The 28-year-old, blueliner joins the club from Utah Grizzlies of the ECHL, where he has spent the past two years and last season, he contributed 10 points (3G, 7A) in 66 games.
Born in Kamloops, British Columbia, Pouncy is a three-year professional after graduating from Northland College in 2020 and would go on to ice for Wichita Thunder and Utah in the ECHL.
Standing at 6-feet-3-inches tall and weighing in at 181lbs, Kyle also had brief spells in the Federal Professional Hockey League with Carolina Thunderbirds and in the Southern Professional Hockey League with Knoxville Ice Bears, during the COVID-19 interrupted season.
Pouncy was also selected to be on the NCAA III (WIAC) All-Conference Team in his senior year at Northland College after breaking the school record for most points by a defenseman all-time and he also picked up the 2015-2016 Scholastic Award of the Superior International Junior Hockey League and was named to their First All-Star Team.
LEFEBVRE ON POUNCY
Once his defensive unit was completed, Stars Director of Hockey Operations and Head Coach, Marc LeFebvre, said: “Kyle is a big right-hand defenseman, who skates very well and his game is going to be a great fit for the Olympic ice sheet, we are excited to have him.
“He completes our defence and everything we are looking for right now as he has size, can move the puck well, skates well and he is going to be a great addition to our club.”
LeFebvre continued: “We wanted to build a team with experience, so we did not go with a young team this season and I do not think our league is built for that and we wanted some guys with experience, especially on our back end and he definitely fills that void.
“We wanted a defensive core that is going to be hard to play against, so guys with some size, who can move the puck up the ice to our forwards, skate with the puck and bring it out of our zone, so just guys who play a simple hockey game and that is what we have here.
“Kyle is a very simple hockey player, he just gets the job done, moves the puck well and skates well, so he is just a simple guy and that is all we could ask for.
“Sometimes your best defensemen are the ones who do not stand out on the tapes and you know they will not lose you a game because they just make simple plays to get the puck to our forwards.”
Listen to the full interview below!
POUNCY ON COMING TO DUNDEE
Hear what Kyle had to say as he caught up with Dundee Stars TV’s Stephen Swann after his move to become a Star was confirmed.
POUNCY’S CAREER
Kyle’s career began back in 2008 with Kamloops Blazers U15’s and in 2012 he would step up to join Kootenay International Junior Hockey League side, Columbia Valley Rockies, where in two seasons he featured in 44 games, scoring eight goals and assisting seven times.
The Canadian then made the move to the Superior International Junior Hockey League ahead of the 2013-2014 campaign and signed with Dryden Ice Dogs for two seasons.
Pouncy would be an alternate captain during both of his years with the Ice Dogs and appeared in a total of 111 regular season games and 24 playoff matches, whilst contributing 102 points (25G, 77A).
In 2015-2016, the 20-year-old, British Columbian led Dryden in scoring by a defenceman with 42 points in 56 games and that was also ranked third among all SIJHL blueliners, whilst also leading the league in game-winning-goals by a defender, with four.
Kyle ended that year by winning the RBC Scholastic Player of the Year Award and being named to the CCM Hockey First All-Star team, as well as being nominated for the SIJHL’s Amyottes Awards & Promotions Most Valuable Player honour.
Pouncy then committed to NCAA III school, Northland College in Wisconsin and would spend four years as a Lumberjack, dressing in exactly 100 games and scoring 57 points (17G, 40A).
In his senior year, he was named to the WIAC All-Conference Team and after graduating, held the school record for points by a defenseman, before earning his first professional try-out.
The ECHL’s Wichita Thunder gave Kyle four games of experience at the pro-level, where he recorded one assist, before the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the season, however he would return to Wichita the following year when hockey resumed.
With roster spots limited, Pouncy made one appearance with the Thunder before going on to have short stints in the Federal Professional Hockey League with Carolina Thunderbirds and in the Southern Professional Hockey League with Knoxville Ice Bears.
In the first full season back, the Canadian re-entered the ECHL, this time joining Utah Grizzlies, where he would spend the last two years, making over 100 professional appearances and icing in eight playoff games, in which he scored two points and held a plus-minus rating of +5.
In total, Pouncy has played in 136 professional matches over four seasons, accumulating 28 points (10G, 18A) and 26 penalty minutes.
In his 10-year-career so far, Kyle has featured in 385 matches, recorded 55 goals, 127 assists and collected 62 penalty minutes, while also playing in 33 playoff games, where he tallied 20 points (5G, 15A) and 2 penalty minutes.
Pouncy has also been on the same team as a few ex-Stars over the years, including; Spencer Dorowicz, Fabrizio Ricci, Chris Gerrie, Anthony Beauregard, Charlie Combs and also new additions Sean Allen and Johnny Walker.
Kyle is our 19th signing of the summer and joins Drydn Dow, Lucas Brine, Kris Inglis, Jonathan McBean, Craig Moore, Craig Garrigan, Johnny Walker, Josh Brittain, Chris McKay, Ryan Valentini, Brendan Harms, Carter Johnson, Tommy Parrottino, James Phelan , Kevin Carr, Anthony Rinaldi, Spencer Naas and Sean Allen on the roster for next season.
Pouncy will wear #23 for the Stars and you can sponsor his equipment for this season right now, click HERE.
To see Kyle’s career stats on Elite Prospects click HERE.
Banner Image: Utah Grizzlies.
Featured Image: Utah Grizzlies.
