Chelsea Carey has taken over as the skip for Jennifer Jones’s young curling team, which is ranked second in Canada and fourth in the world. Despite the pressure to fill Jones’s shoes, Carey insists that she is not trying to do so, as she believes Jones is the greatest curler of all time. Jones retired from team curling after the final Grand Slam of the season, prompting her former teammates to choose Carey to lead them to the 2025 Olympic trials. Carey, a six-time national champion from Alberta, is originally from Winnipeg and currently works in Calgary as a marketing and communications director for KidSport. She has experience curling in multiple provinces, including Manitoba, Alberta, and Saskatchewan, and has participated in seven Hearts appearances throughout her career.
In the absence of a full-time team in the previous season, Carey subbed for various teams, including Jones’s, and participated in several tour events both in Canada and internationally. Despite initially planning to take a step back from full-time play, Carey saw the opportunity to sub as a way to stay relevant in the Canadian curling scene and potentially audition for the next Olympic cycle. When Jones announced that the national championship in Calgary would be her last, Carey reached out to the team after the Tournament of Hearts in February, setting herself up for inevitable comparisons to Jones. Following interviews with Burgess, Zacharias, and Lenentine, Carey was chosen to lead the team into the next phase of their careers.
Carey acknowledges the challenge of stepping into a team without Jennifer Jones, as the legendary curler is considered incomparable at this point in her career. However, Carey sees this opportunity as a chance to prove herself and continue her own legacy in the sport. The team’s future competition schedule will depend on the release of the World Curling Tour and Grand Slam schedules, but one thing is certain – they have already secured a spot in the 2025 Tournament of Hearts in Thunder Bay, Ontario. With new qualification rules from Curling Canada, Carey’s team earned an early berth by being ranked second in the Canadian Team Ranking System, behind defending champion Rachel Homan. Other Manitoba teams, including Kerri Einarson and Kaitlyn Lawes, have also qualified for the national championship.
The decision to choose Carey as the new skip for Jones’s team was not taken lightly, as the young team members knew the challenge of replacing a legend like Jones. Despite the pressure and inevitable comparisons, Carey is focused on leading her team to success in the upcoming season and beyond. As they await the release of the competition schedules, Carey and her teammates are gearing up for their first season together and embracing the opportunity to prove themselves on the national and international stage. With a strong foundation and a supportive team behind her, Carey is ready to take on the challenge and make her mark in the world of curling.
Overall, Chelsea Carey’s transition to leading Jennifer Jones’s former team comes with both excitement and pressure, as she steps into the shoes of a curling legend. With a solid track record and experience in the sport, Carey is well-equipped to guide her team to success in the upcoming season and beyond. While she acknowledges the challenges of being compared to Jones, Carey is focused on establishing her own legacy in the sport and proving her worth as a top-tier skip. As they prepare for the 2025 Tournament of Hearts, Carey and her teammates are ready to take on the competition and showcase their skills on the national stage.
