Matt Pope

Matt Pope (born August 5, 1984) is a Canadian professional ice hockey right winger with the Manitoba Moose of the American Hockey League (AHL).

Playing career
After a one-year stint on Junior "A" in the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) with the Langley Hornets, in which he recorded 71 points in 60 games, Pope began a four-year career with Bemidji State University of College Hockey America (CHA), a conference in the NCAA's Division I circuit.

Undrafted by a National Hockey League club, Pope turned pro in 2008–09 with the Bakersfield Condors. He made an immediate impact in his professional rookie season, appearing as a starter in the 2009 ECHL All-Star Game. Pope's early success in the ECHL earned him a tryout contract with the Binghamton Senators of the American Hockey League (AHL) in early March. However, he was released later that month by Binghamton after just 4 games with the club and signed another tryout contract with the Manitoba Moose. He remained with the Moose for the remainder of the season, having left the ECHL with 30 goals and 63 points in just 54 games with the Condors. In addition to having set team rookie records for points and assists (surpassing Mark Derlago's 57-point campaign the previous season and Lars-Peder Nagel's 31-assist effort in 2004–05), Pope was named to the starting line-up of ECHL All-Star Team and selected to the All-rookie team as well.

Going into the 2009 Calder Cup playoffs, however, Pope had the option to remain with the first-place Moose as a spare or return to Bakersfield for their playoff run. He opted to stay in the AHL and was soon added to the lineup in lieu of injuries to several Moose forwards. Playing in the opening round against the Toronto Marlies, Pope scored the game-tying goal in the sixth and deciding game, then assisted on the game winner by Ray Sawada to advance to the second round.

On July 2, 2009 Pope signed an entry level deal with the Vancouver Canucks. However Pope never made the starting lineup and spent the majority of the 2009-10 season with Manitoba Moose and played six games with the Bakersfield Condors of the ECHL.

On July 12, 2010 Matt Pope signed a two-year 1.1 Million deal with the Vancouver Canucks with Matt making 550K per season.

Awards

 * Played in the ECHL All-Star Game in 2009 (starter).
 * Named to the ECHL All-Rookie Team in 2009.
 * Named to the ECHL All-Star Team in 2009.

Records

 * Bakersfield Condors club record; most points, rookie - 63 in 2008–09 (surpassed Mark Derlago; 57 points in 2007–08)
 * Bakersfield Condors club record; most assists, rookie - 33 in 2008–09 (surpassed Lars-Peder Nagel; 31 assists in 2004–05)