By Sam Laskaris /
Unless you’re a diehard Toronto Maple Leafs’ fan, there’s a good chance you haven’t even heard of Adam Munro.
That’s because whenever the topic of the Maple Leafs’ goaltending future arises, there’s usually just one individual – Justin Pogge – who is mentioned.
Pogge, a third-year pro who has been called up to play a handful of games in the NHL this season, is the Toronto Marlies’ number one puck-stopper. As a result, he was expected to receive about 60 starts in the American Hockey League with the Marlies this season.
As for Munro, who is in his first season with the Toronto organization, he’s the Marlies’ backup.
Though he’s not as well known as Pogge, Munro, 26, actually has considerably more pro experience than the man he frequently backs up.
Munro appeared in a total of 17 NHL contests during a pair of stints with the Chicago Blackhawks earlier this decade. And besides playing a year in Switzerland, he’s also toiled with four other Minor Pro franchises in the American Hockey League and the East Coast Hockey League.
Munro does not mind his role with the Marlies and having to play second fiddle to Pogge.
“It’s fine,” he said. “I came here this year knowing what I was going to do. I knew what was happening when I signed up this year. That’s pretty much what they told me. It’s no surprise.”
By mid-February, Munro had appeared in just 16 games with the Marlies. He had a 7-7-1 record and a decent 2.39 goals-against average.
“I’m just trying to give the team a chance any time I’m in there,” he said. “And I feel like I’ve done that so far this year.”
Munro is also rather pleased to be playing in his home province. He grew up in St. George, Ont., a small town near Brantford. So he’s pretty happy to be playing pro hockey in Toronto.
“It’s obviously a dream – you wanted to play for the Leafs growing up or their organization and this is a great feeling,” he said.
Though he has seen Pogge get summoned to the parent club a handful of times, Munro is also yearning for a return to the NHL.
“Obviously, that’s everybody’s dream or else we wouldn’t be playing the game,” he said.
“I’m just trying to stick it out this year and we’ll see what happens next year.”
Munro had a 1-5-1 record and a 3.67 goals against average during his first stint in Chicago during the 2003/04 season. Then he registered a 3-5-2 mark and an even 3.00 goals against average during his Blackhawks’ stint in 2005/06.
“The first few times I was up there in my career maybe I wasn’t ready for it,” Munro said.
“Now I feel a little bit more mature and think I could be a little bit better up there.” |