Inferno adds to first-place lead in CWHL

The Calgary Inferno thundered back onto the win column in the Canadian Women’s Hockey League on Sunday afternoon.

The Inferno prevailed over visiting Markham Thunder 5-2 at Cochrane Arena, with three of the Inferno’s goals coming on the power play.

The hosts were determined to come out on top after a tough loss Saturday night against the Thunder, losing 3-2 in a shootout.

Rebecca Leslie snuck a first-period power play goal past Liz Knox in the Thunder net before Jamie Lee Rattray scored just over a minute later for the visitors.

In a high-scoring second period, the Inferno got a 5-on-3 power play marker from Rebecca Johnston off a rebound, another power play tally from Blayre Turnbull, an even-strength goal from Zoe Hickel and a short-handed counter from Venla Hovi sandwiched around a reply by the Thunder’s Laura Stacey.

The Thunder’s Laura Fortino rounded out the scoring late in the third period against Inferno goaltender Alex Rigsby.

The Inferno improved to 101-1 and sit in first place overall with 21 points, five ahead of the both Thunder and Montreal’s Les Canadiennes.

Saturday saw Leslie and Hickel score for the Inferno, but the Thunder’s Kristen Barbara netted the winner in the shootout at Max Bell Centre.

“First of all, coming off a huge weekend against Montreal, we needed to be prepared, and Markham plays really hard and just knowing that being first in the league we have a target on our back,” Hickel said.

“We have to meet that resistance with more resistance and keep battling and doing the little things right.”