Pheonix Copley Bio
Pheonix Copley is an American professional ice hockey goaltender who plays in the National Hockey League (NHL). Standing 6 feet 4 inches tall and weighing 196 pounds, he currently plays for the Los Angeles Kings after being claimed off waivers and then reacquired during the 2025 preseason. Undrafted out of college, Copley has built a long professional career across the AHL and NHL, including a stretch as the Kings’ starting goaltender in 2022-23.
Born and raised in Alaska before moving to Ohio as a child, Copley developed through American junior hockey and the collegiate ranks at Michigan Tech. He turned professional in 2014 and has since appeared in the NHL with the Washington Capitals, St. Louis Blues, and Los Angeles Kings, while also spending significant time with AHL affiliates.
Early Life and Background
Pheonix Copley was born on January 18, 1992, in North Pole, Alaska, to parents Peter Copley and Mary Sanford. He grew up alongside his older brother Navarone, who also plays ice hockey. The unusual name of his birthplace has become a personal trademark, and Copley has candy canes painted on his goaltender mask in tribute to the town.
When Copley was young, his family relocated to Ohio so his father could pursue an advanced degree. Eventually, his parents divorced, and Mary, Navarone, and Pheonix moved back to Alaska. Returning to the state where he was born helped deepen his connection to the sport, as Alaska has a strong youth hockey tradition that produces many goaltenders for higher levels of the game.
Path to Hockey
Copley began his competitive path in the United States Hockey League (USHL), one of the top junior leagues in the United States. He played for the Tri-City Storm and the Des Moines Buccaneers, gaining the experience he would need to compete at the collegiate level.
After his time in the USHL, Copley committed to Michigan Tech of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA). He played two seasons of college hockey for the Huskies, developing his goaltending style against strong NCAA competition. At the conclusion of his sophomore season, he decided to forgo his remaining eligibility and turn professional, agreeing to a two-year, entry-level contract with the Washington Capitals on March 20, 2014.
Pheonix Copley Career
Early Career (2014-2017)
Copley was assigned to the Capitals’ AHL affiliate, the Hershey Bears, to begin his first full professional season in 2014-15. Sharing the crease in the AHL, he impressed with 17 wins in 26 games, demonstrating the consistency that had marked his college play. His strong season drew attention across the league and made him a notable prospect in Washington’s system.
In the off-season, Copley was included in a major trade that sent him, Troy Brouwer, and a third-round pick in 2016 to the St. Louis Blues in exchange for T. J. Oshie on July 2, 2015. The move signaled that opposing teams viewed him as a valuable young goaltending asset, even though he had not yet played an NHL game.
St. Louis Blues Breakthrough (2015-2017)
In the 2015-16 season, Copley made his NHL debut with the Blues in relief during a defeat to the Nashville Predators on February 27, 2016. The brief appearance marked his first step onto the league’s biggest stage, even though the result did not go his way.
During the 2016-17 season, Copley was recalled from the Chicago Wolves of the AHL by the Blues on January 20, 2017. He made the first start of his NHL career on January 21 against the Winnipeg Jets, a 5-3 loss, before being returned to the Wolves. On February 27, 2017, he was traded back to the Washington Capitals in a deadline deal that also sent Kevin Shattenkirk to Washington in exchange for Zach Sanford, Brad Malone, a 2017 first-round pick, and a conditional second-round pick in 2019.
Washington Capitals Era (2017-2022)
Copley was called up to the NHL during the Capitals’ 2018 Stanley Cup playoffs run. Although he did not appear in any playoff games, he remained with the team throughout their championship run and was part of the roster that won the 2018 Stanley Cup.
He made the Capitals’ opening-night roster to begin the 2018-19 season and recorded his first NHL win in a 4-3 shootout victory over the Calgary Flames on October 27, 2018. He then spent the 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons with the Hershey Bears, where he and Zachary Fucale earned the Harry "Hap" Holmes Memorial Award for the 2020-21 season’s best save percentage. As a free agent following the 2021-22 season, Copley signed a one-year, $850,000 contract with the Los Angeles Kings on July 13, 2022.
Los Angeles Kings Era (2022-Present)
After Kings goaltenders Cal Petersen and Jonathan Quick struggled at the start of the 2022-23 season, the Kings called Copley up from the AHL in December 2022. He quickly established himself as the team’s starting goaltender, becoming just the fifth goaltender in franchise history to win seven games in a row. His poise and consistency helped stabilize the Los Angeles crease during that campaign.
During the 2023-24 season, Copley played in eight games before sustaining an injury during practice on December 15, 2023. He was placed on the long-term injured reserve list two days later, and on January 6, 2024, it was announced that he would not return during the season due to ACL surgery. Ahead of the 2025-26 season, on October 1, 2025, Copley was placed on waivers by the Kings and was claimed off waivers the following day by the Tampa Bay Lightning. Remaining on the roster to provide depth, he was returned to the Kings in a trade for future considerations on October 15, 2025.
Driving Style and Strengths
Copley is a tall, technically sound goaltender whose 6-foot-4 frame helps him cover the upper portion of the net. He relies on positioning, calmness under pressure, and efficient lateral movement rather than flashiness, allowing him to handle heavy shot volumes. His ability to string together consistent starts was central to the Kings’ seven-game winning streak in 2022-23.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Copley’s signature moments are his first NHL win in October 2018 and his place in Kings history as only the fifth franchise goaltender to win seven consecutive games. He is also a 2018 Stanley Cup champion with the Washington Capitals and a Harry "Hap" Holmes Memorial Award winner in the AHL.
Pheonix Copley Career Wins
Pheonix Copley has accumulated professional wins across multiple AHL seasons and a growing number of NHL appearances. His most notable stretch came during the 2022-23 NHL season with the Los Angeles Kings, when he set a personal best with seven straight victories. He also posted 17 wins in 26 games with the Hershey Bears in 2014-15.
NHL Highlights
Copley’s first NHL win came with the Washington Capitals on October 27, 2018, a 4-3 shootout victory over the Calgary Flames. His most recent sustained run of success came in 2022-23, when his consecutive wins helped the Kings weather early-season goaltending trouble. He remains a depth option for Los Angeles heading into 2025-26.
Other Wins & Performances
In the AHL, Copley has been a steady winner, highlighted by his 2014-15 performance with Hershey and his shared 2020-21 Harry "Hap" Holmes Memorial Award with Zachary Fucale. These achievements underline his long track record as a reliable professional goaltender at the second-tier level.
Pheonix Copley Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Copley was raised by his father, Peter Copley, and his mother, Mary Sanford. His older brother, Navarone, also plays ice hockey, giving the family a clear sporting connection. The family moved from North Pole, Alaska, to Ohio during Pheonix’s childhood before his parents divorced and he returned to Alaska with his mother and brother.
Personal Life
In 2022, motivated by personal experiences with diet and injuries, Copley founded an athletic tea company called Athletes Apothecary. He continues to run the business to help other athletes facing similar challenges and to promote awareness of high-quality sports nutrition. He has also maintained a personal tie to his hometown by placing candy canes on his goaltender mask in honor of North Pole, Alaska.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 calendar year has been eventful for Pheonix Copley, beginning with his continued recovery from the ACL surgery that ended his 2023-24 season early. He reported to the Kings’ training camp in September working to prove he could return to his previous form, though the team ultimately opted to place him on waivers at the start of the 2025-26 season.
On October 1, 2025, Copley was placed on waivers by the Kings and was claimed off waivers the following day by the Tampa Bay Lightning. Remaining on the roster to provide depth, he was returned to the Kings in a trade for future considerations on October 15, 2025, restoring his depth role in Los Angeles.
Looking ahead, Copley is expected to serve as a veteran depth option for the Kings as he works his way back from long-term injury. His experience and seven-game winning streak in 2022-23 give the organization confidence in his ability, even if his on-ice role for 2025-26 may be limited. The early-season movement through waivers and a quick return to Los Angeles highlighted his value as a stabilizing presence in NHL goaltending rooms.