Red Wings sign David Pope to entry-level deal

DETROIT -The Detroit Red Wings today signed left wing David Pope to a two-year entry-level contract.
Pope, 23, has spent the last four seasons at the University of Nebraska-Omaha, where he totaled 94 points (45-49-94) and 41 penalty minutes in 133 games. As a senior in 2017-18, Pope led the Mavericks in goals (20) points (41), power-play goals (12) and shots on goal (123) while tying for the team lead in assists (21). He tied for 28th overall in the nation in scoring, and finished second overall in power-play goals. Pope tied school records in 2017-18 by recording four assists and five points in a game on Jan. 12 vs. Miami, and he also registered his first NCAA hat trick on Feb. 2 at St. Cloud State. The 6-foot-3, 194-pound forward placed fourth overall in conference scoring with 28 points (14-14-28) in 23 National Collegiate Hockey Conference games and was selected to the NCHC First All-Star Team and NCHC All-Academic Team.

Originally drafted by the Red Wings in the fourth round (109th overall) of the 2013 NHL Entry Draft, Pope spent three seasons (2011-14) in the British Columbia Hockey League prior to his collegiate career. In 131 BCHL games between the Cowichan Valley Capitals, Westside Warriors and West Kelowna Warriors, the Edmonton, Alberta, native registered 114 points (52-62-114) and 71 penalty minutes. In his final junior season, Pope led West Kelowna with 50 points (27-23-50) in 45 games and was selected to the BCHL Second All-Star Team.