BEARS SIGN MATT POPE TO TWO-YEAR CONTRACT

December 31, 2011

HERSHEY, Pa. – The HERSHEY BEARS announced today that the club has signed forward Matt Pope to a two-year American Hockey League contract. The announcement was made by BEARS President/GM Doug Yingst.

Pope has appeared in ten games with the BEARS, scoring three goals, two assists and recording a plus-three rating.

The 27-year-old right winger has also recorded seven goals, 12 assists and a plus-five rating in 15 games with the South Carolina Stingrays (ECHL). He ranks tied for second in assists and ranks second in power-play goals (four) and team scoring.

The 6-1, 185-lb. native of Langley, BC spent the entire 2010-11 season in the AHL with the San Antonio Rampage, recording four goals, seven assists and 35 penalty minutes in 55 games. He also saw AHL time with the Binghamton Senators and Manitoba Moose from 2008-2010, posting 16 points (seven goals, nine assists) in 52 total games.

Pope broke into the professional ranks in 2008-09 and had a successful season with the ECHL’s Bakersfield Condors, earning All-Rookie Team honors and a starting spot in the 2009 ECHL All-Star Game after piling up 63 points (30 goals, 33 assists) in 54 games. Prior to turning pro, Pope completed four years at Bemidji State University (WCHA), where he totaled 71 points (33 goals, 38 assists) in 143 career games.