TORONTO – When you mention great netminders to grace the NHL in recent years you think of Martin Brodeur, Roberto Luongo, Ryan Miller, Mikka Kiprusoff, Thomas Vokoun, James Reimer and more recently Tim Thomas for his outstanding Stanley Cup run, oh and let’s not forget Justin Pogge…… Justin who? Exactly. Once touted as the next great netminder, Pogge failed to live up to the hype that projected an all-star shot stopper to rival the elite blockers. Born and raised in Fort McMurry, Alberta, the young Pogge didn’t set in motion the skills needed to turn pro until aged nine thanks to a scholarship set up by the Calgary Flames. With no father around, Pogge’s ambition was supported by his mother Annet, often working two and sometimes three jobs to support her son’s hobby with little evidence that Pogge would make a living from hockey. It wasn`t until Pogge made his mark in the WHL with Prince George Cougars, that scouts and the media began to notice the 6`3″ shot stopper. Backing up another future Maple Leaf prospect, Todd Ford, the young Pogge jumped at the chance to shine following an injury to Ford in the 2003-04 season. Pogge went onto have a great year ending with a rookie-of-the-year award from the Cougars and a 2.833 GAA through 44 games. More good times followed included being selected by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2003 draft (90th Overall). The standout year for Pogge was in 2005 after a trade that sent Pogge to the Calgary Hitmen. He went on to register a 1.72 GAA in 54 games and represented Canada at the World Juniors where an unbelievable run ended in a gold medal, conceding just six goals in six games.
Now regarded as the future Maple Leafs franchise goalie Pogge walked away with the WHL Del Wilson trophy for best netminder, MVP award and CHL netminder of the year. Turning pro in 2006 for the struggling AHL Toronto Marlies, Pogge started to show signs that he wasn’t invincible. Despite standout performances, these were matched equally by some shocking games that saw him split the season with Jean-Francois Racine ending the year with a GAA of over 3.00 for the first time in five years of hockey. Starting the 2007 as starting netminder signs of Pogge`s brilliance once again started to shine, playing behind a much stronger line-up and sharing duties with New Jersey Devil Scott Clemmensen, the tandem played well for the Marlies putting together a successful run in the playoff to reach the semi-finals.
Now on the brink of a step up to the Leafs, changes in management at the Leafs put a different perspective on the future of Pogge as the franchise player.
General manager Brian Burke, not in favour of Pogge in the NHL, instead opted for Vesa Toskala and veteran Curtis Jospeh to backstop in 2008-09 but did acknowledge that he would give Pogge a chance but only when the Leafs were out of contention or injuries forced the move. That chance came in December 2008 when a call-up to the Leafs against the Atlanta Thrashers finally gave the waiting fans and media a glimpse of how Pogge would hold himself at NHL level. A great start for Pogge ended in a 6-2 win albeit against a poor Thrashers side but a win is a win especially in your NHL debut.
Unfortunately for Pogge that was where the dream turned into a nightmare. Whereas current Maple Leaf James Reimer rode the chance of a lifetime to secure a starting job Pogge stumbled out of the blocks with the Thrashers victory being the one and only from seven games. Looking somewhat ordinary in the NHL the once highly touted superstar was on a slippery slope after just a glimmer of NHL action.
Six more games and a 4.36 GAA followed and showed his stay at NHL level would be very short and was soon returned to the Marlies. This was the shot that Burke spoke of and Pogge fumbled the chance and ended with a trade to Burke`s former club, the Anaheim Ducks for a conditional pick in 2010. It appears when it mattered most Pogge playing under the constant spotlight of Leafs Nation failed to live up to the hype. Despite the trade to the Ducks Pogge never graced the NHL again playing out the 2009-10 season split between the ECHL with Bakerfield Condors and AHL outfits San Antonio Rampage and Albany River Rats. Now a forgotten gem Pogge spent the 2010-11 season with the Charlotte Checkers of the AHL where his GAA stayed at 3.12. It appears Pogge will not return to the NHL anytime soon and will likely grind out a career in the minors but questions will be asked one day of what went wrong to the once touted star, Was it a case of too soon for the NHL? Was it Burke being impatient or was it a case of big fish in a small pond until it became clear actually it was big fish in an even bigger pond and Justin Pogge just got swallowed up. Comment at Kevin.oconnor@prohockeynews.com
