Chaotic start to Copp’s career

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This article was published 28/03/2015 (3842 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The bother to start his NHL career will all be an amusing footnote at some point.

But Andrew Copp could be forgiven for wondering about his first day or two as a pro hockey player.

First there was Friday’s odyssey, setting out from his home in Ann Arbor, Mich., flying from Windsor, Ont., through Toronto to Calgary to resolve an issue with his passport.

Arriving in Winnipeg late Friday night, he hit the MTS Centre ice for the first time Saturday morning with his new Jets teammates and was promptly asked to be a participant in a conditioning skate.

Out of breath, the 20-year-old centre bravely fielded a barrage of questions about his arrival after three years at University of Michigan, this past season as captain.

“That was pretty tough,” Copp said. “Pretty good little bag skate there for me at the end. It was pretty tough getting off the plane and trying to get my legs under me, so it was good to get bagged like that, get used to the pace that’s the NHL.”

The one bonus for Copp, the fourth-round pick of 2013 who has decided to pass on his senior year at Michigan, is that longtime friend and former Wolverines teammate Jacob Trouba is a fixture on the Jets defence.

“I’m pretty excited that he’s here,” Trouba said Saturday. “He’s been a good friend for a long time, a good teammate for a long time.

“His dad was my coach for six years. We started to play together in fifth grade.”

Trouba gives his buddy high marks as a player and for his potential.

“I think he’s really disciplined, a good two-way player,” Trouba said. “He’s got some skill and is really good defensively. He’s a good guy to have on your team and a definitely an accountable guy.”

There appeared to be some disagreement at Michigan over Copp’s departure.

Michigan coach Red Berenson, talking to mgoblue.com after Copp signed his entry-level deal with the Jets, said he was disappointed in his now ex-captain, intimated there was unfinished business, that the Jets may have promised him much and won’t deliver, and he could wind up playing in the AHL and simply be a “practice player” here.

Copp said Saturday it was pretty straightforward.

“I think I was just trying to figure out the pros and the cons and what weighs most,” Copp said. “I think at the end of the day I chose to do what’s best for me. I feel like I’m ready to play at this level and this experience in particularly will be helpful going forward, just learning from the guys in the room and being part of the playoff push.”

About playing anytime soon for the Jets, he said: “I think you always hope to play. I’m just trying to come up here to be part of the team and get an experience up here. If I play, I’m looking to add to the team and if not, it’s great to be up here.”

He said he’s been given “no real indication,” about playing. “Just come in and do your best and see where everyone fits,” he said. “Could be in the lineup with injuries, but just trying to get accustomed to being up here and get a good experience here.”

That’s what Jets coach Paul Maurice was saying on Saturday.

“I know what I’ve been told (but) I haven’t seen the young man play,” Maurice said. “So they’re excited about his strength in the middle of the ice and his ability to read those plays. Looks like a powerful young fella with a good determination.

“I think when you get to wear a C for an institution like Michigan, you know you’ve got the character right.

“The plan is just to integrate him into the group and get him up to our game and speed and then see what happens. Depth at centre is always welcomed. We’ve certainly had enough banged-up guys here that the more healthy, viable players the better.”

tim.campbell@freepress.mb.ca