Chelsea Carey Distinguishes Herself from Jennifer Jones as She Takes the Helm of Top Curling Team
In a recent announcement, Chelsea Carey clarified that she does not intend to replace Jennifer Jones, but rather to lead her own way in curling. Carey has taken over as the skip for Jones’s former team, which is currently ranked second in Canada and fourth globally. Jones, a six-time Canadian champion, two-time world champion, and Olympic gold medalist, retired from competitive curling earlier this month following the final Grand Slam event of the season.
Carey expressed her reluctance to be compared to Jones, acknowledging Jones’s unparalleled status in the sport. “I don’t feel comfortable being compared to Jennifer because she is arguably the greatest curler of all time,” Carey stated. “The notion of trying to fill her shoes is unrealistic because no one can truly do that.”
The transition saw Jones’s former team, consisting of third Karlee Burgess, second Emily Zacharias, and lead Lauren Lenentine—all under 25 and hailing from Manitoba—select Carey as their new skip for the upcoming Olympic trials. This team had previously reached the national finals twice with Jones at the helm.
Carey, who is 39 and hails from Winnipeg but currently resides in Calgary, has previously led teams to Scotties Tournament of Hearts victories in 2016 and 2019. Despite not having a full-time team for the 2023-24 season, Carey stayed active by substituting for various teams, including Jones’s, and achieving notable placements in several events.
Reflecting on her recent career, Carey explained that she had deliberately not formed a full-time team the previous year. “I made a conscious choice to step back and assumed I would either join a team as a fifth player or fill in as needed,” she said. Her decision to stay involved by substituting was also a strategic move to remain visible in the curling scene for future opportunities.
Carey’s move to join Jones’s former team came after Jones announced her retirement from competitive play. Carey, aware of the inevitable comparisons, recognized the challenge but was motivated by the opportunity. She was selected for the role after being interviewed by the team members.
Looking ahead, Carey and her new team are preparing for their first season together. They await the release of the World Curling Tour and Grand Slam schedules to determine their competition lineup. However, Carey will not need to win a Manitoba championship to qualify for the 2025 Tournament of Hearts in Thunder Bay, Ontario, due to Curling Canada’s updated qualification rules. As the second-ranked team in the Canadian Team Ranking System, Carey and her team, along with Rachel Homan, Kerri Einarson, and Kaitlyn Lawes, have already secured their place in the tournament.