Inferno keep heat on their pursuers in standings
The Calgary Inferno had an excellent weekend on the road, winning Saturday ’s game against the hometeam Markham Thunder 3-1 and Sunday’s contest 7-2.
These two wins bump the Inferno up to the top of the Canadian Women’s Hockey League, seven points ahead of the secondplace squad, Montreal’s Les Canadiennes, and nine points ahead of the third-place Thunder.
The success this weekend also moved newly-anointed captain Rebecca Johnston into the league lead for points, 20. She is joined in the top-ten by teammates Brianne Jenner, Brianna Decker, Rebecca Leslie and Zoe Hickel.
On Saturday night, Jess Jones came out hopping for the Markham side and took advantage of a power play on a cross-checking penalty by Jenner just 1:45 into the game. First-star Jenner got even with a goal four minutes later on assists by Leslie and Kelty Apperson. Jenner then scored again with three minutes remaining in the period to put the visitors up by one goal.
The second period showed no change on the scoreboard, and neither team could capitalize on power-play opportunities.
With five minutes left in the game, second-star Hickel scored, assisted by Decker and Johnston. Goalie Alex Rigsby made 22 saves for the Inferno while Erica Howe made 33 saves for the home side.
Sunday’s exciting game saw the Thunder again open scoring early on a goal by Jenna McParland, assisted by Laura Fortino. Leslie scored for the Inferno to tie it up. Victoria Bach then scored for the hosts.
And the Inferno’s Rebecca Johnston tied the game with less than a minute left in the period.
In the second, it was Decker scoring to put the Inferno up for the first time in the game. Leslie then scored with five minutes left in the period. And Jenner counted a goal with two minutes left to go to put the Inferno up 5-2.
After Howe entered the Thunder in place of starter Liz Knox, who made 14 saves, Inferno defender Katelyn Gosling snuck a puck in for a goal and Decker buried one more halfway through the third period. Rigsby made 31 saves in the win.
The Inferno host fifth-place Toronto Furies on Saturday at the Gary W. Harris Canada Winter Games Centre in Red Deer (7 p.m.) and on Sunday at WinSport’s Joan Snyder Arena (10:30 a.m.) before heading into the Christmas break.
MIDGET AA TOURNAMENT
A new tournament developed by the Calgary Royals Athletic Association and Global Sport Academy Group will provide Midget AA hockey players with a chance to showcase their talents in front of coaches and scouts from Junior A (AJHL, BCHL and SJHL) and Junior B (KIJHL) teams from across Western Canada.
Hosted by the two Calgary Royals Midget AA teams — Blue and Gold — the Western Canada Midget AA Showdown takes place Dec. 13-16 at Max Bell Centre.
The goal of the tournament is to highlight the opportunities that exist for Midget AA players who in the past may not have gained as much attention as the Midget AAA level. This goal will be accomplished by not only providing these players with a chance to play in front of junior team coaches and scouts but also through a family education session with scouts, former players and guest speakers, which will take place on the Friday afternoon of the tournament.
Twenty-eight coaches and scouts have already confirmed their attendance at the tournament, representing teams from the Alberta Junior Hockey League, the British Columbia Hockey League, the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League and the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League.
The long-term goal for this mid-December showdown is to become the premier Midget AA tourney attracting hockey teams and junior scouts and coaches from all over Canada.