Chelsea Carey takes ice against Olympic champion Jennifer Jones
Rookie team has a top tier 9-2 record at this year's Scotties Tournament of Hearts
The Scotties Tournament of Hearts is entering its final weekend in Grand Prairie, and sitting atop the standings is Chelsea Carey's Alberta rink.
In their first season playing together, Carey and teammates Amy Nixon, Jocelyn Peterman and Laine Peters have achieved a remarkable record of 9-2 at this year's national tournament.
"Everybody's got a good resume as far as being a curler and a shot-maker," she told CBC's The Homestretch.
"It's about putting together the team side of it. We've spent a lot of time working at that, and it's come together for us at the right time," she said.
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Taking on an Olympic champion
The team opened the Grand Prairie tournament at a torrid 6-0 pace before losing two of three.
Tonight, they'll take the ice against five-time national champion and Olympic gold medalist Jennifer Jones, the first female skip to complete the Games undefeated.
"Jennifer and her team are one of if not the best team in the world for probably the better part of a decade now, so you know it's going to be a tough game," she said.
"Whether we're in the final or the semi-final, either way we're pretty happy," Carey said.
The top two teams in the preliminary round will meet in tonight's playoff, and the victor will get a bye to Sunday's final. The champion will represent Canada at the women's world championship March 19 to 27 in Saskatchewan.
"Being at the Scotties is an experience like no other, and then to be doing it in front of a hometown crowd has just been a dream come true," Carey said.
"It's hard to wipe the smile off your face."