Men's Ice Hockey

Undrafted Series: Pheonix Copley

Each week leading up to the 2026-27 season, "The CCHA Show" will interview an undrafted player from each of the eight conference programs and dive into what has made them successful after leaving campus. No matter where their career path has taken them, each has carved out an opportunity for themselves at the next level. 

Undrafted Series Episodes
Pheonix Copley (Michigan Tech)
Josh Kotai (Augustana)
Dominik Shine (Northern Michigan)

Pheonix Copley is entering his 13th season of professional hockey in 2026-27, joining the Columbus Blue Jackets organization after spending four seasons between the Los Angeles Kings and Ontario Reign. He has also spent time with Washington Capitals - the team that originally signed him out of Michigan Tech - and the St. Louis Blues. 

Copley has played in over 300 AHL games in his career, posting 169-104-40 record. He has a 2.52 goals-against average and a .909 save percentage with 18 shutouts. In 78 NHL appearances he is 44-17-8 with a 2.85 GAA and an .898 SV%, registering three shutouts. His career-high for NHL games came in 2022-23 with the Kings, when he went 24-6-3 with a 2.64 GAA and a .903 SV% in 37 appearances.

In 54 games across two seasons with the Huskies, Copley went 18-28-7 with a 2.82 goals-against average and a .906 save percentage. He helped Tech snap a 32-year championship drought in the Great Lakes Invitational in 2012-13 and finished with four shutouts in his collegiate career.

The 2026-27 season opens on October 2 and 3 with all eight CCHA teams in action. Conference play gets underway on October 23 and 24, when Lake Superior State and Ferris State host weekend series against Bowling Green and Michigan Tech, respectively.