Brent Pope

Photo: Cardiff Devils

Everyone connected with the Elite Ice Hockey League was saddened to hear of the passing of Brent Pope on 1 November after an eight-month battle with cancer.

The Canadian, who would also go on to play for Team GB, arrived in the Superleague in 1996 with Cardiff. He iced in 34 Elite League regular season games later in his career.

Pope returned to the Devils in the 2006/07 season and went on to spend another seven years with the club, originally as an assistant coach, then the General Manager, then Head of the Community Foundation and eventually as Director of Operations. He even stepped behind the bench in his final season with the Devils for a brief stint during the 2013/14 season. 

"A big personality and a great character on and off the ice, Pope was a mainstay in British Hockey for nearly two decades," read a Devils club statement. "Prior to faceoff on Wednesday night, there will be a one minute of applause to honour the life of Brent Pope and his contribution to the Devils."

Our thoughts are with Brent's family and friends at this time.