Mads Søgaard

Mads Søgaard
Søgaard in 2023
Born	(2000-12-13) 13 December 2000 (age 23) Aalborg, Denmark
Height	6 ft 7 in (201 cm)
Weight	196 lb (89 kg; 14 st 0 lb)
Position	Goaltender
Catches	Left
NHL team (P) Cur. team Former teams	Ottawa Senators Belleville Senators (AHL) Esbjerg Energy
National team	Denmark
NHL draft	37th overall, 2019 Ottawa Senators
Playing career	2020–present

Mads Søgaard (born 13 December 2000) is a Danish professional ice hockey goaltender for the Belleville Senators of the American Hockey League (AHL) as a prospect to the Ottawa Senators of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected by the Senators in the second round, 37th overall, in the 2019 NHL entry draft. After two seasons in the AHL, Søgaard made his NHL debut with the Senators in 2022. Internationally, he has played for the Danish national team at the junior level in several tournaments.

Nicknamed "The Great Dane", Søgaard is the tallest active goaltender in the NHL, along with Ivan Fedotov from the Philadelphia Flyers.^{[citation needed]} Notable other goaltenders at the same height are former Senators goaltender Ben Bishop and former Edmonton Oiler Mikko Koskinen.

Playing career

Søgaard spent his early career in his native Denmark. In 2017 he moved to North America, and spent one season with the Austin Bruins of the North American Hockey League, playing 22 games for them.^[1] He was selected 32nd overall in the 2018 CHL Import Draft by the Medicine Hat Tigers of the Western Hockey League (WHL), and joined the team that year.^[2] After his first season with Medicine Hat, he was the second-ranked North American-based goaltender, and was drafted by the Ottawa Senators in the second round, 37th overall, in the 2019 NHL entry draft.^[3] He briefly played for Esbjerg Energy in the Danish Metal Ligaen due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In his first professional season, he posted a 10–5–1 record with a 2.58 goals-against average (GAA) and a .922 save percentage in 16 games with Energy. He then joined the Senators' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Belleville Senators in 2020 in the middle of the pandemic-shortened season.^[4][5] Søgaard performed well in his first few games, recording a 7–0–0 record in all of his AHL appearances.

On 13 April 2021, the Senators signed Søgaard to a three-year, entry-level contract.^[6] He began the 2021–22 season with Belleville and posted a 16–13–1 record with a 2.87 GAA and a .906 save percentage in 31 games prior to being recalled by Ottawa.^[7] Søgaard made his NHL debut for Ottawa on 1 April 2022, in a 5–2 victory over the Detroit Red Wings,^[8] also becoming the second Danish goaltender in NHL history after Frederik Andersen.^[9] On 1 March 2023, Søgaard was named the NHL Rookie of the Month for games played in February during which he went 4–0–1 with a 2.33 GAA and .922 save percentage.^[10] On 10 April, Søgaard and Andersen made NHL history, playing against each other in a game in Ottawa. It was the first time that two Danish goaltenders in the NHL faced each other.^[11]

Søgaard attended Ottawa's training camp for the 2023–24 season but was assigned to Belleville to start the season.^[12] On 1 November 2023, he was named the AHL Goaltender of the Month for games played in October during which he went 3–1–0 along with a 1.73 GAA and .944 save percentage.^[13] Søgaard was recalled by Ottawa on 12 January 2024 after Anton Forsberg suffered a groin injury.^[14] He made his NHL season debut in a 7–4 loss to the Colorado Avalanche on 16 January.^[15] He picked up his first win of the season on 21 January over the Philadelphia Flyers.^[16] After four appearances, Søgaard was sent back to Belleville on 31 January as the NHL went into its all-star break.^[17] He was recalled again by Ottawa on 2 March after Forsberg suffered another injury and Joonas Korpisalo was out with an illness.^[18] After making two more starts, Søgaard was sent back to Belleville on 7 March.^[19] On 14 March, with a win over the Utica Comets, Søgaard broke the Belleville Senators' franchise record for wins in a season, surpassing Filip Gustavsson's previous record of 45.^[20]

On 15 July 2024, Søgaard signed a two-year contract with the Senators, a two-way contract in its first year and a one-way contract in the second.^[21] He was assigned to Belleville to start the 2024–25 season.^[22] He was recalled on 14 October on an emergency basis after Linus Ullmark suffered an injury^[23] and made his NHL season debut in relief of Anton Forsberg, making 12 of 16 saves in an 8–7 victory over the Los Angeles Kings that day.^[24] He made just the one appearance before being returned to Belleville on 15 October.^[25]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season										Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	W	L	OTL	MIN	GA	SO	GAA	SV%		GP	W	L	MIN	GA	SO	GAA	SV%
2015–16	Aalborg U20	DEN U20		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2015–16	Aalborg IK	DEN-2		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2016–17	Esbjerg U17	DEN U17		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2016–17	Esbjerg IK	DEN-2		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2017–18	Austin Bruins	NAHL		22	11	6	0	1,137	50	3	2.64	.909		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2018–19	Medicine Hat Tigers	WHL		37	19	8	2	1,981	87	3	2.64	.921		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2019–20	Medicine Hat Tigers	WHL		37	21	13	2	2,115	89	4	2.53	.908		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2020–21	Esbjerg Energy	DEN		16	10	5	1	—	—	—	2.58	.922		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2020–21	Belleville Senators	AHL		7	7	0	0	425	17	0	2.40	.917		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2021–22	Belleville Senators	AHL		35	19	14	1	1,930	92	0	2.86	.908		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2021–22	Ottawa Senators	NHL		2	1	1	0	118	6	0	3.07	.889		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2022–23	Belleville Senators	AHL		22	6	10	2	1,090	63	0	3.47	.893		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2022–23	Ottawa Senators	NHL		19	8	6	3	1,048	58	0	3.32	.889		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2023–24	Belleville Senators	AHL		32	18	9	3	1,864	76	2	2.45	.916		6	3	3	390	16	0	2.46	.910
2023–24	Ottawa Senators	NHL		6	1	3	0	282	19	0	4.05	.859		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
NHL totals				27	10	10	3	1,446	83	0	3.44	.884		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—

References

1. "Former Bruins Goalie Sogaard Selected by Ottawa Senators in Second Round of NHL Entry Draft". Austin Bruins. 22 June 2019. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
2. "Medicine Hat Tigers sign Mads Sogaard to WHL Standard Player Agreement". Western Hockey League Prospect Central. 28 August 2018. Retrieved 2 April 2022.^{[dead link‍]}
3. Morreale, Mike G. (15 April 2019). "Hughes tops 2019 NHL Draft final ranking of North American skaters". National Hockey League. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
4. "Senators sign goaltender Mads Sogaard to entry-level contract". Toronto Star. The Canadian Press. 13 April 2021. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
5. "Sogaard set to build on early success in 2021-22". Belleville Senators. 6 October 2021. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
6. "Senators sign goaltender Mads Sogaard to three-year, entry-level contract". NHL.com. 13 April 2021. Retrieved 2 April 2022.^{[dead link‍]}
7. Tidcombe, Matt (1 April 2022). "Sogaard ready for NHL debut". Ottawa Senators. Retrieved 2 April 2022 – via NHL.com.
8. Hogg, Dave (2 April 2022). "Sogaard wins NHL debut, Senators defeat Red Wings". National Hockey League. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
9. Garrioch, Bruce (2 April 2022). "Mads Sogaard's effort in Detroit offers an interesting twist in net for the Senators". Ottawa Sun. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
10. "Sogaard of Senators named NHL Rookie of the Month for February". National Hockey League. 1 March 2023. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
11. "Oh, What a Night! Senators veteran Claude Giroux hits 1,000 career points in club's win". Ottawa Sun. 11 April 2023.
12. "Ottawa Senators assign eight players to Belleville Sens". Belleville Senators. 8 October 2023. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
13. "Belleville's Sogaard named American Hockey League Goaltender of the Month". Belleville Senators. 1 November 2023. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
14. "Senators recall goaltender Mads Sogaard from AHL Belleville". Sportsnet. 12 January 2024. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
15. "Rantanen gets 2 as Avalanche pull away in 3rd period for 7-4 win over Senators". ESPN. Associated Press. 16 January 2024. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
16. "Tarasenko, Giroux help lift Senators to 5-3 comeback win over Flyers". ESPN. Associated Press. 21 January 2024. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
17. "Senators' Mads Sogaard: Sent down". CBS Sports. 31 January 2024. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
18. Scanlan, Wayne (2 March 2024). "Sogaard to start vs. Flyers as Senators still looking for answers". Sportsnet. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
19. "Senators' Mads Sogaard: Reassigned to AHL". CBS Sports. 7 March 2024. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
20. "Sogaard sets new franchise wins record as B-Sens beat Comets". The Belleville Intelligencer. 14 March 2024. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
21. "Senators sign goaltender Mads Sogaard to two-year contract". Belleville Senators. 15 July 2024. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
22. "Senators' Mads Sogaard: Sent to AHL Belleville". CBS Sports. 4 October 2024. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
23. "Senators recall goaltender Sogaard on emergency basis after Ullmark misses practice". Sportsnet. 14 October 2024. Retrieved 15 October 2024.
24. Fraser, Callum (14 October 2024). "Norris scores in OT to give Senators win against Kings". National Hockey League. Retrieved 15 October 2024.
25. "Senators' Mads Sogaard: Sent down Tuesday". CBS Sports. 15 October 2024. Retrieved 28 October 2024.

External links

• Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or Hockey-Reference.com, or The Internet Hockey Database