Copley was assigned to AHL affiliate, the Hershey Bears, to begin his first full professional season in 2014–15. In sharing the crease, he impressed with the Bears, earning 17 wins in 26 games. In the off-season, Copley was included in a trade, which also included Troy Brouwer and a third-round pick in 2016, to the St. Louis Blues in exchange for T. J. Oshie on July 2, 2015.[2]
During the 2016–17 season, on January 20, 2017, Copley was recalled from the Chicago Wolves of the AHL by the Blues.[4] He made the first start of his NHL career on January 21 against the Winnipeg Jets,[5] where the Blues lost 5–3.[6] After he was returned to the Wolves, on February 27, 2017, Copley was traded back to the Capitals in a deadline trade along with Kevin Shattenkirk in exchange for Zach Sanford, Brad Malone, a 2017 first-round pick, and a conditional second-round pick in 2019.[7] Copley was called up to the NHL during the Capitals' 2018 Stanley Cup playoffs run and although he did not play during the playoffs, he stayed with the team as they won the 2018 Stanley Cup.[8]
Copley made the Capitals opening-night roster to begin the 2018–19 season.[9] He recorded his first NHL win in a 4–3 shootout win over the Calgary Flames on October 27, 2018.[10] He spent the 2019–20 and 2020–21 seasons with the Hershey Bears, where he earned the Harry "Hap" Holmes Memorial Award with Zachary Fucale for the 2020–21 season's best save percentage.[11]
Los Angeles Kings
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.[12] After Kings goaltenders Cal Petersen and Jonathan Quick struggled at the start of the 2022–23 season, the Kings called up Copley from the AHL in December 2022.[13] Copley would quickly establish himself as the team's starting goaltender, becoming just the fifth goaltender in franchise history to win seven games in a row.[14]
During the 2023–24 season, Copley played in eight games before sustaining an injury during practice on December 15, 2023, and was then placed on the long-term injured reserve list two days later.[15] On January 6, 2024, it was announced that he would not return during the season due to ACL surgery.[16][17]
Personal life
Copley was born on January 18, 1992, in North Pole, Alaska,[18] to parents Peter Copley and Mary Sanford.[19] His older brother Navarone also plays ice hockey.[20] At a young age, his family moved to Ohio so his father could pursue an advanced degree. Eventually, his parents divorced and Mary, Navarone and Pheonix moved back to Alaska.[19] In honor of his birthplace, Copley has candy canes on his goaltender mask.[21]
