Go West, Young Man

"If any young man is about to commence the world, we say to him, publicly and privately, Go to the West" (from the Aug. 25, 1838, issue of the newspaper New Yorker).

Judging by the young keeper's upbeat tone while being interviewed recently on a local Toronto sports radio show, you'd think former Leaf goalie prospect Justin Pogge had just won the lottery, a short 50 minutes after being informed by his now-former boss that his services, and his rights, were now the sole concern of The Ducks of Anaheim. No hint of rancor, bitterness, or bruised ego, just the genuine enthusiasm of a good Canadian kid with a dream of cracking the big leagues some day, even if it meant his team colours were about to change for good. Like Pogge, like thousands of teenage boys across Ontario, it was my childhood dream to be the Bud's backstop one day. What a cold, harsh dose of reality when I finally accepted that my love for the game would have to be expressed either in a men's league, through an internet blog, or in front of my TV with a pint and a pepperoni slice in my hands instead of a blocker, goalie stick and catcher. Surley Pogge's fate is not so dire...
Drafted 90th overall by Toronto in 2004, the talented young goalie oozed promise, going on to lead Canada to a 5-0 rout of the Russian juniors in which he made 35 stops, earning his 3rd shutout of the campaign along with Top Goalie, Tournament MVP, and All Star Team honours. He had skill and swagger. Some say he was a little cocky at times, but what's in a rumour...besides, goalies need a little bit of extra confidence, especially goalies charged with the duty of saving an original six franchise from perpetual embarrassment within the next couple years. Kind of a heady notion to have to wrap your noggin around...
Pogge struggled in the handful of outings he was awarded with the big club last season. Clearly, that swagger was stifled as he got lit up time and again with every kind of shot, most of them routine saves for a player of his pedigree, yet he fumbled and floundered like a fish out of water, over-playing shots, leaving gaping holes for easy tap-ins, and just plain not getting it done. Confounded and disappointed, the shell-shocked young keeper retreated back to the minors where he battled to try to maintain respectability in junior, often losing important starts to fast-rising upstart James Reimer.
It must have been a long summer for Pogge, a restricted free agent, waiting patiently for a qualifying offer, having his thunder stolen from under his skates by an unknown, undrafted Swede whom the 'faithful' have embraced as the successor to the crown he never got to wear. It was well into August before he was finally able to take the Blue and White sweater, and the accompanying monkey that comes part and parcel, off his back. Upbeat, optimistic and motivated, Justin Pogge is poised to climb the ranks in a less volatile environment, in a sun-soaked land to the west where legions of starry-eyed celebrity hopefuls have fled in search of their childhood dreams. Ironically, he won't see a tenth of the flashing lights that he would have in the city we call Hockey Mecca, but he'll be received by a hockey club with a recent winning history, who actually envision him as part of their future, and he may finally get that chance to live his dream-to be an NHL goaltender.
It's time the young man with the fading stars in his eyes heads West.Those famous words once uttered by an obscure newspaper editor called Horace Greeley a century and a half ago, and the wisdom they contain, could be the big break the once-celebrated, often-maligned former Canadian champion deserves. Best of luck Justin Pogge...