Cheryl Pounder to Join Brendan Burke on Islanders Telecast

Brendan Burke and Butch Goring have been the duo for the New York Islanders MSG broadcasts since the start of the 2016-17 season. This season, Goring has missed time due to shoulder surgery, leading to a mix of talented analysts to fill his role.

On Thursday, New York Rangers color commentator Joe Micheletti, who has filled in a few times for Goring, will be back alongside Brendan Burke when the New York Islanders take on the Pittsburgh Penguins in Pittsburgh.

But for Friday’s contest against the Montreal Canadiens and Sunday’s contest against the Toronto Maple Leafs, a new voice will join Brendan Burke. And that voice will be Cheryl Pounder, a spokesperson for MSG Networks told NYI Hockey Now.

Cheryl Pounder is a decorated Olympian, who helped Team Canada win the gold medal at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah, and then again at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino, Italy.

Besides excelling on the Olympic stage, Pounder is a five-time World Championship gold medalist, being named an All-Star defenseman in 2005. She was also a seven-time Nations Cup gold medalist.

Since hanging up the skates following the 2006 Olympics, Pounder has been a motivational speaker and a hockey analyst for TSN (2008) and CBC, covering the Women’s National Team at the 2014 & 2018 Winter Olympics.

On Dec. 6, 2021, Pounder made her NHL booth debut as a color commentator when the Ottawa Senators hosted the New York Islanders at Canadian Tire Centre.

MSG Networks has welcomed Olympian gold medalists to New York Islanders broadcasts before. Three-time Canadian gold medalist Jennifer Botterill has previously worked on New York Islanders broadcasts before working nationally at TSN. 

United States gold medalist A.J. Mleczko still works New York Islanders broadcasts as well as covering the game on the national level with ESPN. 

This past Tuesday, broadcaster and two-time gold medalist with Team Canada Meaghan Mikkelson joined MSG Network’s Shannon Hogan and UBS Arena host Hailey Hunter to set the stage for the New York Islanders game against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Her father, Bill Mikkelson, was an original New York Islander.

The Islanders have always had the ability to slot new up-and-coming players into their existing system. The same can be said for the MSG broadcast.

Tune in to MSG+ Friday at 7 PM and Sunday at 7:30 PM for Cheryl Pounder’s insight all game long as she will provide great commentary and analysis alongside Brendan Burke.