Capitals sign goaltender Pheonix Copley
The Washington Capitals have signed goaltender Pheonix Copley. Here is the Capitals press release.
Capitals Sign Pheonix Copley
Posted on March 19, 2014 by Caps PR
ARLINGTON, Va. – The Washington Capitals have signed free agent goaltender Pheonix Copley to a two-year, entry-level contract beginning the 2014-15 season, vice president and general manager George McPhee announced today.
Copley, 22, spent the last two seasons at Michigan Tech of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA). Copley appeared in 30 games for the Huskies this season, posting a 10-13-6 record with one shutout, a .911 save percentage and a 2.51 goals-against average. The North Pole, Alaska, native ranked sixth in the WCHA in goals-against average and seventh in the league in save percentage. Copley earned WCHA Defensive Player of the Week honors twice during 2013-14 season.
As a freshman at Michigan Tech during the 2012-13 season, Copley appeared in 24 games for the Huskies and posted an 8-15-1 record. The goaltender registered three shutouts, a .900 save percentage and a 3.22 goals-against average during the season and ranked 11th in the WCHA in save percentage and 12th in the conference in goals-against average. Copley was named the WCHA Rookie of the Week twice and the Defensive Player of the Week once. In 54 career WCHA games, Copley has recorded an 18-28-7 record with four shutouts, a 2.82 goals-against average and a .906 save percentage.
Copley split the 2011-12 season between the Des Moines Buccaneers and the Tri-City Storm of the United States Hockey League (USHL). He finished the season ranked eighth in the USHL in save percentage (.907), tied for 11th in shutouts (2), tied for 13th in wins (16) and 14th in the league in goals-against average (3.12). Copley spent the 2010-11 season with the Corpus Christi Ice Rays of the North American Hockey League (NAHL), posting a 14-23-4 record with a 4.17 goals-against average and a .880 save percentage in 42 games.
Copley will join the Hershey Bears (AHL) on a tryout agreement.