This curling team needs your help getting to the Canada Winter Games

After dominant back-to-back performances, a competitive junior curling team from Kelowna will be representing the province in the 2023 Canada Winter Games.

Hannah and Megan Rempel, Ella Casparis, Claire Ramsey, Laruen Cochrane, and coach Wendy Cseke make up Team Rempel.

The journey started just weeks before the pandemic began, when they won gold at the BC Winter Games. But due to the unfortunate timing, they had to requalify in order to make it to the national event next year.

The rink was nearly flawless in their pursuit back to the championship, only dropping one game to secure their spot by taking the title at the Canada Winter Games Trials held in March.

“It was really fun and felt like the odds were against us, but we ended up coming out with a win,” Cochrane told Kelowna10.

Thanks to the effort, they will be travelling to Prince Edward Island in February to compete on the national stage.

“We’re really just excited to have this experience, going in with the best intentions, and trying to have some fun,” she said. “I’ve never played in something like this big, I’ve never been to PEI, and I like to curl so I’m happy to go.”

To help raise money for the winter trek, Team Rempel turned to a local company that seemed like a natural fit.

They’ve teamed up with Standout Puzzles, and a portion of the sales from a unique puzzle will go to help fund equipment, travel, food, and more.

“A lot of people in the curling community like games and puzzles, even curling itself is just a big puzzle when you’re [the team captain], Cochrane added.

The 750-piece puzzle is an image of a painting from Canadian fine artist, Terry Ananny, depicting a group of people curling on the Ottawa River.

Puzzles can be purchased here.