The PWHL makes a stop in Calgary with Takeover Tour

PWHL players reflect on the state of women's hockey as the Toronto Sceptres and Ottawa Charge face off at Saddledome on Wednesday.

Women’s hockey sure has come a long way over the years.

Speaking to the press at the Saddledome ahead of Wednesday night’s PWHL Takeover Tour game against Ottawa, Toronto Sceptres Captain Blayre Turnbull remembered when things weren’t so good in women’s hockey.

She was playing with the Calgary Inferno, a team that won two league championships but couldn’t get any traction with fans.

“We were shocked,” said Turnbull.

“There were girls on my team who played for Toronto when we were back in the CWHL and we were skating around before practice (on Tuesday) and we were like there’s more people here to watch practice than we have had watch us play a (CWHL) game!

“So yeah -- it’s been crazy to see the growth of our game and how much support we’ve had in the PWHL.”

Expansion

Right now, the PWHL has eight teams and the league is looking to expand.

Wednesday night’s game between the Sceptres and Ottawa Charge will be somewhat of a test drive to see if Calgary will support women’s hockey at the box office.

Charge captain Brianne Jenner was also part of that championship Inferno team and said having a PWHL team in Calgary would be great.

“I think it could work in many places,” she said.

“I think Calgary is a great hockey market and an amazing city and I certainly loved my time here.”

Why it has worked

Women’s hockey is thriving and these players aren’t surprised. They’re having success because people put money into it and got behind it.

Charge forward Rebecca Leslie says it’s been nice to see so many fans embrace the product.

“I mean as a female hockey player I always knew that the quality on the ice was there,” she said.

“It’s just about the investment and the fans getting behind us. As players we knew that this could always happen -- it was just about convincing everyone else that it could happen.

“To see that it’s finally here is really special.”

Salute to the Inferno

Several of the retired Inferno players will be at Wednesday night’s game. Both Turnbull and Jenner say those players helped pave the way for the PWHL.

“It’s special,” said Turnbull.

“You know part of me wishes that they could be out on the ice playing but I know they’ll be watching and cheering us on. I know they’re all super pumped for this league and how far the game has come since they stopped playing.”

“I don’t think we’d be here without a lot of teammates I played with on the Inferno,” said Jenner.

“They worked nine-to-five jobs to keep our league going and that was the foundation that this league is built on.”

For more information about the PWHL Takeover Tour, go here.