Calgary, Alta – On Sunday afternoon in the Nation’s capital the two top teams in the Canadian Women’s Hockey League (CWHL) battled it out for the league’s victory. In Calgary’s first appearance at the Clarkson Cup Final they won the game 8-3; dominated Montreal Les Canadiennes from the first puck drop, scored the first goal and never looked back.

Calgary had four players, Rebecca Johnston, Brianne Jenner, Blayre Turnbull and Jessica Campbell with two goals apiece. Calgary’s netminder Delayne Brian played her best game of the season, saving 38 shots from Montreal, who outshot Calgary’s 19 shots on net, but couldn’t get more than three goals by Brian’s shield. Brian took home the first star of the game and the MVP award in the game. Eleven Inferno team members contributed to the game points.

The game played out exactly to Calgary’s game plan. Calgary drew first blood with a goal from Rebecca Johnston and assists from Jillian Saulnier and Brianne Jenner. Both teams took advantage of the power play in the first period. Montreal’s Marie-Phillip Poulin scored to tie the game up about half way through the period with assists to Caroline Ouellette and Ann-Sophie Bettz. Calgary’s captain Brianne Jenner answered back on a power play with an assist from linemate Johnston.

The second was a high scoring period. Jessica Campbell scored the first goal for Calgary on an assist from Sarah Davis. Half way through the period Blayre Turnbull blew past the Montreal defense and snuck the puck through the five hole of Montreal goaltender Charline Labonte. Montreal’s Noemie Marin responded with a goal two minutes later with assists from Caroline Ouellette and Cathy Chartrand. Calgary then turned back up ice and Turnbull buried her second goal of the game on another assist from Hayley Wickenheiser and Brigette Lacquette. The period ended in a 5-2 score for the Inferno.

Calgary continued to add to their lead over Montreal in the third period, Jessica Campbell opened the period with her second goal of the game followed by Rebecca Johnston’s second goal. Montreal secured one more goal with eight minutes left in the game, though after pulling Charline Labonte to add six attackers couldn’t get any more pucks passed Brian. Brianne Jenner finished the game with one minute left and an empty net goal.

Three stars of the game:

1. Delayne Brian, Calgary Inferno

2. Rebecca Johnston, Calgary Inferno

3. Blayre Turnbull, Calgary Inferno

Montreal and Calgary survived the 24-game season and a best of three game playoff series to play in the final, in the winner-takes-all Clarkson Cup game. The Clarkson Cup was named after former governor general Adrienne Clarkson. Both teams battled hard against each other all season. Montreal finished the regular season in first place with 42 points from 20 wins, 1 shoot out loss and three losses, two of which were delivered by the Inferno. Calgary finished in second place with 16 wins, one over time loss, one shoot out loss and six regulation losses. Montreal swept the Toronto Furies to make it to the final and Calgary swept Brampton.

To top off a victorious weekend for the Inferno, the weekend started with the Canadian Women Hockey League’s Award Gala. The Rookie of the Year Award was presented to Calgary Inferno standout Elana Lovell, who racked-up 26 points through 24 games in her inaugural season with the CWHL and finished in tenth spot in league scoring.