Pouliot joined the Winterhawks for the 2010–11 season. On a team laden with talent (2010 fourth- and fifth-overall picks Ryan Johansen and Nino Niederreiter, along with future first-round picks in 2011 Sven Bärtschi and Joe Morrow), Pouliot played the majority of the season and finished with 30 points in 66 games. During the season, Pouliot was invited to play for Canada-West at the 2011 World U-17 Hockey Challenge, finishing with three assists in five games as Canada-West lost in the fifth-place game to Canada-Atlantic. Portland finished the regular season with 103 points in the standings, finishing one point ahead of U.S. Division rival Spokane to clinch the top spot in the Western Conference.