The Abbotsford Canucks have hired Justin Pogge as the team's new goaltending coach.
Canucks general manager Ryan Johnson made the announcement on Monday (Aug. 26).
The 38-year-old spent last season working as a goaltending consultant with the Columbus Blue Jackets and also began serving as a goaltending consultant with Hockey Canada in 2023.
Prior to his work behind the bench, Pogge played 17 years professionally and was drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the third round (90th overall) of the 2004 NHL Draft. He appeared in a total of seven NHL games with Toronto and had a record of 1-4-1, a goals against average of 4.35 and a save percentage of .844.
Pogge played 254 games in six seasons in the AHL, making stops with the Toronto Marlies, San Antonio Rampage, Albany River Rats, Charlotte Checkers and Portland Pirates. He posted a career AHL record of 120-94-24, eight shutouts, GAA of 2.81 and save percentage of.902.
He had an excellent junior career split between the WHL's Prince George Cougars and Calgary Hitmen. His 2005-06 season saw him go 38-10-6, 11 shutouts, GAA of 1.72 and a save percentage of .926. He was named both the CHL and WHL goalie of the year that season and both a CHL and WHL all-star.
Pogge is likely best known for his performance with Team Canada at the 2006 World Junior Hockey Championships. He posted a perfect 6-0 record, three shutouts, a GAA of 1.00 and a save percentage of .952 to help Canada win the gold medal that year.
Following his professional career in North America, he played in Italy, Sweden, the KHL and the DEL before retiring in 2023.
"I am very excited to have Justin Pogge join our team as goaltending coach," Johnson stated. "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 replaces the outgoing Marko Torenius, who replaced Ian Clark as goaltending coach of the Vancouver Canucks earlier in August.