MADISON, WI -- Courtesy: MTU
Michigan Tech goaltender Pheonix Copley, who posted back-to-back shutouts over Michigan and Western Michigan and earned tournament MVP honors while leading the Huskies to the Great Lakes Invitational tournament championship in Detroit last weekend, has been named the Red Baron® WCHA Defensive Player of the Week for January 3.
A 6-3, 175-pound freshman from North Pole, Alaska, Copley became the first Michigan Tech goaltender to record consecutive shutouts since Bob McManus in 1955-56 as the Huskies prevailed 4-0 and 4-0 at Joe Louis Arena to earn the school's first GLI title since 1980. He stopped all 38 shots on goal last Saturday (Dec. 29) to help Tech defeat the Wolverines, 4-0. He then turned in 32 more saves in a 4-0 victory over No. 7-ranked Western Michigan in the championship game on Sunday (Dec. 30). He held the two opponents a combined 0-for-12 on the power-play, including :39 seconds of 5-on-3 during a critical time in the title game.
In nine games played between the pipes as a rookie this season, Copley owns a 3.30 goals-against average, a 3-6-0 record and a .892 save percentage.
Copley has been named WCHA Player of the Week twice this season. The other time was a WCHA Rookie of the Week nod on Oct. 23 following Tech's split with then No. 1 Minnesota.
Michigan Tech's next action will be Jan. 11-12 at Minnesota Duluth.
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