Pheonix Copley and Colton Parayko won the Stanley Cup with Washington (2018) and St. Louis (2019) respectively. On Wednesday, the two hockey players held an autograph signing and met with fans at the Alaska Goldpanners’ “Hockey Night” at Growden Memorial Park. Copley is a native of North Pole, Alaska, while Parayko played three years on the University of Alaska’s hockey team.
“It is awesome, it is a tight-knit community, and the hockey community is great,” Copley said to KTVF11. “We get a lot of support it is awesome to be a part of something like this. I had so much help growing up from the community, so any way I can give back and help out, it’s great. It’s awesome to see kids who have dreams like that and any way I can help and inspire them is awesome.”
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Parayko was presented a proclamation by Fairbanks North Star Borough Mayor Bryce Ward, which celebrated the defenseman’s community outreach.
Fairbanks North Star Borough Mayor Bryce Ward honors Colton Parayko with a proclamation thanking him for his service to the Fairbanks community: pic.twitter.com/ugrxLfL81s
— Alaska Goldpanners (@RealGoldpanners) July 18, 2019
Last night at the @RealGoldpanners Hockey Night baseball game, I issued a Proclamation to honor Colton Parayko, a hockey player for the NHL’s @StLouisBlues . (He and his team won the 2019 Stanley Cup for the first time in their 52-year franchise history!) (continued) pic.twitter.com/igLuDzpG9L
— MayorBryceWard (@MayorBryceWard) July 19, 2019
Colton continues to give himself to our community which he called home for three years—what a great role model for our young people! We are proud of you, Colton! Thank you for serving, leading, and thriving! (Photo credit: @jr_ancheta / University of Alaska Fairbanks) pic.twitter.com/3JufGyEAUc
— MayorBryceWard (@MayorBryceWard) July 19, 2019
Colton first entered our Fairbanks story back in 2012, where he played three seasons for the @AlaskaNanooks. In 2018, he started the Parayko Hockey Camp as a way to give back. The 4-day camp is for kids ages 8-15 with all proceeds going to a UAF scholarship. (continued) pic.twitter.com/Mr5b22W3MW
— MayorBryceWard (@MayorBryceWard) July 19, 2019
“I am just fortunate to be in a position to come back here and be in these boots and share where I have been and what I have become because this is kind of where it all started here in Alaska,” Parayko said to KTVF11. “I am still a Nanook and always will be.”
The two hockey players then threw out the ceremonial first pitch before the start of the semi-pro game between the Goldpanners and the Bercovich 35’s.
And Parayko and fellow Stanley Cup Champion Pheonix Copley throw out dueling first pitches: pic.twitter.com/ljegbgDEnQ
— Alaska Goldpanners (@RealGoldpanners) July 18, 2019
Copley and Parayko hung out with fans in the beer garden and the Blues pivot joined the radio crew.
Thanks for coming upstairs Colton! #Star49 #NanookNation #PannerNation #HockeyNight pic.twitter.com/HwiPu3PzQ1
— Alaska Goldpanners (@RealGoldpanners) July 18, 2019
Full house tonight! Thanks Fairbanks Hockey Community for coming out! @RealGoldpanners pic.twitter.com/Qyns24V1MX
— Alaska Hockey (@NanooksHockey) July 18, 2019
Hockey Night at the @RealGoldpanners was a huge success! Thank you to everyone who came out, but specifically Colton Parayko & Pheonix Copley for signing autographs & chatting with fans. pic.twitter.com/oWC9JEcrAn
— Alaska Hockey (@NanooksHockey) July 19, 2019
After being last place in the NHL midway through the season, the Blues and Parayko went on an incredible run, improbably winning their franchise’s first Stanley Cup. Parayko received national attention when he lifted the Stanley Cup with Blues fan Laila Anderson on the ice after Game Seven.
Headline photo: @NanooksHockey
