11the year center Matt Pope(42) continues to push his career as he maintain serious numbers and signs for a 2nd season with Cardiff Devils after scoring 21 goals and 37 assists in 52 games, then adding 6 points in 4 contests en route to the 2018 EIHL Championship.
Pretty nifty work for a then 33-year old that’s never had a big league contract but has eked out what seems like a pretty good career in hockey.
The point total mark was only 2nd to 2016/2017, when the 6’2″ 205 lbs. forward signed with Tohoku Free Blades and notched most points in the Asia League grabbing 68 (33-35).
He also did quite well a couple seasons before in Italy’s top Serie A with Valpellice (63 points).
Now at 34-years old he really kind of seems to be showing no signs of stopping unless the former Bemidji State University player wants to but easily could transition into coaching nicely if that’s what he sees post playing career.
Matt Pope (27)
For a few moments it looked like 4th year, undrafted forward Matt Pope(27) was making some waves and there might have been some under the breath mutterings of him being someone to look at in Vancouver Canucks‘ prospect system.
His 2nd full pro season was spent with their AHL affiliate Manitoba Moose but he was signed to a two-way NHL contract.
That came about after he signed a pto with the Moose at the end of his rookie season and joined the team for their Calder Cup run (12 games, 3 goals, 3 assists).
In that season with Manitoba he didn’t exactly live up to expectations and fell off the depth chart quickly.
From there he played a season with San Antonio Rampage but that came up short and going into his 4th pro season signed a deal a month before training camp with South Carolina Stingrays.
They just so happen to be the ECHL affiliate of Hershey Bears and on two call-ups he’s starting to gain some traction scoring 3 goals and 2 assists in 10 games.