Announcement: Canucks Sign Former Maple Leafs Goaltender To…

The Vancouver Canucks made a significant addition to their coaching staff by hiring former Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Justin Pogge as the new goaltending coach for their AHL affiliate, the Abbotsford Canucks.

Coming off a semifinal loss to the Ontario Reign last season, the Canucks are putting on a strong effort to try and strengthen their AHL team ahead of the 2024-25 campaign.

Truth be told, Pogge had a brief NHL career playing just seven games and starting six of them for the Maple Leafs back in 2009 when he was only 22 years old. Pogge, however, has extensive experience in the AHL and international leagues.

Abbotsford Canucks general manager Ryan Johnson expressed his enthusiasm for the hire releasing an official announcement note on August 26.

“I am very excited to have Justin Pogge join our team as Goaltending Coach,” Johnson wrote. “He brings a plethora of experience as a player at the NHL, AHL, international and European professional levels and I’m looking forward to seeing him help develop our goaltenders in Abbotsford.”

Pogge played 254 regular-season games in the AHL, including a stint with the Toronto Marlies.

On top of that, Pogge accrued international experience playing for the Canadian national junior team at the 2006 World Junior Championship leading the squad to win the gold medal.

Pogge was an original Maple Leafs draft pick as Toronto drafted the goalie with the No. 90 pick in the 2004 NHL draft.