OverDrive - Pounder on Canada's QF win, Crosby's injury influence and the women's gold medal against the US

Episode Date: February 18, 2026

TSN Hockey Analyst Cheryl Pounder joined OverDrive to discuss Canada advancing to the quarterfinal with the win against Czechia, battling through adversity, Sidney Crosby's injury effect, Canada getting set for the gold medal against the USA for the women and more.

With corporate traveler, you get a dedicated travel expert and 24-7 support. So business travel feels effortless. Big meetings land. Business grows. With corporate traveler, the booking is just the start. Search corporate traveler today. Cheryl's the busiest woman in Milan. It's either the women's side, the men's side.

She was calling the Finland game today. Here she is from Milan. Probably doing some curling. Yes, probably doing everything. Cheryl Pounder joining us. Are you doing Bob Slet over there? What else are you doing? Boys, I'm doing it all.

And you know what I had a day off and I did a lot of apparel sprits. That's what I'll tell you. On a patio, on the canal, ran into everyone. So, yeah, no, it was busy. It was my first day off. I think 18 days. So I enjoyed myself, but I was ready to go today. That's what we love to hear, as you should.

And, you know, I know you were preoccupied at times today, but I know you watched the Canada game. You had your eye on everything and you've been covering, you know, the men's side. We'll get to the women's in a moment. but, you know, the word survival comes to mind today, but do you think this could possibly benefit Canada, the fact that they've got to scare here, could this catapult them into the semis

with maybe a different mentality that, in a way, they need it? Yeah, I think anytime, I mean, hey, when we're all sitting there with five minutes left, and it's two one, or the checks are up, you're sitting there going, okay, enough is enough here, boys. And I was on the call with Kenzie on the, on the Finland quarter final. So, you know, we had it kind of in the background

and we're kind of watching and break to see what was going on. And incredible stuff. Really, and sometimes when you face adversity in these types of tournaments and, yeah, very well could have gone the other way and we're all sitting, you haven't post-mortem talking about how the best team potentially ever iced, you know, isn't even making it to the semis. But for whatever reason, they found a way.

And whether it's Nick Suzuki, who didn't get off to the start, he might have wanted, finding the back of the net for the equalizer, and then Marner. You know, those things are certainly types of goals that get guys going, and they feel like, okay, now we've faced some adversity. The lineup got changed with Sidney Crosby out, and they found a way. And I think at the end of the day, if you find a way, regardless of how it happens, it pushes through.

And this is a Canadian team. We all know. We've all been talking about the Macklin Celebranies of the world, or if you load up that top line, what it looks like, or if you get Morrissey back into the lineup. But, yeah, I turned to Kenzie in the booth, and I said, okay, that's it. You know, this is the team that's going to show itself now, right, true. But, yeah, for a moment, you're all sitting there going,

I'm sending text to my family that are in the stands at the game going, oh, my God, is this really happening? That's, believe me, what everyone was thinking here throughout the country. I can't believe this is how it's going to end. You know, the buildup, we've been waiting 12 years, and they just beat up on Czechia a week ago. and, you know, it obviously did not end up playing out that way because Canada survives. You mentioned Sydney injury.

You know, you've been in so many rooms with captains and big players and, you know, if, we're knocking on wood, but if he's out for the final two games, how much of an impact do you think that will have on Canada and who do you look at that you think has to step up the most? Well, first of all, Hayes, I mean, it's Sydney Crosby. So, of course, it has an impact, right? It's like on the other side of it in the women's game when they lose Poulin, you know, clutch. Clutch players that just have the gene.

You know, even at the end of the game, how many people are thinking themselves with five minutes left? Oh, my God, we don't have Sidney Crosby out there. Or we can't turn to a guy like that. And so to me, it's irreplaceable. You're not going to replace this type of player with the experience and that gene, that none of us, you know, we look at those generational talents and we say they've got the gene. They've got that certain something that just knows how to bring it to elevate their game when it matters the most. So if it's out, I think it's by committee. This is a roster that can win without Sidney Crosby, but it's about stepping up.

And the one line that had stayed intact was his. So it's interesting to see what will happen. You saw Suzuki move to the middle. You saw McKinnon elevate to the top line. So what's going to happen with the fourth line? With, you know, is Borovat going to have to do more? Like there's all of those things, but I think it's by committee because it doesn't just affect one line. It does have a trickle-down effect, but these are the top guys in the country.

And so they can find a way. They are good enough. I think Morrissey likely comes back into the lineup. I think you need his mobility on the blue line. So, yeah, can they do it absolutely? But does it affect you? Of course it does. It's Sidney Crosby.

and we've all been saying his name for so many years, but it always goes hand in hand with the Canadian flag and what he's been able to do for his country on the biggest stage. So, Cheryl, I'll talk about both sides, the men's and the women's. You know, Canada saw some adversity today for the men's side, and the women's, you just talked about the injury to Poulin. Do you think some of this adversity will help galvanize the group, you know, moving forward? because, you know, the men's side hadn't had much adversity in their first couple games.

They were just kind of rolling through everything seemed to fall into place. The women's went through some adversity earlier on with the Poulin injury. Do you think that this adversity could help them maybe, you know, band together and get to that next level? I think adversity can go out. Like, it can go two ways, right? And you guys all know, having played, like, it's, yeah, sometimes, you know, Fial is out. I thought Switzerland was going to pull off the game. today until the end of the game, you know, sending the video message, and you see the chemistry

and you feel it. And sometimes it doesn't work out. But to me, when you get through it, regardless of whether you got a lucky break or it was a call or whatever, when you get through it and you get to the other side, you get the W, you're advancing. Yeah, you feel like you can do it. There's that feeling. And so for me, when you face it, and then the puck drops the next game, when you're behind late in the game, you know, you have the muscle memory of, yeah, okay, we came back from this, we found a way. And so it's more a muscle memory, and you've got so many on the men's team. You've got, I mean, you've got veterans who've played in Stanley Cup finals.

You've got, you know, you've got that experience. So I think they had it anyway, and which is likely why they found a way to get it done, but I do think it can galvanize. I think that with the Poulin injury, it's a little different because she's been the one over the course of, you know, since 2010, that has been the key player to be the difference maker when it mattered the most. And much like against Switzerland in the semifinal, she did the exact same thing. And we're like, are you kidding me right now?

So to me, it's less about having the adversity they face, especially for the women, because they've faced it this whole year. Like they're 0-7 against the United States. So to me it's about more, okay, it's one game. everyone's got February 19 circled on their calendar and when puck drops in that moment

for that one moment of time it's even and so having played in a similar situation in 2002 having lost eight straight games to the Americans were they better

damn right they were better I mean we lost eight trade games if we played a series of seven we were losing but in one game you can get yourself up to the point where yeah we're the underdog or whatever

and we can find a way so I think it's going to be interesting tomorrow guys especially with the women's team. I think the men's team is expected to win because, I mean, look at the roster. But, yeah, there's 60 minutes of hockey, and there's that certain something called belief. And when other teams have it, and they're playing against you, and they think you can beat you once, as we saw today gave with the checks.

And we heard the commentary right before. Well, we weren't going to beat them twice, so today's the day. And that's how Canada has to feel on the women's side going in tomorrow. Cheryl, what's the one area? I know you talked about the winning streak, the U.S. has and be quite honestly, they've kind of outclassed them in the performances where there have been

some lopsided victories. Other than like going out and giving it the old Canadian effort and stuff like that, like what has to happen? Is there American players that are just shredding them or like what's got to go down to flip the switch tomorrow? So I think

there's two things, oh, and you know, me from my technical side, I actually think it's less about technical and it is about, they have to win face-offs, and they have to be first to the puck. So if they can get in on the hunt on the forecheck, to me they have a chance. If the Americans are able to get into their zone,

I think they're in major trouble. And so, you know, because the Americans are able, they've just got pace, they've got finesse, they've got all of that. But one thing that anyone finds difficult, especially on small ice, is when you have to go back for a puck and you've got a relentless forecheck.

The difference being is, you have to have possession to be able to establish that. So, like, you've got to get it in deep. You have to have the puck in the neutral zone. You have to. So to me, the Americans are better. So Canada has to find a way to either get the first goal, stay close, and get their sticks tight,

because they are expected to win. And so I think that's the advantage Canada has and sort of the mentality of the game. But, yeah, I think it's all on the forecheck. and where their high player is in zone. Because if the Americans are able to get that puck on layer and play rush hockey, the Canadians are in trouble because they chase. They chase the neutral zone, and then they chase in their own zone.

And they can't close quick enough to be able to get them. So to me it starts, they've got to be on the four track. And two words for them tomorrow, be first. That's the perfect way to go about it. And find a way to win the game, Marie Flute Palin. She looked healthy a couple days ago. I mean, both goals against Switzerland, so she'll be ready to rock. And, you know, this is what we've been waiting for, like you said, Cheryl.

Canada, U.S. 1.10 p.m. Eastern Time tomorrow, a puck drop, and you and Kenzie will be in the booth. It's going to be a lot of fun. So enjoy it. I'm sure it'll be nerve-wracking in there. And we're all pulling for Canada, as always. So have a blast, and thank you for doing this. Awesome, boys.

Chow. Chow. Chow. Chow, Cheryl. There is Cheryl. There is Cheryl Pounder, live from Milan. I'm Dylan. And I'm Tyler Smith.

We're putting loneliness in the penalty box by talking to some of our favorite athletes about the importance of friendship. This is bromance. Bromance is brought to you by Charm Diamond Centers, proudly Canadian-owned and operator. Charm has been part of your love stories and bromances for over 50 years. And you can find Bromance on the IHeartRadio Network or wherever you get your podcast.