Mads Søgaard
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). Selected by the Senators in the second round, 37th overall, in the 2019 NHL entry draft, he debuted with Ottawa in 2022. Søgaard has played for Denmark internationally at the junior level.
Mads Søgaard Bio
Mads Søgaard is a Danish professional ice hockey goaltender who plays for the Belleville Senators of the American Hockey League, the top developmental affiliate of the Ottawa Senators. Standing 201 centimeters tall and weighing 89 kilograms, he uses his size and athleticism to cover the net for his clubs. Søgaard made his NHL debut with Ottawa in 2022 and has been part of the Senators’ goaltending pipeline ever since.
Early Life and Background
Mads Søgaard was born on 13 December 2000 in Aalborg, Denmark. He grew up in the Scandinavian country and developed his early hockey skills in the Danish system, where the sport has a passionate but developing professional base. His large frame, which would later be measured at 201 centimeters and 89 kilograms, gave him a natural physical advantage between the pipes from an early stage of his playing career.
As a young goaltender in Denmark, Søgaard gained attention for his poise and technical fundamentals. His performances at the youth level in his home country caught the eye of scouts, and in 2017 he made the move across the Atlantic to North America to pursue higher-level competition. That decision set him on a path toward major junior hockey and, eventually, the National Hockey League.
Path to Hockey
After relocating to North America in 2017, Søgaard joined the Austin Bruins of the North American Hockey League for one season, appearing in 22 games. His strong play in the NAHL drew the attention of Canadian Hockey League scouts, and in 2018 he was selected 32nd overall in the CHL Import Draft by the Medicine Hat Tigers of the Western Hockey League.
Søgaard spent time developing with the Medicine Hat Tigers, where he sharpened his game against top junior competition. Following his first WHL campaign, he was ranked as the second-best North American-based goaltender in his class, which boosted his stock ahead of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. The Ottawa Senators selected him in the second round, 37th overall, formally beginning his professional pathway.
Mads Søgaard Career
Early Career (2018-2020)
Søgaard began his major junior career with the Medicine Hat Tigers after being picked in the 2018 CHL Import Draft. He adjusted to the WHL style of play, facing high shot volumes and traveling across Western Canada and the Pacific Northwest. His development in Medicine Hat prepared him for the rigors of professional hockey.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Søgaard returned briefly to Denmark and appeared for Esbjerg Energy of the Danish Metal Ligaen. In his first professional season, he posted a 10-5-1 record with a 2.58 goals-against average and a .922 save percentage in 16 games with Energy, demonstrating the form that had made him a top NHL prospect.
AHL Breakthrough (2020-2022)
After his stint in Denmark, Søgaard joined the Belleville Senators in 2020 during the pandemic-shortened AHL season. He performed well in his first few games, recording a 7-0-0 record across his early AHL appearances. On 13 April 2021, the Ottawa Senators signed Søgaard to a three-year, entry-level contract, formalizing his arrival as a prospect.
He began the 2021-22 season with Belleville and posted a 16-13-1 record with a 2.87 goals-against average and a .906 save percentage in 31 games prior to being recalled by Ottawa. His steady play at the AHL level earned him his first NHL opportunity with the parent club in April 2022.
NHL Debut and Rookie Recognition (2022-2023)
Søgaard made his NHL debut for Ottawa on 1 April 2022, in a 5-2 victory over the Detroit Red Wings. In doing so, he became the second Danish goaltender in NHL history, following Frederik Andersen. The milestone marked the arrival of a new generation of Danish netminders in the league.
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 goals-against average and a .922 save percentage. Later that season, on 10 April, Søgaard and Andersen made NHL history by playing against each other in a game in Ottawa, the first time two Danish goaltenders had faced off in an NHL contest.
Belleville Senators Era (2023-Present)
Søgaard attended Ottawa’s training camp for the 2023-24 season but was assigned to Belleville to start the year. On 1 November 2023, he was named the AHL Goaltender of the Month for October after going 3-1-0 with a 1.73 goals-against average and a .944 save percentage. He was recalled by Ottawa on 12 January 2024 after Anton Forsberg suffered a groin injury.
On 14 March 2024, Søgaard broke the Belleville Senators’ franchise record for wins in a season, surpassing Filip Gustavsson’s previous mark of 45, with a victory over the Utica Comets. On 15 July 2024, he signed a two-year contract with the Senators, a two-way deal in its first year and a one-way contract in the second. He began the 2024-25 season in Belleville before being recalled on an emergency basis on 14 October after Linus Ullmark suffered an injury, making his season debut in relief of Anton Forsberg in an 8-7 victory over the Los Angeles Kings.
Driving Style and Strengths
Søgaard’s game is built around his tall, 201-centimeter frame, which helps him cover the upper portion of the net and challenge shooters’ sight lines. He combines positional discipline with the athleticism required to track pucks through traffic, and he has shown the ability to handle heavy AHL and NHL shot volumes. His composure during his NHL debut and his AHL franchise-record season suggest a goaltender who responds well to pressure situations.
Notable Events and Milestones
Søgaard’s most celebrated milestones include his NHL debut on 1 April 2022, his NHL Rookie of the Month honor in February 2023, and the historic 10 April 2023 matchup against fellow Danish goaltender Frederik Andersen. He also set the Belleville Senators’ single-season franchise wins record on 14 March 2024, passing Filip Gustavsson’s mark of 45 victories.
Mads Søgaard Career Wins
Throughout his professional career, Mads Søgaard has built a resume of wins across Danish professional hockey, the AHL, and the NHL. His most prominent accomplishments include a 10-win professional debut season with Esbjerg Energy, a 16-win AHL campaign with Belleville in 2021-22, and a franchise-record-setting season in 2023-24.
AHL Highlights
Søgaard’s AHL career began with an unbeaten 7-0-0 stretch in his initial appearances for Belleville in 2020. He went on to post a 16-13-1 record in 31 games in 2021-22 before earning his first NHL recall. His breakout came in 2023-24, when he surpassed the Belleville Senators’ previous franchise wins record of 45, set by Filip Gustavsson, while also earning AHL Goaltender of the Month honors for October 2023.
Other Wins and Performances
In Denmark, Søgaard went 10-5-1 with Esbjerg Energy during the pandemic-affected 2020-21 season, posting a 2.58 goals-against average and a .922 save percentage. He also recorded his first NHL win of the 2023-24 season on 21 January 2024 against the Philadelphia Flyers, and opened the 2024-25 NHL campaign with a victory over the Los Angeles Kings on 14 October 2024.
Mads Søgaard Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Details about Mads Søgaard’s immediate family have not been publicly confirmed in available sources.
Personal Life
Public information about Søgaard’s personal life, including marital status, is limited. He continues to focus on his development as a goaltender within the Ottawa Senators organization.
2025 Season Performance
Entering the 2025 portion of the 2024-25 season, Mads Søgaard remains part of the Ottawa Senators’ goaltending depth chart, splitting time between the Belleville Senators of the AHL and the NHL roster. His two-year contract signed in July 2024 keeps him under team control through the 2025-26 campaign, with the second year structured as a one-way deal.
He opened 2024-25 in Belleville before an emergency recall on 14 October 2024 following an injury to Linus Ullmark, and he figures to continue being a prime candidate for mid-season call-ups whenever Ottawa faces health concerns in net. His record-setting 2023-24 AHL season and his history of strong monthly performances suggest he remains a key piece of the Senators’ future goaltending plans.
With the NHL trade deadline and playoff push approaching in 2025, Søgaard’s role between the pipes in both Ottawa and Belleville will be closely watched. His combination of size, composure, and prior success at the AHL level positions him as a goaltender who could push for a more permanent NHL role as the season develops.