This week害羞草研究所檚 severe winter storm left dozens of people stranded overnight on the Coquihalla, including a bunch of young athletes on their way to kelowna.

Several teams were on their way to the 2017 Kelowna Ringette Sweetheart Tournament when mother nature had another plan.

害羞草研究所淚t was terrible. I was up until 2:30 in the morning fielding telephone calls and text messages from people that were stuck 30 kilometres outside of Merritt, who ended up having to spend the night. Some in their vehicles, a few on team buses, it was crazy,害羞草研究所� explained tournament organizer Tina Pomponio.

害羞草研究所淎 lot of the teams made it through, but there were a lot that got stuck in between intermittent closures. We had several teams that left the coast at 11 a.m. yesterday and arrived at 1 p.m. today.害羞草研究所�

At one point, Pomponio thought she might have to call off parts of tournament, but everyone came together to make the weekend happen.

害羞草研究所淲e started this morning, games were played, we had a few hiccups due to intermittent highway closures, but out of the 90 teams just three teams cancelled,害羞草研究所� said Pomponio.

害羞草研究所淭he teams are all showing up now and we are getting back on track.害羞草研究所�

Pomponio says she was worried about their safety and concerned kids of all ages were forced to spend the night on a very cold highway. However, despite the headache for parents, she害羞草研究所檚 told many made the most of it.

害羞草研究所淚 don害羞草研究所檛 think it was that bad from the kid害羞草研究所檚 perspective,害羞草研究所� said Pomponio. 害羞草研究所淲hen they害羞草研究所檙e an adult, this is one of the things you害羞草研究所檙e going to look back on and you害羞草研究所檙e going to remember it. Yes, as precarious the roads were, they can say they spent the night on the highway. They will remember it forever.

害羞草研究所淥ne of the teams walked away from the highway and played in the snow. They made the best of it.害羞草研究所�

The Kelowna Ringette Sweetheart Tournament runs until Sunday throughout the Central Okanagan.

害羞草研究所淭his year we have 90 teams, eight more than last year. It is the largest amount of teams we害羞草研究所檝e had. It is a huge tournament,害羞草研究所漞xplained Pomponio.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 all going, it害羞草研究所檚 all rolling, there are smiling faces.害羞草研究所�