(by Jason Simmonds)
WINNIPEG – The Chelsea Carey rink may be one of the best-kept secrets in women’s curling.
The Morden-based team knows all too well what it’s like to face the high level of competition in a curling-mad province like Manitoba.
“During provincials, we had three of the top five women’s teams in the world in one province,” said Carey. “Any time you have that obviously it’s going to be pretty tough… “It is what it is, and we are happy to see Manitoba being so successful. It certainly makes our job a little tougher.”
Chelsea Carey (submitted photo)
Carey, however, has been right there knocking on the door in major events, and her rink was named the 2011 World Curling Tour breakthrough team of the year. She has been runner-up in the final of the Manitoba Scotties the last two years to Cathy Overton-Clapham and Jennifer Jones, and lost the 2011 Canada Cup to Jones.
Carey will be one of the eight women’s rinks competing in the Capital One Grand Slam of Curling Players’ Championship in Summerside from April 17 to 22.
“We’re actually really excited,” said Carey, who is employed as a senior sales representative. “None of us have ever been (to P.E.I.). It will be really neat to see it. We have not spent much time on the East Coast, so we’re looking forward to it.”