Career
Currently the VP, Business Development of The Ice House ice hockey training facility in Burlington, Ontario and Head of English Commentary of the Champions Hockey League. Born in Hamilton, Ontario, Pope started his professional career playing for Cape Breton Oilers and Wheeling Thunderbirds as a Free Agent signing of the Edmonton Oilers organisation in 1992. In 1996, Pope moved to the United Kingdom signing for the Cardiff Devils.
He went on to play for the Great Britain National Men"s Hockey programme between 2002-2004 at World Championship level as well as various clubs in England and North America.
He spent time in various roles at the club, and replaced Gerad Adams as head coach in October 2013. Pope created the United Kingdom registered charity the Devils Community Foundation Devils in October 2008 incorporating the Junior Devils development programme and professional Devils community outreach programme.
As Head of the DCF until 2013 Pope coached at both the England U14 & U16 age levels whilst overseeing all junior Devils teams and junior player & coach development. The DCF is helped out by current Devils players and operates as its own charity foundation.
In 2010, Pope completed his Master of Arts in Sports Development & Coaching at Cardiff Metropolitan University formerly known as University of Wales Institute Cardiff (UWIC).
In 2013, Pope became Managing Director of the professional Cardiff Devils whilst maintaining his Devils play by play commentary duties for the club from 2007-2013. In October 2013, Pope fulfilled the role of Head Coach for the Elite Ice Hockey League Devils winning at over.600% before resigning from his position as Cardiff Devils Director of Hockey in April 2014. Pope is also a sports commentator and voice over artist.
He was a British Broadcasting Corporation Sport commentator for the ice hockey at the 2006 Torino Olympics, 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics|ice hockey at the 2010 and 2014 Winter Olympics.
Pope additionally worked for the Olympic Broadcasting Services (OBS) during the London 2012 Olympics commentating on Hockey, Handball, Table Tennis, Fencing and Water Polo. Pope also commentated as venue announcer for the Wheelchair Rugby event during the London 2012 Paralympic Games as well as Sledge Hockey Commentator for the OBS during the Torino 2006 & Sochi 2014 Paralympics.
In January 2011, the Canadian/Brit commentated for the OBS at the Asian Winter Games Men"s Ice Hockey Tournament in Astana, Kazakhstan. Pope worked on behalf of Honorary Patron His Royal Highness Prince Harry of Wales during the Invictus Games Wheelchair Rugby competition as commentator.
The event was hosted in recognition of injured, sick and wounded service men & women from around the world at London"s Queen Elizabeth II Olympic Park in September 2014.
Pope worked as Head of English Ice Hockey Commentary for the newly formed Champions Hockey League in Europe in 2014/15.