This week含羞草研究社檚 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.

含羞草研究社淚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,含羞草研究社� explained tournament organizer Tina Pomponio.

含羞草研究社淎 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.含羞草研究社�

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

含羞草研究社淲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,含羞草研究社� said Pomponio.

含羞草研究社淭he teams are all showing up now and we are getting back on track.含羞草研究社�

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含羞草研究社檚 told many made the most of it.

含羞草研究社淚 don含羞草研究社檛 think it was that bad from the kid含羞草研究社檚 perspective,含羞草研究社� said Pomponio. 含羞草研究社淲hen they含羞草研究社檙e an adult, this is one of the things you含羞草研究社檙e going to look back on and you含羞草研究社檙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.

含羞草研究社淥ne of the teams walked away from the highway and played in the snow. They made the best of it.含羞草研究社�

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

含羞草研究社淭his year we have 90 teams, eight more than last year. It is the largest amount of teams we含羞草研究社檝e had. It is a huge tournament,含羞草研究社漞xplained Pomponio.

含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 all going, it含羞草研究社檚 all rolling, there are smiling faces.含羞草研究社�