Team #OFFSIDE is absolutely honoured to have welcomed six-time world champion and two-time Olympic gold medallist Cheryl Pounder, who was born in Montreal but raised in Mississauga, Ont., and since her impressive on-ice career has gone on to become both a motivational speaker and well-renowned women's hockey broadcaster who we can expect to see analyzing the top events in the world, including the 2022 Olympic Winter Games in Beijing... happening right now!
Over in China, Pounder is working alongside fast-rising sports broadcasting star Kenzie Lalonde, who got the call from CBC Olympics last minute to join the team overseas as its rinkside reporter, after successfully working with Pounder and many other Team Canada alumnae to help produce and broadcast a successful 2021 IIHF Women's World Championship in Calgary, Alta., which was held last August, just as Canadian players started preparing for the Olympic year, and after worlds had previously been cancelled twice due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Lalonde is originally from Stittsville, Ont., but is now working and living in Halifax, N.S., where's she's smashing glass ceilings as the first female to call games for the Quebec Major Hockey League (QMHL).
Lalonde is making a name for herself fast, and she's got a wonderful mentor in Pounder. And side note, both Pounder and Lalonde played CIAU/U SPORTS level hockey! The #OFFSDIE crew is having a blast watching these two on our television screens as we dream of being in #Beijing ourselves, and we are so grateful you took time out of your very busy schedules to help us produce our second-ever video podcast.
Although OFFSIDE Vice-President Kristen Lipscombe still hasn't figured out how to fix her hair to go on camera (too many COVID Team/Zoom meetings perhaps (HALP!), both Kris and OFFSIDE President and Founder Rhonda Taylor truly enjoyed our conversation with these two women's hockey dynamos and leaders.
We talked about everything from what needs to be done in order to ensure the female game continues to grow, despite progress being slowed down due to the pandemic, to what we can expect to see at #Beijing2022, which is now unfolding in front of our very eyes (although late at night and very early morning for us North Americans!).
We shared our memories, dreams, goals, and values... and more than a few laughs along the way. We hope our listeners and viewers enjoy this OFFSIDE: The Podcast episode as much as we do!
WATCH the video version right here on our brand new YouTube channel (and subscribe while you're at it; we've got a lot of awesome guests coming up soon): https://youtu.be/HSYrxHs6wHk
Or if you prefer the audio version, LISTEN on Change Makers Radio, where are archived podcasts are located, right here: https://www.spreaker.com/user/10106966/podcast-episode-29
Follow Cheryl Pounder on Twitter: @cherylpounder
Follow Kenzie Lalonde on Twitter: @KenzieLalonde_