Olympians Jenner and Turnbull return to Calgary Inferno

The 17-3-4 Calgary Inferno just got some reinforcements. Star forwards Brianne Jenner and Blayre Turnbull are returning to the team after winning silver medals with Team Canada at the PyeongChang 2018 Olympics.

“I’m really excited to rejoin the Inferno,” Jenner shared in a press release. “The club has been my home for the past two years and I’m excited to finish out the season with them. I know the team has had a great season so far and I hope I can help contribute to continued success as we head into the final regular season weekends and playoffs.”

Jenner led Calgary in scoring last season with 27 points in 20 games and Turnbull was tied for fourth on the team (with Jenner) in goals scored. In their absence forwards Brittany Esposito, Iya Gavrilova, Sophie Shirley, and Louise Warren have been the Inferno’s leading scorers along with defender Katelyn Gosling.

In the PyeongChang Olympics Jenner averaged nearly 19 minutes a night for Team Canada and was used in all situations, including the penalty kill. She finished the 2018 Olympics with two assists and 14 shots on goal. The 24-year-old Turnbull saw far less ice time, but managed to pick up three assists — all at even strength — in her first Olympic appearance with Team Canada.

“The best thing for an athlete is to surround themselves with excellence, greatness and character,” Calgary head coach Tomas Pacina shared in the team’s press release. “We believe, we are just doing that by welcoming our two Olympians back to their home team. For them to be back playing one week after they lost a heartbreaking Olympic final speaks volumes of who they are as people. It fits perfectly with the Inferno philosophy, which is, it is not what happens to us but how we respond that determines the course of our lives.”

There was no mention of the Inferno’s other 2018 Olympians returning to the club.

The Inferno have four games remaining in the regular season before the 2018 Clarkson Cup Playoffs. Calgary is riding its four game winning streak into Markham this weekend before wrapping up the regular season in Montreal against Les Canadiennes.