new opportunities with their off-ice careers.
Brian has been with the team for five years and will stay in Calgary as she trains for a new position.
“As far as my career goes, I have a six-month training program that starts in a couple weeks. It’s a shift work-type job, which would make it nearly impossible to try to play and work at the same time,” Brian said. “I know it’s going to be tough for me to let go, but I always knew this day would come. I’m just glad to see the progression of the team and the league.”
Pierri played with the Inferno for five seasons and last season was her best statistically with four goals and 15 points. She plans to study in Barcelona to complete her masters in sustainable energy and entrepreneurship. For Pierri, her time in the league meant a lot.
“It meant the opportunity to play with and against the best players in the world and it has been an amazing experience,” Pierri said. “It’s been great to see the progress and I’m excited the progress the next five years will bring.”
As for Esposito, she will find herself as the assistant coach for the University of New Brunswick women’s hockey team. She’s leaving on a high note with last season being her best with 16 goals and 25 points. In her fourth season in the Canadian Women’s Hockey League, she led her team in points.
“I had a feeling going into the offseason last spring that the 201718 season would be my last season with the Inferno,” said Esposito. “I still love playing the game, but I just felt the game was starting to pass me by and I was offered an amazing opportunity to stay connected to the game after I finished playing.”
For all three players, hockey will still remain part of their lives in one way or another as they resisted using the description of hanging up their skates.
Certainly, the Inferno will miss their skill and leadership on and off the ice, although with the work they and the rest of the team have been doing in the community, a new generation of players is getting ready to take over the reins.
“The Jr. Inferno partnership with Girls Hockey Calgary was probably the most exciting change for me personally,” said Brian. “Seeing little girls all over the city with their Jr. Inferno logo on their hoodies was amazing. When we would go out to their games and practices, they were always so excited.”
“It was amazing to play in such a competitive league and to know that I was helping grow the game for the next generation,” said Esposito.