Inferno holding tryouts, training camp this weekend

Thirty-three skaters are currently skating for a chance to become a member of the Inferno this weekend, Thursday through Sunday, at WinSport's Canada Olympic Park in Calgary.

The Inferno announced the training camp roster Thursday. Of the group, 20 players return from the team that dominated the CWHL for much of the regular season, finishing second and ultimately losing to the then-Montreal Stars (newly renamed Les Canadiennes) in the Clarkson Cup playoffs. Among them are Olympians Rebecca Johnston and Haley Irwin, the latter of whom looks like she's been back on the ice for a bit after missing much of last season due to injury. Brittany Esposito and Jessica Campbell, two rookies who impressed last season, are also in the fold, along with the entire defensive corps from 2014-15 and goaltender Delayne Brian.

Duking it out with them for a spot on the team is the draft class of 2015, including — most notably — Hayley Wickenheiser and Brianne Jenner, two more additions to a roster chock-full of Team Canada representatives. Forward Jillian Saulnier of Cornell and defenseman Brigette Lacquette of the University of Minnesota Duluth are also a couple of names to keep an eye on, if you were paying attention around draft time in August.

Meaghan Mikkelson is also looking to make a comeback with the Inferno after taking time off to have a baby. (Side note: her #NameMyBaby campaign on Twitter was kind of adorable.) The defenseman played with the Inferno — then Team Alberta — in their inaugural 2011-12 season, and also won Olympic gold with Team Canada in 2010 and 2014. Should she make the team, she would help Calgary take up the mantle from Boston as the most Olympian-loaded team in the CWHL.

The full roster is here. The final lineup will be announced before the Inferno's opening weekend against the Blades, Oct. 24-25.

by Angelica Rodriguez