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Cheryl Pounder is a seasoned veteran who has bounced back from adversity. In 2006 she was a proud member of the National Women’s Hockey Team, who won Olympic Gold in Turin.

When Cheryl won her first gold medal at the 1994 World Championships as a fresh-faced 18-year-old, it looked like the beginning of something special for the talented young blueliner with the fine hockey pedigree. Her grandfather, Phil Wemmer, was GM of the Montreal Jr. Canadiens team that won back-to-back Memorial Cups in 1968-69 and 1969-70. Unfortunately for Cheryl, though, her international career would end up taking a brief hiatus, as she would eventually be cut from both the 1997 World Championship team and more devastatingly, the 1998 Olympic team that won silver in Nagano, Japan. Since then, she's learned never to take anything for granted.

Although not a member of Team Canada during this period, she did continue to play high-level hockey as a star rearguard for the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks, where she pursued a degree in kinesiology. Pounder was named the Ontario University Athletic Association's (now OUA) Rookie of the Year after the 1995-96 season. Moreover, she would be named to the OUA All-Star team in each of her four years at Laurier and MVP after the 1997-98 season.

After the disappointment of missing the 1998 Olympics, Pounder buckled down, determined to get back on the team. Her hard work paid off in 1999 when she re-joined the national team for the 1999 World Championship. That squad would go on to win gold, as would the 2000, 2001, and 2004 teams, all of which included the steadily improving Pounder. In 2005, Canada would have to settle for silver, but Pounder would be named to her first world tournament All-Star team.

Most likely, the highlight of Pounder's career, however, was her inclusion on the underdog Canadian team that won gold by defeating a tough American team at the 2002 Salt Lake City Games.

When not with Team Canada, Pounder anchors the blueline for the Toronto Aeros of the National Women's Hockey League, where she skates with fellow national teammates Sami Jo Small and Jennifer Botterill. And, as if her schedule wasn't already jam-packed enough, Pounder now also serves as an assistant coach with her former university team at Wilfrid Laurier.

Presentations Include:

Pursuit of Excellence
First, we must have a vision/dream.
The importance for both the individual and team to challenge each other from within. Focus, determination, respect and perseverance are integral in believing and achieving. It's always about the journey.

Courage to Overcome Adversity
Adversity builds character and teaches us about ourselves and our teammates. We have a choice to learn from our failures. We must face our fears and put ourselves 'out there' if we want the opportunity to be successful. Have you given yourself the best opportunity to be successful? It's always about the journey.

Leadership & Teamwork
Who shows up every day ready to compete, even when it isn't easy? Can we work together? Do we respect and have the ability to help one another? This is where we learn about ourselves and our teammates. We must make a conscious choice to 'share information' and help one another. It's always about the journey.

'Growing for Gold'
I learned that the above topics; excellence, focus, determination, teamwork and courage allow us to grow as individuals and teammates. During the process or 'journey' we have the ability to learn about ourselves (if we pay attention). We must grow throughout the journey, we must learn from our failures and successes if we want to reach our vision/dream. It's always about the journey.