Inferno Clinch Top Spot in CWHL

The Calgary Inferno just needed a single point over the Family Day weekend to clinch top spot in the CWHL going into the playoffs, and the ladies didn’t disappoint as they beat Les Canadiennes Montreal in the first game Saturday 3-0.

Haley Irwin opened the scoring at 7:42 of the 2nd period with assists from Rebecca Johnston and Katelyn Gosling. Blayre Turnbull scored before the end of 2nd making it 2-0. Gosling once again assisted on the goal along with Bailey Bram. Jill Saulnier capped off the scoring into an empty net near the end of the game, assisted by Iya Gavrilova to make the final 3-0. Emerance Maschmeyer stopped all 25 shots she faced for her 5th win of the season.

With top spot wrapped up, you would think the Inferno would let off the pedal a little, but that was not the case. The inferno fired 28 shots at the Montreal netminder in the final regular season game, but came up short losing 5-3. Blayre Turnbull opened up the scoring short-handed in the 1st period, assisted by Louise Warren. Montreal then scored three unanswered goals to make it a 3-1 game. Brigette Lacquette notched a power-play goal to cut the Montreal lead to 3-2. The lone assist went to Sarah Davis. Montreal scored to make it 4-2, then Jessica Campbell scored, assisted by Bailey Bram to make it 4-3 just over a minute into the 3rd period. Montreal added one more goal to make the final 5-3. Genevieve Lacasse allowed 5 goals on 38 shots.

As mentioned, the Calgary Inferno clinched the top spot in the CWHL, finishing the regular season with a record of 20 wins and 4 losses and 40 points.

Brianne Jenner led the team in scoring with 9 goals and 18 assists for 27 points in 20 games (5th in CWHL). Bailey Bram finished right behind Jenner with 12 goals and 12 assists for 24 points in 22 games (6th in CWHL).

Goaltender Genevieve Lacasse led the team with 8 wins (2nd in the CWHL). Emerance Maschmeyer led the team with a 1.49 goals against average (1st in the CWHL). Maschmeyer also led the team and CWHL with a save percentage of 0.946.

The Inferno will now take on the Toronto Furies in a best-of-3 semi-final this weekend. Game times are as follows:

Game 1 - FRI, FEB 24th @ 8:00pm MST, Carstairs Memorial Arena

Game 2 - SAT, FEB 25th @ 3:30pm MST, Winsport Joan Snyder Arena

Game 3 - SUN, FEB 26th @ 12:45pm MST, Carstairs Memorial Arena (if necessary)

Check out the Calgary Inferno website for more news, scores, schedule and stats.