Pheonix Copley Almost Scores Goal for Hershey in Playoff Game (Video)

Pheonix Copley hugs Chris Brown after Hershey’s 6-4 win over Hartford in game two of the Eastern Conference semi-finals. (Kyle Mace / Chocolate Hockey)

Hershey Bears fans almost got to see history at game two of the AHL Eastern Conference semi-finals between the Bears and Hartford. Pheonix Copley came within less than three seconds of becoming the first Bears goalie ever to score a goal. Trailing 6-4, Hartford took a shot from behind their own blue line that went right on the Bears net. Copley made the save and then attempted a shot at the empty Hartford net. The puck went in, but time just ran out.

“I didn’t realize how much time was on the clock,” said Copley after the game. “I shot it and it went in, but there was no time left.”

Bears defenseman Nate Schmidt also saw the attempt. “Just add a couple more seconds. We may need to check the tape on that one. I would have loved to see that.”

Copley replaced Philipp Grubauer in the second period of game two after Grubauer allowed four goals in 29 minutes. “Tough spot for the kid,” head coach Troy Mann said. “Little different circumstances when you’re up 10-2 (against Worcester in game four.) It was one of those gut feelings. I almost did it at 3-1.

“I just felt that in the back of my head I thought Phil was fighting in the first period and that if one more went in I was going to go to Copley. He was able to hold the fort down and I did think we protected him very well from the time he went in so that was great to see from the guys prospective. That’s certainly not an easy thing to do.”

Below, check out the video of Copley’s shot that was just a second too late.