Born in Hamilton, Ontario, Pope started his professional career playing for Cape Breton Oilers and Wheeling Thunderbirds as a free agent signing with the Edmonton Oilers in 1992. In 1996, Pope moved to the United Kingdom signing for the Cardiff Devils. He spent three seasons with the Devils, helping them win the 1996–97 Ice Hockey Superleague championship and the 1998-99 Ice Hockey Superleague Playoff Championship. He went on to play for the GB National Men's Hockey programme between 2002-04 at the World Championship level as well as various clubs in England and North America.
Post-playing career
In May 2007, Pope was appointed as Cardiff Devils general manager after helping the 2006/07 Devils win the Challenge Cup as Co-Coach with Gerad Adams of the Cardiff Devils. He spent time in various roles at the club, and replaced Gerad Adams as head coach in October 2013. Pope created the UK 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 MA in Sports Development & Coaching at Cardiff Metropolitan University formerly known as University of Wales Institute Cardiff. 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.
Media work
Pope is also a sports commentator and voice over artist. He was a BBC Sport commentator for ice hockey at the 2006 Torino Olympics, 2010 Vancouver and Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics. Pope additionally worked for the Olympic Broadcasting Services 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 HRH 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. In 2015, Pope commentated for the ISB at the Baku, Azerbaijan European Games and Toronto's Pan Am Games on Men's and Women's Waterpolo, Volleyball, Fencing, Beach Volleyball and Wheelchair Rugby. Pope worked as Head of English Ice Hockey Commentary for the newly formed Champions Hockey League in Europe between 2014-17 becoming Host of the CHL Centre Ice Online Programme in 2015/16. He covered a variety of sports as a commentator for the OBS Olympic Broadcasting Services during both the Rio 2016 Olympic & Paralympic Games. In 2018, he commentated again for the OBS's Global Feed service on both the Pyeongchang Men's and Women's Ice Hockey Tournaments at the Olympic Games. He also commentated on the Para Ice Hockey Tournament for the 2018 Paralympics in South Korea.
Personal life
Pope was born in Hamilton, Ontario in Canada and holds both a Canadian and British Passport. He lives in Hamilton and works as a financial adviser. He is a member of the Cardiff Metropolitan University - London 2012 Hall of Fame.
