CHERYL POUNDER NAMED HONOURARY CHAIRPERSON FOR THE 2007 NATIONAL WOMEN’S UNDER-18 CHAMPIONSHIP

KITCHENER – Cheryl Pounder, one of the world’s most experienced and celebrated female hockey stars, has been named honourary chairperson for the National Women’s Under-18 Championship.

Her accomplishments include two Olympic and seven world championship gold medals as well as a multitude of other international, national, provincial and team awards. In 2005, Cheryl was named top defenceman at the IIHF World Championship and MVP at the Esso Women’s Nationals. In 2002, 2004 and 2007, she was top defenceman at the Esso Women’s Nationals.

Pounder was born in Montreal and grew up in Mississauga, ON, where she played hockey with the Mississauga Girls Hockey League in the Ontario Women's Hockey Association. This championship is special for Pounder, herself a former player and captain of Team Ontario at the first National Under-18 Championship in Quebec in 1993.

Cheryl continued to demonstrate her outstanding leadership as team captain of the Wilfred Laurier University women’s team while earning her honours degree in Kinesiology. She’s also been a valued member for a number of years with the Toronto and Mississauga Aeros.

Pounder is currently taking time off from playing hockey, as she is expecting her first child in January 2008. She plans to return to the national and international levels next season.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Fran Rider
Executive Director
Ontario Women’s Hockey Association
(905) 282-9980
(416) 573-5447
fran@owha.on.ca

Cheryl Calic
Marketing & Communications Associate
City of Kitchener
(519) 741-2547
cheryl.calic@city.kitchener.on.ca