Copp arrests goal drought

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 31/10/2015 (3687 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — It was a big factor in his new team’s victory Saturday night, but Andrew Copp’s first NHL goal provided the rookie with something else to savour.

“Being a Michigan alum, it’s a little sweeter in Ohio State territory, too,” Copp said after hitting the board in his 12th NHL game, Winnipeg’s 3-2 victory over the Blue Jackets Saturday night.

His parents, grandparents and two best friends from high school were in the audience to witness the feat.

“Being so close to Ann Arbor (Michigan). It was good to have them here for that,” Copp said.

It’s less than three hours driving from University of Michigan to Nationwide Arena.

The Ann Arbor native, 21, has been doing regular duty on the Jets’ fourth line to start this season, averaging just more than seven minutes per game.

Saturday it was with Chris Thorburn and Anthony Peluso and all had a hand in the goal at 6:45 of the first that put the visitors ahead 2-0.

Copp took teammate Tyler Myers’ shot/pass off the backboard and with Thorburn screening Columbus goalie Sergei Bobrovsky at the crease, he whipped a high shot into the net.

“I won a draw and (Peluso) came in and helped, got it back to Mysy (Myers) and Thorbs was doing a great job in front of the net and I just kind of went to the net and good things happen there, I guess,” Copp said. We assume he was smiling, but it was hard to tell, as he did his post-game interviews wearing the pilot’s helmet — full shades down in this instance — that the team awards to its player of the game.

Copp played one game to finish last year’s regular season, when he came out of Michigan, but during the first 10 games of his first full NHL season, he admitted he had thought once or twice about not having scored.

“Oh yeah, you definitely think about it,” he said. “Not at the rink, just more kind of joking around with your buddies away (from the rink). In the games, I’m trying to do whatever I can to help the team.

Winnipeg Free Press | Newsletter

Mike McIntyre | On Sports

Thursdays

Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter.

Sign up for Mike McIntyre | On Sports

Sign Up

I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement.

“Tonight it was a putting a goal up on that board.

“(The feeling?) Pretty good. It’s a sense of relief. It’s been a little bit of time. I haven’t gone through a drought like that in a while. So a little relief. Definitely a special moment.”

Myers said after the game he loved being part of that on-ice experience.

“That’s pretty cool,” Myers said. “To be a part of it, it’s pretty cool to come into the huddle and see his face and how excited he is. I remember my first one. It’s a special moment for a player and I’m glad it happened for him.”

tim.campbell@freepress.mb.ca