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| Calgary Inferno | |
|---|---|
 | |
| City | Calgary, Alberta, Canada |
| League | Canadian Women's Hockey League |
| Founded | 2011 |
| Folded | 2019 |
| Home arena | WinSport Canada |
| Colours | Red, yellow, black, white |
| General manager | Kristen Hagg |
| Head coach | Ryan Hilderman(co-coach) Mandi Duhamel(co-coach) |
| Media | PCSN.tv |
| Championships | |
| Playoff championships | 2 (2015–16, 2018–19) |
TheCalgary Inferno (previously known as Team Alberta, nickname "Honeybadgers", during the 2011–12 season) was a women'sice hockey team that joined theCanadian Women's Hockey League (CWHL) for the2011–12 season. The team played its home games at Joan Snyder Rink (Arena B) atWinSport Canada inCalgary,Alberta.[1] After two seasons without an official name, in 2013 the team picked a moniker drawing from Calgary'sNational Hockey League franchise, theCalgary Flames,[2] with whom they had a partnership.[3] For the 2013-14 season, it was announced that all Inferno home-games would be streamed live by PCSN.tv.[4]
In 2019, the CWHL ceased operations, as well as all teams that it directly operated – including the Inferno.[5]
TheCanadian Women's Hockey League (CWHL) announced on April 19, 2011, that it would merge with theWestern Women's Hockey League (WWHL) for the 2011–12 season. The merger featured one team based inEdmonton andCalgary as a combination of the former WWHL franchises theEdmonton Chimos andStrathmore Rockies. The team would play their games in various locations around Alberta.[6] Strathmore Rockies founder,Samantha Holmes-Domagala, joined the sponsorship division of the CWHL to look after the requirements of the expansion team.[7] On July 21, 2011, philanthropist Joan Snyder donated $2 million toWinSport Canada with the goal of ensuring priority rink access to female hockey players at all levels and help expand the CWHL with the creation of Team Alberta. Part of the donation covered the new addition to the Athletic and Ice Complex at Canada Olympic Park in Calgary and serve as the future home toHockey Canada. It also included four hockey rinks, one of which was called the Joan Snyder Rink.[8] Team Alberta would benefit with the allocation of free practice time, a dressing room exclusive to the club. The Joan Snyder Rink give priority to women's hockey bookings, but it also served as the Team Alberta's home rink.[9]
The first general manager wasSamantha Holmes, while the first head coach was Jason Schmidt. On July 21, 2011, the franchise participated in its first CWHL Draft. With the third overall pick in the2011 CWHL Draft, Team Alberta selectedMeaghan Mikkelson.[10] With the first pick overall in the2012 CWHL Draft, the team selectedHillary Pattenden. On October 28, 2011, Team Alberta played its first game in the CWHL versus theBurlington Barracudas. Laura Dostaler scored the first goal in Team Alberta history in a 4–2 victory.[11] Other goals were scored by Meghan Hunter, Jenna Cunningham and Courtney Sawchuk.
On September 23, 2013, after two years without an official name, the team was announced as the Calgary Inferno at theCalgary Flames' arena,Scotiabank Saddledome, prior to a pre-season game between the Flames and theNew York Rangers.[2] On March 13, 2016, the Calgary Inferno defeatedLes Canadiennes de Montreal in an 8–3 final to capture its first Clarkson Cup. Contested at Ottawa'sCanadian Tire Centre, the first Clarkson Cup final held in an NHL arena, Blayre Turnbull, Brianne Jenner, Jessica Campbell and Rebecca Johnston each scored twice.[12] GoaltenderDelayne Brian was recognized as the Most Valuable Player of the Clarkson Cup playoffs.[13]
On February 2, 2014, Danielle Stone broke two scoring records in Calgary Inferno franchise history. She began by topping Samantha Hunt's franchise record for most points in one season of 14 in a 2–1 shootout win against the Montreal Stars. In the same game, she set a new record for most points in one season by an Inferno rookie.[14] In that same game,Jessica Wong logged a goal, providing her with seven points in the first five games of her CWHL career, a new franchise record for the Inferno.
At the3rd CWHL All-Star Game in 2017,Jillian Saulnier andJess Jones both scored a hat trick,[15] becoming the first competitors in CWHL All-Star Game history to achieve the feat.
| Year | GP | W | L | OTL | Pts | GF | GA | Final standing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011–12 | 15 | 5 | 10 | 0 | 20 | 38 | 66 | 5th |
| 2012–13 | 24 | 3 | 21 | 0 | 6 | 30 | 86 | 5th |
| 2013–14 | 24 | 12 | 11 | 1 | 25 | 62 | 70 | 3rd |
| 2014–15 | 24 | 15 | 6 | 3 | 33 | 84 | 64 | 2nd |
| 2015–16[16] | 17 | 13 | 3 | 1 | 27 | 77 | 49 | 1st |
| 2016–17[16] | 24 | 20 | 4 | 0 | 40 | 100 | 45 | 1st |
| 2017–18 | 28 | 17 | 7 | 4 | 38 | 96 | 70 | 3rd |
| 2018–19 | 28 | 23 | 4 | 1 | 47 | 111 | 54 | 1st |
Updated August 8, 2018.[17]
| Season | Leader (F) | GP | G | A | Pts | Leader (D) | GP | G | A | Pts | PPG | SHG | GWG |
| 2011-12[21] | Sam Hunt | 15 | 5 | 9 | 14 | Meaghan Mikkelson | 15 | 2 | 9 | 11 | Jenna Cunningham(4) | Bianca Zuber (1) | Cunningham(2) |
| 2012-13[22] | Jenna Cunningham | 23 | 4 | 4 | 8 | Meaghan Mikkelson Tara Watchorn | 23 22 | 3 3 | 4 4 | 7 7 | Cunningham (2) | None | Mikkelson (2) |
| 2013-14[23] | Danielle Stone | 24 | 15 | 10 | 25 | Tegan Schroeder | 24 | 1 | 9 | 10 | Stone (5) | Chelsea Purcell (1) | Jenna Cunningham (3) |
| 2014-15 | Rebecca Johnston | 24 | 17 | 20 | 37 | Jessica Wong | 24 | 2 | 11 | 13 | Jessica Campbell (5) | ||
| 2015–16 | Brianne Jenner | 24 | 10 | 18 | 28 | Hayleigh Cudmore | 24 | 2 | 13 | 15 | Brittany Esposito (5) | Jillian Saulnier Rebecca Johnston Kristen Hagg (1) | Saulnier (4) |
| 2016–17 | Brianne Jenner | 20 | 9 | 18 | 27 | Meaghan Mikkelson | 22 | 5 | 10 | 15 |
In preparation of its first season, the Team Alberta CWHL selected several players during a special draft of the league held on July 21, 2011, in Mississauga, Ontario.
Reference[10]
