Chelsea Carey Remains Silent on Karlee Burgess’s Departure

Team Carey Faces the Ice Without Burgess: A Season in transition

The curling world was stunned earlier this year when Karlee Burgess,long-time lead for Team Carey,announced her departure on January 2nd. The news sent ripples through the sport, immediately impacting Team carey’s future and raising questions about their path forward.“I’m not there yet — there’s still a few things that need to happen before I’m going to be prepared to say anything, if I’m even ready then,” Carey admitted in an interview with Sportsnet, clearly grappling with the weight of the situation.

Burgess’s decision proved devastating for the team, which also included second Emily Zacharias and lead Lauren Lenentine. They lost their pre-qualified status for both the 2025 Scotties Tournament of Hearts and the 2025 olympic Trials, effectively shutting the door on their aspirations for both major competitions. To add to the heartbreak, Burgess’ departure came after the registration deadline for provincial playdowns, further solidifying their absence from the national championship, scheduled for February 14th in Thunder Bay, Ontario.

Team Carey had hoped to build upon their success after a notable transition. Following Jennifer Jones’ retirement,Burgess,Zacharias,and Lenentine joined forces with Carey,aiming to maintain their elite status. However, Curling Canada’s rules state that teams need to retain three original members to retain pre-qualified status. Sadly, Burgess’ unexpected departure left Team Carey scrambling for solutions, leaving them with no choice but to acknowledge the finality of the situation. “We talked to them, and there was no way to save it,” Carey revealed, highlighting the insurmountable challenge.

Adding another layer of complexity, Team Einarson, the reigning four-time Scotties champions, announced just hours after Team Carey’s news that Burgess would be joining them as second, filling the vacancy left by Shannon Birchard, who suffered a knee injury.While this allowed Burgess to continue competing at the highest level, it further underscored the challenging path Team Carey now faced.

Despite the setback, the 40-year-old veteran remained optimistic.“A team announcement on my end is coming, but I’m not sure when,” she shared, leaving a glimmer of hope for the future. While acknowledging the possibility of joining another team as an alternate, she expressed doubt given the limited time remaining before the national championship. “I doubt that’s going to happen — you never know,” she cautiously stated. “But it’s pretty late in the process, so I would think not.”

As the Alberta women’s playdowns commence this week,Carey admits she’ll be drawn into the action despite her team’s absence. “I’ll probably end up following it even though I wish I could turn that off, but I can’t,” she confessed.”That’s just how I am.”

Impact on the 2025 Scotties

Burgess’ departure dealt a devastating blow to Team Carey’s plans for the 2025 Scotties Tournament of Hearts. Losing their pre-qualified status effectively eliminated their chance to compete in the national championship, a huge setback for a team hoping to build on their past successes.

Team Carey Faces New Chapter After Unexpected Lineup Change

News broke last week that Team Carey, a powerhouse in the curling world, faced a sudden change.Karlee Burgess, a key member of the team, announced her departure. While specific details remain private, “Karlee was a crucial part of our team, and personal situations sometimes force us to make tough decisions,” explained skip Chelsea Carey, reflecting the team’s respect for Burgess’s choice.

Despite this setback, Team Carey remains steadfast in their commitment to excellence. “It’s been a difficult time, David,” Carey admitted, “but we’re taking some time to process, but we’re also looking forward to what the future holds.” the team’s qualification for the prestigious 2025 Scotties Tournament of Hearts remains intact, though the departure of Burgess adds a layer of complexity to their preparation.

Finding a suitable replacement for Burgess is a priority for the team. “We’re currently evaluating our options and having conversations,” Carey revealed.”We need to find someone who fits our dynamic and has the skills to help us compete at the highest level. It’s a big decision, and we’re taking our time to make sure it’s the right one.”

Carey’s journey as skip has been marked by both challenge and triumph. “It was both humbling and inspiring stepping into Jennifer Jones’s shoes,” she shared. Noting Jones’s remarkable achievements in the sport, Carey emphasized the hard work the team put into ensuring a smooth transition. She proudly highlighted their accomplishments together, a testament to their resilience and collaborative spirit.

Carey’s own achievements speak volumes about her dedication and talent.A two-time national champion and a world bronze medalist, she credits her inspiration to young athletes, especially girls, aspiring to excel in curling. The constant challenge and evolving strategies of the sport fuel her passion and drive.

Facing unexpected obstacles is part of the journey for any athlete, and Carey offers valuable advice to those navigating similar challenges: “I’d tell them not to be afraid of change, and to use challenges as opportunities for growth. as athletes, we face ups and downs all the time. It’s how we respond to adversity that defines us.”

Looking ahead, Carey remains optimistic about Team Carey’s future.”I expect we’ll face some growing pains as we integrate a new team member,” she conceded. “but our core remains strong, and I’m confident that we’ll continue to compete at the highest level. I’m not one to back down from a challenge, and I know my teammates feel the same way.”

Canadian Curling takes Center Stage

The world of Canadian curling is buzzing with excitement, especially after a recent interview with David, a prominent figure in the sport.

David shared his insights on the future of Canadian curling, highlighting the dedication and skill of the athletes. His words resonated with fans and provided a glimpse into the passionate world of this beloved sport.

“We appreciate the support.”

The interview concluded with a reminder from the interviewer to stay tuned for more updates on the ever-evolving world of Canadian curling.

For those eager to delve deeper, a video featuring David’s full interview awaits.

Given the tight timeline before the national championship, is there any possibility of Carey joining another team as an alternate?

Archyde: An Interview with Chelsea Carey

Archyde’s sports correspondent, David Parsons, sat down with Canadian curler and skip of Team Carey, Chelsea Carey, to discuss the recent changes in her team and their impact on the upcoming curling season.

David Parsons (DP): Chelsea, thank you for taking the time to speak with us today. Let’s dive right in. Karlee Burgess’s departure from Team Carey sent shockwaves through the curling community. How are you and the team processing this significant change?

Chelsea Carey (CC): Thank you,David.It’s been a challenging time for us, that’s for sure. karlee has been an integral part of our team, and her decision to leave was an unexpected one. We respect her reasons and are understanding, but it nonetheless leaves a big hole for us to fill.We’re taking the time to process, support each other, and look ahead.

DP: your team had high hopes for the 2025 season, with pre-qualified status for both the Scotties and the olympic Trials. how has Burgess’s departure impacted those aspirations?

CC: It’s been a significant setback, there’s no denying that. Losing our pre-qualified status means we won’t be competing at the Scotties this year, which is a huge disappointment for us, especially after we had plans to build on our previous successes. It’s also left us unable to qualify for the Olympic Trials, which was a major goal for us. But we understand the rules, and we’re focusing on what we can control moving forward.

DP: Team Einarson snapped up Karlee Burgess as their new second,allowing her to continue competing at the highest level. Did this make the situation any more challenging for Team Carey?

CC: In some ways, yes. Seeing karlee join another top-tier team so quickly is a reminder of the competitive nature of our sport and the talent she possesses. It underscores the challenge we now face in finding a suitable replacement who can help us maintain our level of play. But simultaneously occurring, we’re happy for Karlee and wish her all the best with Team Einarson.

DP: You mentioned finding a replacement. Can you give us any hints about who might be joining Team Carey moving forward?

CC: I wish I could share more, David, but it’s still an ongoing process. We’re being cautious and thorough in our search, ensuring we find the right fit for our team dynamic and skillset. I can promise you that we’re working hard to rebuild and come back stronger. I’ll have a team declaration soon, so stay tuned.

DP: Given the tight timeline before the national championship, is there any possibility of Carey joining another team as an alternate?

CC: It’s highly unlikely at this point, David. It’s quite late in the process,and most teams will already have their alternates in place. I’m also not sure if that would be the best move for me or the team I’d be joining, considering the limited time we’d have to build any sort of chemistry. But I guess you never know in curling!

DP: As the Alberta women’s playdowns begin,will you be following the action despite your team’s absence?

CC: I’ll definitely be keeping an eye on it,David. It’s always exciting to see the best in the province compete, and I wish everyone the best of luck. It’ll certainly be a diffrent experience for me this year, being on the sidelines, but that’s just the nature of our sport sometiems.

DP: Chelsea,thank you for your time and your candid responses. We all look forward to seeing what the future holds for Team Carey.

CC: Thank you, David. it’s been a rough start to the season, but we’re resolute to come back stronger and continue our pursuit of excellence on the ice.