Pheonix Copley

Brian MacLellan anticipates Ilya Samsonov starting, Vitek Vanecek backing up during 2020-21 season

Henrik Lundqvist’s shocking announcement that he would not play this season due to a heart condition rocked the Capitals organization and the NHL community as a whole. But inside the walls of MedStar Capitals Iceplex, Hank’s exit also represented, as sad as the circumstances, an opportunity for the team’s young goaltenders who have been in a fierce and friendly competition for NHL playing time over the last few years.

Wednesday, Brian MacLellan confirmed that Ilya Samsonov would be the Capitals’ starting netminder next season during the Capitals general manager’s first press conference since Lundqvist’s announcement was made.

Mac added that while the team was open to possibly adding a veteran goalie via free agency or trade, they were also content with their depth at the position.

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By Ian Oland 1 month ago

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Pheonix Copley’s new goalie mask features oversized Weagle wings

Monday, the debut of new goalie masks continued as Pheonix Copley’s 2021 bucket was released by Swedish airbrusher David Gunnarsson.

The dominant features of Copley’s design combine white stars, oversized Weagle wings, and the Capitals’ wordmark for a bold red and blue look. The chin also features two crossed candy canes symbolizing Copley’s home of North Pole, Alaska.

“The new Caps mask creation for my friend Pheonix Copley was a joy to create,” Gunnarsson wrote. “It is crisp and clean on a distance, all built on the awesome team logos. It lives and breathes Washington Capitals with the red bottom and crisp white details, and when you come closer the 3️⃣-D FX delivers… Thanks Pheonix for the paint ride!”

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By Ian Oland 1 month ago

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Beck Malenstyn and Pheonix Copley will be black aces for the Capitals if the 2019-20 restarts

The Hershey Bears’ season officially ended on Monday after the AHL canceled the rest of the 2019-20 campaign due to the coronavirus pandemic, but at least two Bears players could still have more hockey to play.

The Washington Capitals have notified forward Beck Malenstyn and goaltender Pheonix Copley that they will be black aces for the team if the NHL season ever restarts. A black ace is a term for players recalled from the AHL for their NHL team’s playoff run.

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By Ian Oland 8 months ago

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Pheonix Copley clears waivers, loaned to Hershey Bears

The Capitals have dodged another bullet. The team’s former backup goaltender, Pheonix Copley, has cleared waivers and loaned to the American Hockey League’s Hersey Bears.

Copley was put on waivers on Wednesday afternoon as the Capitals announced their 2019-20 roster. Goaltender Ilya Samsonov was awarded the backup position.

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By Cara Bahniuk 1 year ago

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Ilya Samsonov will back up Braden Holtby as Capitals place Pheonix Copley on waivers

In a shocking move, the Washington Capitals placed Pheonix Copley on waivers Wednesday. Copley signed a three-year contract last season to keep him in DC until 2022.

“It was a really difficult decision for us organizationally,” head coach Todd Reirden said. “To have to put Copley on waivers was something organizationally, that we had to do and with where we’re at in today’s cap world, it was a tough one, especially with his work ethic, who he is as a person, how good he is in our locker room. It was a real tough day to inform him yesterday that he wasn’t coming on this trip and ultimately putting him on waivers.”

The move indicates, either due to the salary cap or the longterm future of the team, that the Capitals will go with Ilya Samsonov as the team’s backup goaltender moving forward where he continue his rapid development. The aggressive move also suggests Braden Holtby’s future with the team beyond this season is in question. Holtby is a UFA at season’s end and is likely due a contract with an annual average salary of around $10 million.

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By Ian Oland 1 year ago

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Stanley Cup champions Pheonix Copley and Colton Parayko sign autographs, throw out first pitch at Alaska Goldpanners game

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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By Ian Oland 2 years ago

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Here’s Pheonix Copley with his Goldendoodle in North Pole, Alaska

Hey, it’s Friday and that Matt Niskanen trade news was heavy.

So below, I would like you to enjoy this photo of Capitals goaltender Pheonix Copley posing with Barry the Goldendoodle.

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By Ian Oland 2 years ago

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Pheonix Copley: 2018-19 season review

The Washington Capitals evidently liked what they saw out of Pheonix Copley‘s rookie season, as they extended him through the 2021-22 season, but there’s still a lot of uncertainty about the future of Caps goaltending.

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By Peter Hassett 2 years ago

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Pheonix Copley to start against Winnipeg Jets

After serving as the backup goaltender for the past five games, Pheonix Copley will be starting Sunday night against the Winnipeg Jets. Copley’s last game came on February 24 against the New York Rangers.

The rest of the lines remain the same, with Carl Hagelin playing on the third line alongside Lars Eller and Brett Connolly, and Nick Jensen pairing with Brooks Orpik on defense. The Capitals are on a six-game win streak.

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By Cara Bahniuk 2 years ago

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Capitals players involved in Hockey ‘N Heels event hope team’s female supporters ‘become lifelong fans of the game’

On Monday evening, the Capitals held the 13th annual Hockey ‘N Heels event. The event, which is exclusive to members of the Scarlet Caps, is a special evening dedicated to the team’s female fans.

The evening featured instructional sessions from a handful of Capitals and off-ice presentations, including a question and answer session with USA gold medal-winning Olympian Haley Skarupa.

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By Cara Bahniuk 2 years ago

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