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Hayley Wickenheiser to enter the CWHL draft, join Calgary Inferno

The women's hockey scene in Calgary was already pretty good, but this is a massive get. Time to start going to watch the games, everyone.

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5 years ago

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If you're a hockey fan, then you know who Hayley Wickenheiser is. One of the most prolific women to ever play the game, she's a four-time Olympic gold medalist, one-time silver, a former University of Calgary Dino, and soon, she'll be a member of the Calgary Inferno.

Wickenheiser will enter the CWHL draft, slated for Aug. 23, 2015, with the intention of being selected by the Inferno. Under CWHL rules, players submit a list of "acceptable locations" where they would like to play, choosing as few as one or as many as three. Considering how Wickenheiser's life is already in Calgary, it's pretty much certain she'll be drafted by the Inferno.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Cassie Campbell and Gina Kingsbury welcome Hayley Wickenheiser to the CWHL draft. <a href="http://t.co/Z4I4BhdKbk">pic.twitter.com/Z4I4BhdKbk</a></p>&mdash; Matchsticks&amp;Gasoline (@MatchsticksCGY) <a href="https://twitter.com/MatchsticksCGY/status/621062698638245888">July 14, 2015</a></blockquote>

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She'll be celebrating her 37th birthday before the draft, but that doesn't mean she doesn't have a lot to offer a team. She has an incredible amount of both experience and talent to offer Calgary, even if new assistant coach Gina Kingsbury isn't entirely certain of how she'll be used just yet.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Wickenheiser: &quot;Happy to be playing again.&quot;</p>&mdash; Matchsticks&amp;Gasoline (@MatchsticksCGY) <a href="https://twitter.com/MatchsticksCGY/status/621063818676826112">July 14, 2015</a></blockquote>

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Wickenheiser is yet another Olympian to join the Inferno. Rebecca Johnston (the CWHL's leading scorer in the 2014-15 season) and Hayley Irwin are already members of the Inferno, but Brianne Jenner – another Canadian Olympian – is also entering the CWHL draft, with the intention of playing in Calgary.

It's extremely good hockey, and now, it's going to be even better. Season tickets for the Inferno go on sale on July 17 – and it's certainly time to start coming out.

by Ari Yanover

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