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ON THE COVER
Kari Ellsworth has gone from the press box – she was a longtime Alaska TV sports reporter/anchor who made frequent fishing reports for viewers – to the owner’s box as part of a group that runs the Anchorage Wolverines, a successful junior ice hockey club in the North American Hockey League. (KARI ELLSWORTH)
CORRESPONDENCE
X @AKSportJourn Facebook.com/ alaskasportingjournal Email ccocoles@media-inc.com
19
FROM THE PRESS BOX TO THE OWNER’S BOX
Kari Ellsworth (right) was once known by Alaska sports and fishing fans as a TV sports reporter and anchor who, besides covering the games, regularly filed fishing report segments. These days, she’s dabbling in sports ownership as part of a group that owns the Anchorage Wolverines, a successful junior team in the North American Hockey League. Tiffany Herrington caught up with Ellsworth to talk about the Anchorage area’s love of hockey, her passion for fishing, and more!
FEATURES
29 ALASKA HOCKEY GOALIE RISES IN NHL
We continue our hockey theme this month with a profile of North Pole native and Los Angeles Kings’ organization goaltender Pheonix Copley (that’s indeed how his first name is spelled!). Copley took an adversityfilled and patient journey through junior leagues, college and minor leagues to play in the National Hockey League. He talks about fishing, perseverance and his side hustle making his own brand of nutritional teas for athletes.
43 D.I.Y. SALMON JIG TYING
9 Editor’s Note: For the love of hockey, fishing
13 The Alaska Beat: News and notes from around the Last Frontier
17 Outdoor Calendar
57 From Field to Fire: Field testing the Browning Citori 825; ptarmigan pasta recipe
We all know the folks who love holing up in their garage or workshop and tinkering on do-it-yourself projects. Such is a passion for our correspondent Brian Kelly, who loves creating custom jigs for his Alaska adventures – often using them to crush the salmon he travels across the continent to fish for. Check out Kelly’s tutorial on tying his Dolly Llama and Kelly Synth Minnow!
49 CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE BRUIN KIND
Sharing fishing holes with bears is part of the Alaska gig for anglers who either live in or travel to the Last Frontier. For our Scott Haugen, sometimes those meet-and-greet moments are a little too close for comfort, and they can be downright terrifying to boot. Tapping into his many years spent living and recreating in Alaska, Haugen takes a deep dive into bruin encounters that range from the deadly to hair-raising to even awe-inspiring.
(KARI ELLSWORTH)
The spirit of hockey in Alaska, including co-owner Kari Ellsworth’s passion for the Anchorage Wolverines junior team, is a reason why the California native editor is also such a fan of the sport. (TED DAVIS PHOTOGRAPHY)
EDITOR’S NOTE
Inever learned to nor tried to ice skate as a youngster – roller skating was a difficult enough activity to attempt – and the only ice around my San Francisco Bay Area childhood home was in our freezer.
Yet, somehow I became a massive hockey fan. I discovered the sport right around the time when the Edmonton Oilers’ National Hockey League dynasty was born in the 1980s, and the game was intoxicating to me. I loved the speed of the NHL game, the skill of the skating, the frustration and, at the same time, the chaos of trying to follow the puck, and the petty vendettas, beefs and hijinks that made playoff games great theater.
Shortly thereafter, my native Bay Area was awarded an expansion team, the San Jose Sharks, and I’ve lived – and, sadly – died with the Sharks’ ups and downs ever since.
Years later, my job has allowed opportunities to share stories of those in hockey who share our common bond of
the love of the outdoors. We’re pleased to present two such tales this month, Tiffany Herrington’s profile of former TV sports anchor Kari Ellsworth, who now co-owns the Anchorage Wolverines junior hockey club (page 19), and my feature on Alaskan pro hockey goalie Pheonix Copley (page 29).
What I found interesting about these two subjects was their takes on what hockey means to Alaska. The Last Frontier and my hometown couldn’t be more different, and while I bucked the trend of California kids by loving the game, Alaska’s cold weather makes the sport a lot more conducive for locals in search of pastimes. I played some baseball as a kid and could have a catch or take batting practice year-round in the temperate climate. Alaskans don’t have that luxury for a fair part of the year.
“The winters are so brutal. And not only the weather, but it’s dark compared to other places,” said Copley, who mostly lived in North Pole as a youngster, during
our interview. “There’s not a whole lot to do around there, and you’re forced into kind of having to get through that, and I’m thinking all Alaskans have that. Sports can come in handy and you can use that to get through tough times.”
I also reached out to Ellsworth, who is so passionate about hockey that she’s the executive producer of a documentary about Anchorage’s hockey scene, Hockeytown. The Wolverines have become a great success in the state’s largest city, and they’re one of three Alaska teams in the North American Hockey League (a top American junior league that, coincidentally, Copley played in the early 2010s on his journey to the NHL).
Indeed, hockey has come a long way in Alaska and specifically Anchorage, which in the Wolverines has a new team to follow – along with the NCAA Division I’s UAA Seawolves – following the loss of the beloved pro team, the Aces, which is chronicled in the movie.
(Continued on page 10)
“It’s always hard to put into words exactly what hockey means to Alaska, but I think for those of us living in Anchorage, we didn’t realize how special it was until it was gone,” Ellsworth says of the loss of the beloved Anchorage Aces team. “The Wolverines restored the heartbeat of our city, and our community came together to be a part of something bigger than ourselves.”
(TED DAVIS PHOTOGRAPHY)
“It’s always hard to put into words exactly what hockey means to Alaska, but I think for those of us living in Anchorage, we didn’t realize how special it was until it was gone,” Ellsworth said of the Aces’ departure after the 2017 season. “The Wolverines restored the heartbeat of our city, and our community came together to be a part of something bigger than ourselves. Seeing the Sullivan Arena filled with families creating memories, people finding a sense of belonging and kids inspired by their heroes on the ice – that’s what hockey is about.”
Some of my favorite moments as a hockey fan have been in the stands at San Jose’s SAP Center watching the Sharks, whether in playoff games, when the arena was sold out and rocking, or during the organization’s recent struggles, with the building almost half empty.
I’ve been honored to work on past and present Alaskan hockey players’ stories with a fishing and hunting twist, from Matt Carle, Nate Thompson and Zoe Hickel, to this month’s Herrington interview with Ellsworth and my chat with Copley. Game on! -Chris Cocoles
NATIVE VILLAGE FIGHTS TO PROTECT CHILKAT VALLEY WATERSHED FROM MINE
In seemingly every corner of Alaska, mining and drilling projects have one segment of the population citing added jobs and a boost to local economies, while another segment is worried sick that what makes the state wild and provides food and other resources could be compromised by these operations.
Such is the case for Southeast Alaska’s Chilkat Valley, which includes several rivers that welcome spawning salmon and other anadromous fish species, plus it’s home to the Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve, a sanctuary for America’s symbolic national bird.
The region includes 2.6 million acres of Chilkat Indian Village land, critical for its peoples’ subsistence lifestyles. The valley is also rich in zinc and copper deposits, which attracted American Pacific Mining Corp, a Vancouver, Canada-based company that is pursuing a Chilkat Valley project known as the Palmer Mine. Its 80,000-acre footprint features “drill-ready, high-grade prospects that define more than 15 kilometers of favorable mineral trends, all hallmarks of a significant massive sulphide system and opportunity for the discovery of multiple deposits.”
Like we’ve seen with Bristol Bay’s decades-long fight to block the Pebble Mine, tribal interests here are digging in for similar pushback to the Palmer Mine.
“The ongoing hardrock mining activity conducted by American Pacific Mining Corp poses a direct threat to not only our food security and way of life in the Chilkat Valley, but also the existing commercial fishing and visitor industries, which are the backbone of our local economy,” said Kimberly Strong, vice president of the Chilkat Indian Village of Klukwan in a press release that also announced opposition to the mine from the American Bald Eagle Foundation. “We are grateful to our neighbors at the American Bald Eagle Foundation for standing with us. We invite others in the community to join this effort to ensure our eagles, salmon, moose, and more are here for generations to come.”
Other potential investors have dropped out of the project, leaving American Pacific Mining Corp as the lone wolf in its quest to get the ambitious plan off the ground. President Donald Trump’s aggressive drilling and mining agenda and his proposed tariffs – specifically on aluminum and iron imported into the United States – have some experts believing it could be beneficial for this mine to become a reality.
But James Hotch, president of the Chilkat Indian Village, is blunt in his assessment of what a Palmer Mine operation might mean to his land.
“The future of the Chilkat Valley is at stake here. The generation that is here – they could be the ones to say, ‘We were the last ones to harvest wild-stock salmon from the Chilkat River,’ if we see a hard rock mine develop here,” he said. “Klukwan is like a big canoe. And I’m asking fellow supporters to come join Klukwan’s canoe and help us paddle. Help us fight for our way of life and for the future generations to come.”
The Chilkat Valley’s Native population depends on the region for subsistence, but rich copper and zinc deposits there have a Canadian company planning an 80,000-acre mining project. It is drawing plenty of opposition, especially to protect salmon runs in the Chilkat River and the overall watershed. (MARY CATHARINE MARTIN/SALMON STATE)
AL ASKA BEAT
TWEET OF THE MONTH
The name of this Alaska Airlines jet “refers to the spiritual link between the people who interact with the beloved salmon and the role they play in our environment.”
This year’s Iditarod champion Jessie Holmes’ prizes included 25 pounds of salmon meat, which he’ll surely share with his four-legged teammates.
King salmon that reached the Karluk River weir in 2024, prompting 2025 king fishing closures on both the Karluk and Ayakulik Rivers on Kodiak Island.
SNAPPING BEARS, SNAPPY SALMON ON THE EGEGIK
My previous two trips to Brooks Falls yielded some of my best photos of brown bears. This time, however, I was armed with two Canon 5D Mark IV cameras and two prime telephoto lenses. I was rewarded with the best brown bear shots of my life and this August I can’t wait to go back again.
At the height of activity, 11 brown bears occupied the falls. More bears could be seen downstream that were also fishing. The forest, surrounded by tall and lush green grass, flourished, with endless bear trails that were carved throughout the landscape. And there was no shortage of bears using these trails. On our 25-minute flight back to camp we saw moose, caribou and saw signs of a pack of wolves, which had walked over a sandy flat on the tundra.
The next morning everyone in camp caught limits of coho just upstream from the lodge, then hopped in a boat for a journey down the Egegik River, where we saw more brown bears, caught some sockeye salmon and enjoyed the unique beauty of this region.
On our final day we spent time on the famed Egegik River, once again. We fished for coho from daylight to dark, just as we had done during the first day of our trip. Catching our five-fish limit of silvers was easy. On the Egegik you can fish with bait, which means the bite can be spectacular.
One time my buddy – standing next to me – hooked a coho every single cast for three hours and four minutes straight. Once you catch your five-coho limit here you can keep fishing, catch-and-release-style.
With so many salmon in the water to be caught, and given the nature of the shallow, wide-flowing Egegik River, fish can be pursued numerous ways. Whether you’re a new angler looking to learn specific fishing styles or a veteran eager to perfect a technique that’s unfamiliar to you, there’s no better way to achieve success and gain confidence than while catching many fish. -Scott Haugen
“ ” THEY SAID IT
“It was a long time. I’ll tell you what: I don’t think I would have wanted to do one more run longer, because I was frozen.”
–Musher Jessie Holmes, talking to Alaska’s News Source after winning the Iditarod with his sled dog team. They finished in 14 hours, 55 minutes and 41 seconds and covered an all-time longest race length of 1,129 miles.
Scott Haugen is a huge fan of the salmon action on the Alaska Peninsula’s Egegik River. Area brown bears also are enamored with this wild section of the Last Frontier. (SCOTT HAUGEN)
OUTDOOR CALENDAR
April 1
April 1
April 11-13
Spring brown bear season opens in Game Management Unit 6D (Montague Island; North Gulf Coast)
Spring brown bear season opens in GMU 8 (Kodiak/Shelikof)
Mat-Su Outdoorsman Show, Menard Center, Wasilla (matsuoutdoorsmanshow.com)
April 25-27 Fairbanks Outdoor Show, Carlson Center (fairbanksevents.com/fairbanksoutdoorshow)
April 30 Last day of wolf season in several units
May 10 Spring brown bear season opens in GMU 10 (Aleutians)
May 21 ASYMCA Combat Fishing Tournament (for Alaska service members), Seward (alaska .asymca.org/combat-fishing-tournament)
May 24-Aug. 31 Valdez Halibut Derby (valdezfishderbies.com/ halibut-derby)
May 25 Last day of brown bear season in GMU 6D (Montague Island and remainder of unit)
May 31 Last day of brown bear season in several units
June 6-15 Halibut Hullabaloo (valdezfishderbies.com/ halibut-derby/halibut-hullaballoo)
For more information and season dates for Alaska hunts, go to adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=hunting.main.
Wolf hunting seasons in various Alaska game management units wrap up April 30. (TIM RAINS/NATIONAL PARK SERVICE)
HOOKS, LINES AND SLAP SHOTS
KARI ELLSWORTH TALKS ALASKA FISHING, TV WORK AND HOCKEY TEAM OWNERSHIP
As an Anchorage-based TV sports reporter, part of Kari Ellsworth’s assignments included Alaska fishing reports. Now she’s gone from the press box to the front office as co-owner of a local junior hockey team, the Wolverines. (KARI ELLSWORTH)
BY TIFFANY HERRINGTON
Kari Ellsworth has worn many hats in her career – from inspiring TV audiences as a sports anchor to co-owning Anchorage’s beloved junior hockey team, the Wolverines.
Known by many Alaskans as Kari Bustamante during her time on KTUU, she charmed viewers with her weekly fishing reports and passion for local sports. Her career has been a vibrant journey through Alaska’s unique cultural landscape, seamlessly blending a love for the outdoors with a drive to build community.
Whether she was casting a line on the Kenai River or cheering on athletes at Anchorage’s Sullivan Arena, Kari’s work has always reflected a deep connection to the people and places of her home state. Now, as a co-owner of the North American Hockey League’s Wolverines, she’s bringing that same passion to a new arena – literally and figuratively.
Ellsworth’s career reflects her deep connection to Alaska and its communities, and that spirit shines through in Hockeytown, a documentary chronicling the Anchorage Wolverines’ first season. (The team will finish the 2024-25 regular season this month, then likely head to the playoffs.) The film tells the story of a city rediscovering its hockey heartbeat through the creation of a team built from scratch. Despite a rocky start, the Wolverines grew into something extraordinary, with young, inexperienced players developing into a team that made an unexpected run to the NAHL championship series.
“I still watch the film and think it’s scripted; it was almost surreal living it,” Ellsworth says. Submitted to film festivals across the U.S. and Canada, Hockeytown captures not just a season but the resilience and magic of a team and its city.
I recently chatted with Kari about her evolution from a young athlete to a broadcast journalist and now to a sports team owner, as well as the lessons and moments that have defined her path.
“Kids need heroes, and they’re not always on the ice. Some dream of being Zamboni drivers, sports marketers or even our mascot, Wiley the Wolverine,” Ellsworth says. “We make those dreams accessible and exciting.” (KARI ELLSWORTH)
Tiffany Herrington What inspired you to pursue a career in TV sports anchoring, and how did your journey unfold?
Kari Ellsworth My path to sportscasting was anything but traditional. Growing up, I played almost every sport imaginable and loved attending UAA hockey and basketball games with my family. At the time, women in sportscasting roles were rare, so it never even occurred to me as a career option. I was initially pursuing a prelaw degree when I returned to Alaska and decided to take some media courses to get ahead. That’s when I met Joy Mapaye, a former KTUU reporter who had transitioned to teaching at UAA. She became my mentor, encouraged me to transfer to UAA and guided me into broadcast journalism. From there, everything fell into place.
TH You were well-known for your weekly fishing reports. What drew you to that role, and what did you enjoy most about sharing it with the community?
KE Growing up fishing the Kenai River with my family, I never imagined it would become more than a hobby. Reporting on fishing gave me the chance to explore new waters and types of fishing I hadn’t experienced before. While I could talk endlessly about the incredible scenery and trophy catches, the most meaningful moments were connecting with viewers. One memory that stands out is a disabled veteran who approached me in Soldotna. He told me, “You take me out on the river every week,” even though he couldn’t fish anymore. That kind of impact was incredibly humbling. Hearing stories of daughters asking their dads to take them fishing after watching the report is what made it all worthwhile.
TH Do you have any personal fishing stories that stand out?
KE One trip with my dad on the Kenai River is especially memorable. At the time, I had low expectations and treated the trip more as a boat ride and picnic. Ironically, that’s when we became “The Boat” – catching silver salmon one after another while others struggled. The river
Even as a kid, Kari (here with her grandfather) was addicted to fishing, but she “never imagined it would become more than a hobby.” Her time as a TV sports reporter allowed her to try new fisheries and bring them home to viewers who might not otherwise be able to participate. (KARI ELLSWORTH)
was packed, and you could feel the envious stares from nearby boats. It was one of those rare, magical days on the water.
TH How did you transition from TV news to becoming a co-owner of the Anchorage Wolverines?
KE My career in TV news always had an expiration date. While it was a fantastic starting point, I knew I’d eventually move on. When the opportunity with the Wolverines came up, it felt like a natural fit. I spent countless hours at the Sullivan Arena growing up, so stepping into this role felt like coming full circle. Launching the Wolverines was uncharted territory, and it’s been a constant learning experience. But the timing was perfect, and I’m grateful for the opportunity.
TH What has been the most rewarding part of your involvement with the Wolverines?
KE The community, hands down. It’s the same reason I loved my work with KTUU and the fishing reports. Watching kids come to games dressed as their favorite
The opportunity to be involved with the Wolverines’ ownership
Ellsworth knew that her career in front of the camera “had an expiration date.”
group was too good to pass up. (KARI ELLSWORTH)
players, ecstatic over every goal, reminds me of my own childhood. I’ve also had meaningful reunions, like reconnecting with a former Alaska Aces [a professional hockey team that was based in Anchorage before relocating to Portland, Maine, after the 2017 season] season ticket holder I interviewed during their final game. She’s
now a Wolverines season ticket holder, and seeing her passion continue has been incredibly rewarding.
TH What challenges have you faced as a co-owner of a junior hockey team, and how have you navigated them?
KE The Anchorage sports landscape can
be tough, and retaining fans is always a challenge. But with the Wolverines, we’ve created something that feels like family. Starting at Ben Boeke Arena allowed us to build a close-knit community with everyone pitching in. Now that we’ve moved to Sullivan Arena, that sense of family has only grown. It’s not just about wins and losses; it’s about being part of something bigger that supports the city. Sports give Anchorage a heartbeat, and I think the Wolverines embody that.
TH How do the Wolverines inspire young athletes and the broader community?
KE Kids need heroes, and they’re not always on the ice. Some dream of being Zamboni drivers, sports marketers or even our mascot, Wiley the Wolverine. We make those dreams accessible and exciting. During our first year, I mentored six young women aspiring to be sports broadcasters and marketers, ranging in age from 8 to 18. By the end of the season, they could practically do my job. Moments like that are what make it all worthwhile.
TH What role do you think local sports teams play in building community in Alaska?
KE Local teams like the Wolverines bring people together in ways that go beyond sports. During our first season, I collaborated with filmmaker Kyle Aramburo to document the Wolverines’
The Wolverines (above), one of three Alaska junior league teams in the North American Hockey League, were featured in a documentary about Anchorage’s hockey scene. Ellsworth is the executive producer of that film, Hockeytown (KARI ELLSWORTH)
journey. The resulting film, Hockeytown, premiered at the Anchorage International Film Festival and won the Audience Award for Best Documentary Feature. Watching that first season play out on screen reminded me that it’s not about being the biggest or the most talented; it’s about showing up for your team and your community. That’s what the Wolverines represent.
TH How has Alaska’s unique sports culture influenced your work with the Wolverines?
KE Alaska’s sports scene is unlike anywhere else. The geographical challenges alone make it special. We cover travel costs to bring out-of-state
teams to Anchorage, something that would be unthinkable in other leagues. The community’s support has been crucial in making that possible. My goal has always been to create opportunities for local athletes. Seeing kids who I used to make recruiting tapes for now playing for the Wolverines and getting the exposure they need to pursue their dreams has been incredibly fulfilling.
TH What are your goals for the Wolverines and your career moving forward?
KE My primary goal for the Wolverines is longevity. I want the team to be around for generations and continue making a positive impact. For example, our first
jersey auction of the season raised over $70,000 for the USO of Alaska. As long as we’re here, we can keep supporting local programs.
Personally, I’m focusing on submitting our documentary to film festivals across the country. It took four years to complete, but the lessons and message extend far beyond hockey. I’m excited to see where this next chapter takes me. ASJ
Editor’s note: For more on the film and screenings, see hockeytown-film.com. For more about the Anchorage Wolverines, go to anchoragewolverines.com. Author Tiffany Herrington is a writer based near Seattle.
Getting out on the Kenai with her fishing partner Elska is a way for Ellsworth to connect her past with her current life as team owner and film buff. “My primary goal for the Wolverines is longevity. I want the team to be around for generations and continue making a positive impact … I’m excited to see where this next chapter takes me.” (KARI ELLSWORTH)
Island Point Lodge offers a 7-day, 6-night self-guided Alaska Salmon, Halibut, and Dungeness Crab trip for $2,699. The trip includes lodging, meals, fishing rods and reels, boat fuel, and fish cleaning/packaging.
Add a self-guided Black Bear hunt at no extra charge, with over-the-counter bear tags available in town.
The Black Bear hunt is self-guided, including cleaning and preparation.
PHEONIX RISING IN THE CREASE
ALASKAN GOALTENDER TAKES THE LONG ROAD TO PROFESSIONAL HOCKEY SUCCESS
BY CHRIS COCOLES
Professional athletes know the drill that their immediate future – through a trade, a release, a promotion or demotion – is a phone call or text away. That’s part of the unpredictable nature of playing professionally. In a matter of seconds, everything can change – a change of uniform, a change of address and a change of how the team feels about you.
For ice hockey goalie and Alaskan Pheonix Copley (yes, that’s the correct spelling of his first name; more on that later), moving around the sport’s stopovers toward the top has been commonplace. But the now 33-yearold once found out he was changing organizations in the most Alaskan way you can imagine.
In the summer of 2015, the National Hockey League’s Washington Capitals acquired star forward T.J. Oshie from the St. Louis Blues for a third-round draft pick, veteran forward Troy Brouwer and the then 23-year-old
Pheonix Copley’s journey to the pinnacle of his sport, the National Hockey League, started in small-town Alaska as an overlooked prospect. The goalie now in the Los Angeles Kings organization is proud of his Last Frontier roots. (PHEONIX COPLEY/LOS ANGELES KINGS)
prospect Copley, who was born in North Pole and still calls the Christmas-famous community just southeast of Fairbanks home.
Such a transaction usually means a flood of phone calls, texts and emails –some from friends and family, but more importantly, messages via his former and future teams with details and logistical information. Except that initially, nobody could get a hold of or receive a reply from one particular piece in the trade.
“We float down the Gulkana River for a four-day trip every summer – my brothers and my stepdad. We were doing that in the summer of 2015,” Copley says of the annual tradition he enjoyed with stepdad Mark Sanford and brothers Matt Sanford and Navarone Copley (that’s his real first name too; more on that later).
The adventure was always a big part of Copley's summer recovery trip back north, and the family enjoyed fishing for trout –cooking up their catch as part of the menu – and loading up on a hearty breakfast of eggs and all the fixin’s each morning.
But this was no ordinary float. Little did the family know how one of its members’ careers was about to change.
“On this trip, on the morning that we left I’d been traded, and it happened just after we’d lost service. So for four days I had no clue,” Copley, now playing in the Los Angeles Kings organization, says with a laugh.
Can you imagine how perplexed general managers for both the Capitals and Blues were to have one of the principles in this life-altering event ghosting them? Welcome to summer in the Last Frontier.
“After the four-day float we get to the pull-out on the river and we drive back towards town. There’s a mountain range that you drive through, and once you get to the other side you start getting service again,” Copley says. “We got to the top of that pass and all of a sudden my phone started blowing up with ‘What happened to you?’ (texts and voicemails). I saw that I’d been traded and had messages from the coaches and GMs wondering where I was.”
Only in Alaska! Yet, considering the nomadic journey that has helped define his hockey career, it’s probably onbrand for where Copley was and where he’s at now.
YOU CAN TAKE THE ALASKAN address
away from a local, but you’re not allowed to strip him of his tough-assandpaper moxie. Such is the case for Copley, whose hockey resume is hardly a traditional path to the sport’s ultimate destination, the NHL. For every Sidney Crosby, the Pittsburgh Penguins future Hockey Hall of Fame center who went from No. 1 overall pick in 2005 to instant elite playmaker in the league, there’s a Pheonix Copley who gets there the unconventional way.
His backstory includes being undrafted by every NHL team, plus a whirlwind of stints in various junior, college, lower-tier pro and developmental or farm systemlike leagues that resemble a hot bowl of alphabet soup: the NAPHL, NAHL, USHL, WCHA, ECHL, AHL. For some aspiring hockey players, the three key letters are N-H-L.
“Growing up, there wasn’t always a clear path to pro hockey or to the NHL, or a successful hockey career, because it’s a small area. Hockey is big there, but comparatively to other markets, it’s not a huge hockey place,” Copley says of his Alaska home, which is where he really started developing higher expectations of playing more serious hockey.
“I think it was a long journey. In my mind I always thought I first wanted to play junior hockey, so I’d see guys play junior hockey and I thought, ‘I can do that; I can play like that goalie.’ And then when I got to college it was kind of the same thing. For me, it was just kind of incremental. And I really wasn’t thinking about the NHL. Just get to the next level and do what I have to do to get to that next level. Just make the adjustments and believe that I could make the next level and just see the big picture.”
“When you watch the game you see the guys and think, ‘They all made it to the NHL.’ But you don’t realize the backstories and the grind that went into everything. But everyone had their challenges to go through to get to whatever league they’re in and wherever they’re trying to go. There’s no real easy path. It’s a matter of pushing through a lot of adversity. Whoever can keep their head above water for the longest, the cream rises to the top if you keep working. That’s the way I look at it and
Every summer, Copley heads back to Alaska to recharge, refresh and savor the outdoor environment he grew up in. (PHEONIX COPLEY)
After suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament last season that required knee surgery, Copley re-signed with the Kings and has been the starting goaltender for their developmental team, the American Hockey League’s Ontario Reign. “It was obviously a tough time for that to happen,” he says of the injury. “But I feel good now and feel like I’m better for having to go through that.” (ONTARIO REIGN)
kind of how my path has been.”
As he grew older and more confident in his abilities, Copley had to stretch his legs outside of Alaska. First stop was in Southern California, where he spent a frustrating 2009-10 season with his team, the California Titans, in the 18-andunder North American Prospects Hockey League (NAPHL). Copley was the team’s backup goalie as a 17-year-old and rarely played. (“I just thought, ‘Now what am I going to do?’” he says.)
As it turned out, a lifeline appeared in the form of a top U.S. junior hockey league, the North American Hockey League (NAHL). A new team, the Corpus Christi (Texas) Ice Rays, held open tryouts and Copley excelled enough to earn a roster spot. That provided valuable playing time and he drew the attention of an even more advanced junior circuit, the United States Hockey League (USHL), though this courtship came with a bizarre plot twist.
“I got invited to a USHL camp and I ended up making the team, but they had three goalies. It was kind of a weird situation in that they told me I’d made the team but they didn’t roster me,” Copley recalls. “And I had another USHL team call me and say, ‘Hey; I know you think you’re on this team, but we’re going to put you on our roster.’ So I said, ‘Oh; I’m not on the roster?’ ‘No, we’re reading it right now and you’re not on their roster.’ I said, ‘I want to be on a roster,’ so they put me on the roster.”
That team happened to be the TriCity Storm in Kearney, Nebraska. But when the Storm picked up another goalie who would eventually be an NHL draft pick, Copley was traded to the Des Moines (Iowa) Buccaneers, with both stints leading to his opportunity to play Division I college hockey at Michigan Tech University. Copley was on his way.
“I had to keep grinding and waiting for opportunities and trying to make the most of them when they happened,” says Copley, citing his Last Frontier upbringing to prepare for that arduous road to hockey success.
“I think to live up there you have to have a certain level of grit … And certainly there have been tough times in my career where I’ve had to kind of dig deep. I think for sure having that Alaskan in me has helped me get through it, and I’m thankful for my
Copley (center) enjoys reuniting with his brothers Matt Sanford (left) and Navarone Copley. They all played hockey together when they lived in the Interior Alaskan community of North Pole. (PHEONIX COPLEY)
upbringing. I miss it and I enjoy it up there.”
WHILE HOCKEY PLAYERS ARE generally unflashy and embrace the team concept of the sport, goaltenders get to express themselves in the form of their goalie masks, which often feature intricate designs that look like they belong as much in an art gallery as a team dressing room. Some players pay homage to their families, former coaches or pets with caricatures of them. Others opt for spiced-up team logos, and still others celebrate the city or region they play in. And many, like Pheonix Copley, run it back to their hometowns/states/countries with tributes. During his stint with the Capitals in Washington D.C., Copley’s mask artist Dave Gunnarsson created a patriotic eagle but with an Alaskan Native motif. Like many goalies’ creative ideas, it’s quite a visual that fans, teammates and seemingly everyone geeks out over.
“I feel like Alaska is in my DNA, and for goalies the mask is a way to express yourself. I’ve just found different ways to pay tribute to Alaska, or I’ve also paid tribute to old goalie coaches,” Copley says. “Just things I think are important to me. And Alaska is obviously important to me. I just like paying homage to my home state and hometown.”
And wherever he’s played, he insists on one trademark piece of art: candy canes. And why not, given his North Pole roots? The community of about 2,500 has cashed in on its Christmas kitsch by marketing the bit in the form of year-round holiday spirit. From the Santa Claus House – featuring reindeer for patrons to pet – to the mailing address for kids’ letters to Kris Kringle and decorations that never get put away, it always feels like December 25, whether residents like it or not.
“Honestly, it always got too cold to pay attention! But a lot of the stores and restaurants will keep their Christmas lights up year-round. That’s something that they do just because it’s North Pole,” Copley admits. “Christmas is probably no different than anywhere else. In some places it might actually be even more festive because it’s so dark and cold in December that it's not the time to go out. Most everyone is inside.”
But the candy canes will always be Copley’s conduit to where he grew up.
“When I think about fishing right now, when you’re out on the ocean or the river, it’s just so peaceful. Just waking up and fishing,” Copley (center) says of his adventures back home. “It’s quite the place. But that’s what I think about in my Alaska memories.”
Born in North Pole, Pheonix’s unique name and spelling was expected after older brother Navarone was born. Pheonix says his sibling’s name was based after his parents’ love of the epic 1961 World War II movie The Guns of Navarone (Elvis Presley’s widow Priscilla named her son Navarone as well). Copley’s mom Mary once said in a story about her son when he played for the American Hockey League’s (AHL) Chicago Wolves, “Once you have a Navarone, it’s hard to have a Jeff or a Michael afterward.”
“I don’t really know where they got Pheonix from, to be honest,” her second son reinforces, “but I think after they named their first kid Navarone, they thought, ‘We better come up with another creative one.’”
Creativity on the ice was a big part of Pheonix’s and Navarone’s childhood. After the Ohio move, when he was 7 years old Pheonix, Navarone and Mary moved back to Alaska after she and the boys’ father Peter divorced. After first relocating to Anchorage, the family went back to North Pole when Pheonix was 11.
Both brothers were hockey players in Ohio as well, and while they were both forwards to start out, Pheonix enjoyed taking shots fired by Navarone in their
bedroom hijinks. When he found out the Anchorage team he joined had goalie gear, Pheonix was hooked.
Speaking of hooks, fishing was also part of the curriculum for what kids do in Alaska’s isolated Interior.
“It was awesome. I think growing up there, it was just the perks of being in Alaska, which is just normal when you live in Alaska to be doing those kinds of things,” Copley says of the outdoor activities he’d partake in. “Alaska is so unique in that regard – the natural beauty up there means you naturally take part in those things. We’d go on fishing trips down to Valdez along the coast and go river fishing.”
In fact, hockey was just another pastime for the boys, but when Mary wed Mark Sanford, a local North Pole/Fairbanksarea coach who played some pro hockey, it became more than just a game for Pheonix and his brothers.
“Nowadays when kids train yearround, in the summer we’d be goofing off – swimming at the lake, fishing. My brothers and I, since they also played hockey, we would not really be training. But as we got older … (Sanford) showed me and my brothers the work ethic it would take to have success in hockey,
(PHEONIX COPLEY)
so we started skating four or five days a week in the morning before we would go work at his truck shop. And so we’d go in and sweep floors and clean trucks,” Pheonix Copley says.
Sanford took the kids to Fairbanks’ Big Dipper Ice Arena for those earlymorning skating workouts before heading to the shop.
“He’s hard-nosed and doesn’t put up with a lot of BS. We’d be working hard in the morning,” Pheonix recalls. “My brothers were forwards, and at the end of our little skates, it was just us at the Big Dipper. He would make them skate lines at the end and I’d be in the crease like goalies do, trying to look busy doing drills so I wouldn’t have to skate lines with them.”
The hard work would eventually pay off.
EACH SUMMER, PHEONIX AND his wife Jess usually return to Alaska at least once, sometimes twice, before he heads back to the Lower 48 for his hockey teams’ training camps. The area in and around Valdez is a favorite family gathering spot, where they’ll fish, hike and even jump into cold water for a refreshing dip.
“It’s awesome. It’s unbelievable to go up there and see my old buddies and family. I’ll always want to go back to Prince William Sound every summer. It’s such a quiet place, so much natural beauty and the town of Valdez is awesome,” he says. “It’s great to get there and recharge and soak up nature. It does rain, but when you get a sunny day, it’s unbelievable. Getting up there at
the end of the season and unwinding.”
“When I think about fishing right now, when you’re out on the ocean or the river, it’s just so peaceful. Just waking up and fishing. I remember a couple times being out on our kayaks and then heading back to shore. There are some glacial-fed rivers we’ll jump in, and the water’s freezing cold, but it’s so refreshing; the mountains are all around you. It’s quite the place. But that’s what I think about in my Alaska memories.”
Preseason practice means he usually misses out on Navarone’s and Matt’s fall hunting trips. Someday he’ll join them and give hunting a try as well. And though he hasn’t been back to Michigan Tech since his two-year stint there, one summer he and his teammates took advantage of the campus’s Upper Peninsula location to fish for walleye. In fact, his alma mater reminds Copley of Alaska for its remoteness and natural beauty, which he hopes to get back to enjoy down the line.
He’ll always appreciate what the Last Frontier’s lifestyle has meant for him. Copley considers himself a halibut angler more than anything else. But he really wants to target trout and salmon on the Kenai Peninsula’s myriad rivers and lakes as part of his Alaska bucket list.
Just getting a chance to kick back, recharge and refresh his body – both mentally and physically (see sidebar, page 41, on his nutritional side hustle) – is cathartic.
“Everyone in Alaska kind of partakes in things like that, because there’s only so much to do in Alaska, and that’s one of
the biggest things you can do,” he says of fishing. “When you’re up there, even if you really wouldn’t necessarily be a fisherman, if you’re going to live there, somebody will ask you to go fishing, and they’ll say, ‘I’ve got a really good spot.’”
THE STEADFASTNESS TO PLAY
hockey in plenty of far-flung hamlets – from Corpus Christi, Texas, to Houghton, Michigan, from Kearney, Nebraska, to Hershey, Pennsylvania, and seemingly everywhere in between – while sticking in the NHL as a full-time goalie remains the endgame for Copley after his offthe-beaten-path itinerary.
He’ll always remember the chaos of his first NHL start. He had first signed with Washington’s organization as an undrafted free agent in 2014. After the trade to St. Louis and the unanswered phone notifications, he was playing with the Blues’ AHL team, the Chicago Wolves.
“All of a sudden they told me I was on a flight to St. Louis. I showed up to St. Louis, and as soon as I landed, (the Blues) were going to Winnipeg. I pretty much hopped on another plane to Winnipeg. I had no clue I was going to play in that game, but after dinner the coaches told me, ‘Hey, you’re going to play tomorrow.’ I was like, ‘Sounds good,’” Copley says nonchalantly. “And it was an early (afternoon) game with no morning skate. So I pretty much went right to the game. I never really got a chance to think about anything that was happening. But it was a whirlwind and pretty cool to be out there on the ice. It definitely is a special experience to get on
Prince William Sound around Valdez is a special place for Copley. Each summer, he and his brothers and stepdad also make an annual four-day float for fishing and fun on the nearby Gulkana River. (PHEONIX COPLEY)
Copley (here with wife Jess) has been recognized for his perseverance to be a success in pro hockey after going undrafted. In 2022-23, he led the NHL’s Kings in wins and was the team’s nominee for the league’s inspirational player award, the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy. “There’s no real easy path. It’s a matter of pushing through a lot of adversity,” he says. (PHEONIX COPLEY)
the ice as a player in the NHL.”
He got his first big chance to be a regular player at that level when St. Louis shipped him back to Washington in 2017 as a somewhat minor piece of a larger trade. That first season back in the nation’s capital, he joined the Capitals’ playoff run as one of the “Black Aces” – a hockey term for players on the postseason roster who could be added to the game lineup in case of injury. Copley never got into a game, but he was in uniform and went onto the ice when Washington beat the Vegas Golden Knights to win its first Stanley Cup championship in 2018.
He skated around T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas with the sport's iconic trophy (though because he didn’t appear in a playoff series game, his name doesn’t appear on the Cup, as is sacred hockey tradition). But it was still a special moment, particularly given his journey.
“That kind of set me up for the next season, which was my first full season in the NHL, and getting that work in to prepare myself for those months that I otherwise wouldn’t have set me up as well,” Copley says of playing his role in the Caps’ title run. “So getting to be around a special team like that was really cool, very motivating, and just seeing that team jell and them loving to play hockey together so much, it was cool to see that they didn’t want to ever stop playing and probably wanted to keep playing because they were having so much fun. It was a special time.”
In the 2018-19 season he filled in admirably as the Capitals’ backup goalie, starting 24 games, winning 16 of them, and getting his first taste in the league he worked so hard to reach. It’s a battle that he continues to strive for today.
LOS ANGELES IS COPLEY’S most recent stop, and he’s found a home in the Kings’ organization. Signed as a free agent in July 2022, in his first season struggles by veteran starter – and two-time Kings’ Stanley Cup winner – Jonathan Quick and backup Cal Petersen thrust the Alaskan into SoCal savior role.
He led the playoff-bound Kings with 35 starts and 24 wins, and “made his biggest save; saving the Kings’ season,” according to the team-affiliated website LA Kings Insider. Late in the season, they traded for a more experienced goaltender, Joonas Korpisalo, who started for Los Angeles in the playoffs – Copley did make his NHL postseason debut in a relief role that year. But Copley’s inspiring season as an unsung hero made him the Kings’ nominee for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, which is awarded to “the National Hockey League player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey,” as the league states.
“I think it’s a great choice,” then Kings coach Todd McLellan told LA Kings Insider at the time. “The perseverance that he had to believe in himself and also
to take advantage of the opportunity that was presented to him and not hand it back was pretty impressive. His story is quite a story. He’s written a lot of the chapters already by coming into training camp, coming in and taking the net and providing the wins, but we also don’t want his book to be over yet.”
But after winning four of his first eight starts for the big club to open last season as the backup, Copley had to reinvent himself all over again. In practice on December 15, 2023, he suffered a serious knee injury and was lost for the season after surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament.
“I felt like I worked so hard in the years leading up to my first season in L.A., and I finally got a break and had a good season. I knew I needed to follow up with a good year, and it was kind of up and down to start, then the knee injury happened. It was frustrating, for sure, having that setback after preparing for so long to have that opportunity,” he says.
The time off allowed Copley to be something of a student of the game as he watched the action from the press box during the rehab process.
“I guess in a way it allowed me to have a fresh slate after taking off that much time, where I could really input things into my game that would help me or take things out that won’t. It kind of helped me do some introspection. It was obviously a tough time for that to happen. But I feel good now and feel like I’m better for having to go through that.”
The Kings rewarded that tenacity by re-signing Copley to a one-year contract for this season, and he has spent most of the year as the starter for the team’s AHL affiliate, the Ontario (California) Reign, the next level down from the NHL.
His Ontario coach, former NHLer Marco Sturm, was pleased with Copley’s focus and work ethic when he was named AHL player of the week in early December after recording a shutout in one start, and allowing just a single goal in another. Sturm also praised his veteran goalie’s moxie coming off the medical setback.
“It’s not easy coming back from that injury, and it took him a little bit. You could see it in the games now – how calm he is,” he said in a team press release. “And this is the old Pheonix Copley like we’ve seen in the past and for us as a team, and you look
No doubt Copley – here in Valdez with a load of filets – has put the work in over his career, and as he waits for another call to the NHL as the playoffs begin this month, he feels he has lots of hockey left in him at 33 years old. “I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t think that,” he says. “I feel young; I for sure don’t feel that I’m old or anything.” (PHEONIX COPLEY)
at our back end, it’s pretty nice to have a guy like him.”
At 33, Copley, refreshed from his injury, feels like he still has a lot of hockey left in his tank. “I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t think that. I feel like I’ve got good years left in me. I feel young; I for sure don’t feel that I’m old or anything.”
Ontario is only about 40 miles away from the Kings’ Crypto.com Arena in downtown Los Angeles, but only injuries and/or ineffective play from the team’s two goaltenders Darcy Kuemper and David Rittich will get Copley back for an expanded role in the NHL club's stretch drive and posteason, so he seems further away than that relatively short distance (he’s had a couple brief call-ups this season to fill in and played one game in relief of the starter Rittich in a loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs).
And you know what? That’s fine with Copley, who has traveled quite the ride from North Pole to all those hockey pit stops along the way. He may be a phone call away from the big stage again, but for now the task is to lead his Reign team into the end of the regular season and the AHL Calder Cup playoffs, which start this month. Wherever and whenever the season concludes, he’ll head back north, get on the water for some Alaska fishing and relaxation, and hopefully do it all over again next season.
“I don’t really think about that too much. I’m just trying to do the best I can and the cards will fall wherever they may. I try to put myself into a good position to get called up,” he says. “I know it could happen at any time, or it can’t. It’s out of my control, so I’m trying to control what I can control and do my job as best I can. If that’s in the cards, then I’m ready to go.”
And you can bet if it does come before the end of the season or in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, he’ll have phone service to answer that call. ASJ
Editor’s note: Follow Pheonix Copley on Instagram and X, formerly known as Twitter (@pheonixcopley).
Hockey
TEA TIME ON THE BLUE LINE
You’d think an idea like creating an athlete-inspired tea brand would have been brewed up in health-conscious Los Angeles, but for Pheonix Copley and his wife Jess, the lightbulb went off in their heads in – of all places –the chocolate capital of the country.
While he played goalie for Pennsylvania’s Hershey Bears, the Washington Capitals’ American Hockey League affiliate, in the late 2010s, Pheonix and Jess were perusing a rural farmers market near the city famous for the iconic candy company it’s named for. There, a vendor’s stall piqued their interest.
Tea ingredients were for sale, so the Copleys stocked up and started making their own blends that Pheonix drank before and after games as a new hydration and recovery source. After they tinkered with different combinations, Pheonix and Jess solicited a small nutrition-focused company in Chicago to help mix the teas they were most enthusiastic about, and voila! Their company, Athletes Apothecary, was born.
Copley, ahem, spilled the tea about his business venture.
“I really enjoy tea and it’s been a fun little project. We’ve had some good reviews on it and I think it’s a good tool for athletes. It’s certainly been helpful for me and for some other guys who use it,” Copley says.
Athletes Apothecary features three specific teas designed for pregame boost, postgame recovery and even a late-night version to help get better sleep. And while tea may seem a bit unconventional compared to, say, Gatorade or other hydration staples, it’s been an effective option for Copley.
He usually brews up a large cup on the afternoon of a game, keeps it in his locker stall and will sip on it throughout the game.
“Then after the game, I’ll go home and have the nighttime one. I drink that one every single night. But I’m not shuffling through (different) teas during the game,” he says.
The reviews of the Copleys’ fledgling company have been good, and teammates with both his current team, the AHL’s Ontario Reign, and his National Hockey League parent club, the Los Angeles Kings, joined team tea and followed
their goalie’s lead in brewing up a cup before and after games.
Now the Kings and Reign are monarchs of the tea game for its player preparation and recovery benefits.
“It’s been kind of fun. I brought a bunch in for everybody and they were like, ‘Oh, I really like this one,’ or, ‘This one’s been great,’” Copley says. “It’s great to get their feedback.”
As he and Jess pondered starting this venture, Pheonix considered taking some business classes, but instead they’re learning about running their company on the fly. It’s something they might expand on after Pheonix’s playing days are over. But they’re enjoying the process now.
“I’ve always had an interest in business. Right now it’s just something where I just want to help athletes when I can and I want to learn about (owning a) business in my free time. That’s kind of where I’m at right now,” he says. “Right now, I’m just keeping it going now and seeing it where it goes.”
Check out athletesapothecary.com or follow on Instagram (@athletes.apothecary) for more information. –CC
goalie Pheonix Copley and his wife Jess have started a new tea company, Athletes Apothecary, which provides an intriguing and effective nutritional benefit for athletes. (PHEONIX COPLEY)
DO-IT-YOURSELF COHO CONCOCTIONS
HOW TO TIE CUSTOM SALMON-CRUSHING JIGS
BY BRIAN KELLY
Twitching jigs for salmon has become quite popular in both salt- and freshwater over the last decade.
For those of us who just cannot seem to cast a fly rod to save our souls, jigs make an excellent substitute when the fish want that swim/pause action that a fly presents. Once you figure out the cadence the fish want on that particular day, the jig bite can last until your arms ache from fighting fish. It can be that good.
Jigs themselves have evolved along the way, going from cheap bronze hooks that would straighten out during a prolonged battle, to extra-strength hooks with crazysharp, chemically honed points that drive into a salmon’s bony mouth and stay put. This is why it makes sense to follow the lead of our fly-flinging brethren and tie your own custom jig patterns. The amount of jig-tying
himself and is one of a variety of homemade jigs he uses to slam Alaska salmon. (BRIAN KELLY)
materials available on today’s market is staggering, and both natural furs and newer synthetics can take a beating only a salmon can provide.
In this piece, I will walk you through the process of tying a couple jig patterns that I primarily throw for kings and coho and which work in both saltwater and river situations. The first one is the Jiggy Llama, which is my version of the wildly popular fly called the Dolly Llama. The second jig is a riff on a Clouser Minnow, subbing synthetic hair for bucktail and featuring a trailing hook design for lightbiting fish. Maybe I’ll call this the Kelly Synth Minnow. It has a nice retro ring to it.
BUILDING A JIGGY LLAMA
Start with a jighead poured on a quality hook. My personal preference has been a tube-style jighead, but ball heads work just fine, with a ¼-ounce weight on a 2/0 or 3/0 hook being the workhorse. Thanks to our pals in the bass world, you
A Jiggy Llama starts with wrapping the thread onto the shank of the jig hook (below), and then tying on the pink bunny strip, which will be the top or back color. (BRIAN KELLY)
from top left) For the body of the
Llama, Kelly uses pearl
He wraps the chenille forward and ties it off at the base of the jighead. Next is a plume of hot pink marabou at the tip of the feather. He wraps the marabou forward so the strands flair out.
(Clockwise
Jiggy
Krystal chenille.
(BRIAN KELLY)
can find either style jighead poured on a 2x-strong hook from either Gamakatsu or Owner. These hooks do not bend and can take some serious abuse from illtempered salmon.
The first step is to wrap the thread up the hook shank; be sure to use a strong thread such as the 3/0 UNI-Thread, as you will need to wrap these materials tightly on the jig hook. With the first layer of thread secured on the hook, apply epoxy to the thread to build a strong bond at the base of your jig. For years I used a gel super glue, but recently I have become a convert to modern materials like UV-cured epoxy. This stuff is pricey, but it works like a charm! Lay it on and hit it with a UV light for an instant cure; no more waiting around for super glue to dry or dealing with a tacky finish that can become messy.
The next few steps in the process are about building the tail section with rabbit strips and Flashabou. When I sit down to build my jigs, I usually wrap a dozen at a time, so I pre-cut rabbit strips to 3.5- to 4-inch lengths, depending on the overall length of the packaged rabbit strips themselves. Since you want the tail to hang under the hook for maximum undulation on the retrieve, make sure the jig is upside down in the vise and start with the top or back color first – in this case, the hot pink rabbit strip. Follow this up with a bundle of Flashabou – probably six to 10 pieces of the regular size in silver or pearl. I prefer to stack my Flashabou between the rabbit strips rather than finishing them on the outside of the tie on the adjacent sides, as seen with most flies.
Follow this up with a strip of white rabbit for the belly, then make sure everything is tied down securely at this point. I like to add some flashy bulk to the forward section of my jig, so tie in Krystal chenille at the back of the jig. As with the Flashabou, I prefer silver or pearl. Wrap your thread forward and apply the epoxy on the base of the jig before wrapping the chenille forward. Once you have the chenille wrapped forward and tied off, clip the end and hit the epoxy with the UV light to set this in place. Be sure to get the epoxy in place for this step, as it will keep the materials intact after many hungry salmon try to chew this thing to pieces!
The final step in this build is to wrap in some marabou at the head of the jig. For years, I used saddle hackle at this point, but I have found wound marabou feathers add bulk and another layer of movement to this jig tie. If you can find expensive spey marabou, go for it. I stick with regular marabou quills that I wind on the hook shank. If one looks too thin, tie in a second feather.
Complete the tie by winding the marabou back so it lays down a bit on the jig, and either use a whip finish or a couple half hitches to tie off the thread. Epoxy the thread, hit it with the UV light and you have a killer jig ready to go.
You may want to add adhesive eyes to both sides of the jighead, but I am not totally convinced this is a difference maker. It does look cool and adds to the attraction of the overall product.
TYING A KELLY SYNTH MINNOW
Polar Fibre: where have you been all my life? Don’t get me wrong: I have landed quite a few fish on plain marabou jigs over the years. But this stuff is on a whole different level. Bright, durable, with a sick pulsing motion when jigged, synthetic hair does it all.
The tie for this jig is fairly basic, but the hang-back hook is the secret sauce that makes this a fish killer. I do prefer a fixed hook jig for most of my salmon exploits, but damned if there aren’t times when these fish get in that “mood” when they nip at the jig rather than inhale it. Apparently our pals in the fly world run across this as well, and those crafty buggers came up with a way to hang a hook further back in the tie for those shy biters.
For this build, we will start the same way by wrapping thread on the hook shank, but be sure to clip the hook before the bend. This is a great tie to repurpose old jig builds that need new life or utilize jigs poured on crappy hooks. Either way, snip the hook so you are left with just the straight portion of the shank and the head of the jig. Once the thread is laid on, hit what’s left of the hook shank with the epoxy as we did with the previous build. Again, it’s all about laying down a strong foundation for a durable build.
Now, we bring in stainless steel wire to form a loop on the shank that
the hook will eventually affix to. The preferred material for the wire can be found at your local craft store for cheap. Seven-strand, nylon-coated, stainless steel wire in 0.018 inch (0.45 millimeter) is the way to go. Cut off about a 6-inch portion of wire and form a loop that will be 2 to 3 inches long; this will get the hook back far enough and allow you to change hooks if needed.
Affix the wire loop to the shank and tie the adjoining pieces of wire forward almost to the head. At this point, fold the wire over onto the initial wrap and wind the thread back down to the beginning of the loop. Once again, fold the wire and wind forward to the head of the jig. Snip the remaining wire and wind the thread back to the loop.
The rest of the build is fairly straightforward: Tie in your Flashabou first, then tie off your Krystal chenille. Now it’s epoxy time! Wind the chenille forward, tie off and hit it with the UV light to cure.
The final stages just require the tiein of the back and belly colors of the synthetic hair to the top and bottom of the jig. I don’t add a marabou quill to this tie, as I like to keep the profile fairly slim. This is a good changeup compared to the bulky Jiggy Llama.
As for the hook, it’s quite simple: Slip the loop through the eye of the hook, then pull the hook forward into the loop until the entire hook can come through the loop. Pull the hook back on the wire loop and you’re ready to go. If the hook point gets trashed in action, it’s a simple process to remove and replace the hook. Genius idea.
BE AN ARTIST
The beauty of building your own jigs is adding a personal, creative touch for a truly unique presentation. Feel free to make additions like rubber legs, which turn a fly into a Bojangle lure for some reason. The possibilities are endless with all the cool materials on the market today.
Dust off the fly vise and let your creative juices flow, along with a stiff pour of a quality bourbon to enhance the creative process. And maybe when you get the magic fish formula dialed in someday on the water, you’ll be asked, “Dude, what are you using?” ASJ
CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE BRUIN KIND
FROM DEADLY TO HAIR-RAISING TO AWE-INSPIRING, RUN-INS WITH ALASKA GRIZZLIES SPAN THE GAMUT
BY SCOTT HAUGEN
Right over there is where one guy was killed,” Wes pointed out. “It happened fast. I barely had enough time to cover the body with some old plywood before the next tourist drove by. The crazy thing is, no one had a clue they were driving mere feet from a man who’d just been killed by a grizzly bear, smack in the middle of town.”
That was one of the first conversations I had in August 2020 with Wes, an oldtimer in the little Alaska town of Hyder, where my wife Tiffany, myself and our teenage son had just moved to. Hyder is home to less than 40 year-round residents. There are no police officers, mayor, town laws, taxes, stores or
When you get “the look” from a bear, what it decides to do in the next half second could change your life. Author Scott Haugen has gotten close to – maybe a little too close for comfort sometimes – many Last Frontier bruins over the decades.
medical care. You take your own trash to the dump, shovel your own snow all winter long and fix things that need fixing. When the weather is good you might get mail once a month, but usually it comes every other month. Hyder residents are self-sufficient and cherish their secluded lifestyle, as do many Alaskans living in remote corners of the state.
A big attraction to Hyder is the bear viewing – both black bears and grizzlies. Hyder is the southernmost point in Alaska that’s on the road system, and some summers will see over 50,000 tourists passing through on the only paved road, which bisects the center of town. Most come to see bears
wandering through town and feeding on salmon that spawn in the nearby river. These bruins have stories to tell.
WES PASSED AWAY A couple years ago. He lived in Hyder for over 50 years. I never could confirm the story he shared about the man who was killed by a bear outside our home over 40 years prior. But he did share another story with me, one that was documented – one Wes had a direct part in.
“George was in bad shape,” Wes began. “He’d been living here for a while, but cancer was getting the best of him. George was done with treatments. He got a little delirious in his final days.”
(SCOTT HAUGEN)
George Tullos was 41 years old. Ketchikan was his home. Wes’s accounts were vivid, more so than others I’d read on the 2001 bear attack. According to Wes, there was a grizzly living near the dump.
“The bear found an easy way to get food. Everyone who went to the dump had encounters with that ornery bear,” he said. “The bear stayed out of town, so no one felt the need to kill it. Though it would approach people when they went to the dump, it wasn’t overly aggressive toward them; it just wanted their food scraps.”
“For some reason, George took his sleeping bag and a tarp and headed out in the direction of the dump, where he spent a few nights,” Wes continued. “We all warned him about the bear, but George wasn’t listening. One night I tried and tried to get him to come stay at my house, but George would have nothing of it.”
That was the last conversation Wes and George would have.
“The next day I went to check on George, and I could see from a distance what had happened,” said Wes, his aging, gray eyes sternly staring into mine. “To
tell ya the truth, George didn’t have all his wits about him; he’d been sick, a lot worse than he led folks to believe. I’m not saying George had a death wish; just that he wasn’t thinking clearly.”
When he approached the body, Wes was shocked at how much of George the bear had devoured. “That bear did a number on George. It didn’t just kill him; it ate him. Now that the bold bear had a taste of human blood, I knew what had to be done.”
WES KNEW BEARS.
HE’D hunted and trapped them in his younger days. He’d lived among them, both in Alaska’s Interior and here in Hyder.
“One thing people don’t understand about bears is how quickly they can turn,” Wes shared. “People assume once bears live in a town, eating from dog dishes and the local dump, they’re all of a sudden pets, but these are potentially the most dangerous bears of all. They’re the king of the food chain up here and need to be taken very seriously.”
After covering George’s body with what
remained of his sleeping bag, Wes sped home, grabbed his rifle and took off in search of the maneater. Where George had been killed was typical riverbottom habitat one would expect to see in Southeast Alaska: spruce trees intermixed with cottonwoods, and willows and underbrush so thick in places that navigation was only possible on one’s hands and knees.
It didn’t take Wes long to find the killer bear. It hadn’t gone far. When they simultaneously made eye contact at close range, the bear’s ears laid back, its nostrils flared and Wes knew exactly what was coming. That’s where Wes’s shooting experience paid off.
There was no doubt in Wes’s mind he’d shot the predator, and a necropsy performed by himself and a couple locals confirmed it.
“As soon as my knife slit open the bear’s stomach, there was George’s left ear attached to a strip of skin from his neck that was torn halfway up his skull. There was still hair on it. The more we dug, the more of George we found in the bear’s stomach. If people could have seen what
I saw inside that bear’s stomach, they’d think differently about cohabitating with these predators,” Wes stated.
FOR MOST OF THE 1990s Tiffany and I lived in the high Arctic, where we were schoolteachers in two remote Iñupiat villages, Point Lay and then Anaktuvuk Pass. Bear encounters in the Arctic were expected, whether they were grizzlies or polar bears.
In Point Lay, there was a big grizzly that kept robbing meat racks outside homes, including ours. Despite the moonscapelike tundra and only a handful of dark hours in September, the grizzly still managed to routinely sneak in. It was briefly seen by many people over several nights in a row. Then, after nearly two weeks of encounters, a gunshot rang out in the night. Our neighbor shot the massive grizzly right through his kitchen window as it ate caribou hanging on his meat pole. He didn’t want to open the window for fear of spooking the grizzly. Finally, the children of the village were allowed to play until dark once again, knowing the marauding grizzly was gone. The Iñupiat man who shot the bear, Jack Stalker, made one of the coolest claw necklaces I’d ever seen; I gave it to Tiffany as a gift.
SPEND ENOUGH TIME IN in remote Alaska and a bear encounter will happen. Over my 30 years of hunting and fishing throughout the state – and living in two very different regions – I’ve had my share of bear encounters, but luckily managed to come out on the happy end of the story.
Two things continue to amaze me about grizzly bears. The first is how quiet they can be. Second is how quickly they can reach top speed. To see a 1,000-pound bear go from zero to 30 miles per hour in under five seconds is simply awesome.
One summer I was fishing a remote stream in Katmai National Park, targeting rainbows feeding on spawning sockeye. Brown bears were thick along the stream, but not much of a worry. Just as I locked into battle with a big trout, two immature bears got in a wrestling match upstream from me. They frolicked, ran, jumped, snarled and repeatedly knocked one another down in the river. It was fun to watch … until they lost track of where they were and started
Witness a serious bear fight and you’ll never forget the sight or the sounds. (SCOTT HAUGEN)
In isolated Hyder, as in many rural parts of Alaska, big bears have the right of way on the road. (SCOTT HAUGEN)
getting swept downstream in the main current, right at me.
I had to break off the fish and quickly move to shore. That’s when I saw the sow watching from a treeline in front of me. The two bears looked like 3-yearolds. Still, they were more than capable of killing large prey.
I made it to a steep and muddy bank along the river and scrambled up a bear trail. It was raining, muddy and slippery. I struggled to gain footing. As I neared the top of the trail, I looked back to see where the two bears were. One was still in the river, 30 yards away. The other was right behind me, trying to climb up the same trail I was on. That’s when I whacked it on the nose with my fly rod, then quickly scampered up the rest of the trail, turned left and moved onto another trail. Fortunately, the bear turned right and joined up with its mom.
That was the only fly rod I ever broke in more than 30 years of traveling through Alaska, and it was over a bear’s nose.
When hunting Dall sheep one fall, a buddy and I spotted two big rams just before dark. They were too high to reach, so we pitched a tent, then watched the rams in a spotting scope until darkness consumed them. The next morning, I unzipped the tent and grabbed the spotting scope. I was still in my sleeping bag, and as I adjusted the tripod legs in the sand to look for the sheep, I discovered I’d set it smack in the middle of a fresh grizzly track. Neither my buddy nor I heard that grizzly, even though it had walked around our entire tent; it was a foot away from our heads at one point.
Another time in a moose camp along a remote river in Southwestern Alaska, we had a grizzly come in and drink a halfdozen cans of pop one night. Each can
had been bitten into, and the bear sat there and drank them empty through the bite holes. All this took place less than 10 feet from our tent. We didn’t hear a thing.
THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER grizzly encounters over the years. I’ve learned to respect a bear’s space, read their body language, keep calm, and realize they’re at the very top of the food chain, no matter what.
When I was younger, I shot grizzlies and coastal brown bears. Today, a little bit older, I love photographing and sharing fishing holes with grizzly bears, as no experience I’ve had ties me so closely to nature as being awed by these beasts. ASJ
Editor’s note: For signed copies of Scott Haugen’s best-selling book, Hunting The Alaskan High Arctic, visit scotthaugen .com. Follow his adventures on Instagram and Facebook.
Bears are a common sight for anglers throughout Alaska. Haugen, who enjoys photographing and sharing fishing holes with them, has learned over the decades “to respect a bear’s space, read their body language, keep calm, and realize they’re at the very top of the food chain.” For more advice, see “The Essentials for Traveling in Alaska's Bear Country” on the Alaska Department of Fish and Game’s website (adfg.alaska.gov). (SCOTT HAUGEN)
Browning’s new Citori 825 shotgun features a classic design and sleek construction; it’s comfortable and quick handling. (SCOTT HAUGEN)
FIELD
FIELD TESTING THE 825 IN THE (907)
BROWNING CITORI SERVES UP TWO BARRELS’ WORTH OF GOOD SHOOTING ON PTARMIGAN HUNT
BY SCOTT HAUGEN
Tiffany and I always loved the month of April when we lived in Alaska’s Arctic.
Though temperatures were still cold – usually below zero during our time in Point Lay – the growing sunlight hours warmed the soul. It made us want to get out more, which we did. It also got us dreaming about an upcoming vacation, things we needed to buy for next fall and winter, and toys we wanted to treat ourselves to.
BAGGING BIRDS
If you’re an upland bird hunter, here’s a gun worth considering for next season. Last August found me once again in Cold Bay, a place I’ve been to many times. But the focus of this hunting trip was willow ptarmigan, not the usual waterfowl.
Ptarmigan numbers have been building the last three years on this stretch of the Aleutian Chain, and last summer saw another solid hatch. With a 10-bird daily bag limit and countless
miles to roam, the time was perfect to hit the tundra.
High-volume shooting at live birds is one of the best ways to truly learn how well a gun performs. Instantly, Browning’s new Citori 825 had my attention. Over the first flock of ptarmigan that flushed, I doubled. To be honest, the first shot was simple as the family flock flew straight away. But the follow-up shot smacked a whitewinged juvy as it banked hard right.
Forget the meatballs or Italian sausage; your bowl of spaghetti will be even more zesty with properly cooked upland bird meat. (TIFFANY HAUGEN)
PTARMIGAN, PASTA MAKE A PERFECT PAIRING
BY TIFFANY HAUGEN
Everyone loves spaghetti! No matter our age or how picky some people may be, spaghetti is one of those universal comfort foods most folks enjoy. And believe it or not, lean upland birds make a great meat addition to a spaghetti recipe.
Grouse and ptarmigan meat is lean, so be careful not to overcook it in this recipe. The number one reason I hear from people as to why they don’t like eating wild game bird meat is because it’s tough. That’s totally on the cook, because no matter the age or sex of the bird, it will turn out tender if done right. Overcook any game bird – even a young one – and it will certainly turn out tough.
If you or someone in the family is still skeptical about eating upland game birds, this recipe will change that.
Four whole upland birds (including legs and thighs)
One onion
6 cloves garlic
½ cup chicken broth
1 teaspoon salt
One 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes
¼ cup tomato paste
1 tablespoon parsley flakes
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder
½ to 1 teaspoon black pepper
½ to 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
¼ cup fresh basil and or parsley
Fresh herbs and Parmesan for garnish
12 ounces pasta of choice
Place cleaned bird carcasses in a slow cooker. With adult birds, you may need
to separate the legs and thighs so they fit. Cook on high heat for four to six hours or until meat separates easily from the bone. Remove all meat from bones, cartilage and sinew, then chop and add back to the slow cooker juices or into a soup pot. Add tomatoes, tomato paste, herbs and spices to the slow cooker or soup pot.
Cook one more hour in the slow cooker or bring to a boil in the soup pot, then simmer for 15 to 20 minutes. Cook pasta per directions. Serve with fresh herbs and Parmesan if desired.
Editor’s note: Order signed copies of Tiffany Haugen’s Cooking Game Birds at scotthaugen.com.
FIELD
Author Scott Haugen has hunted ptarmigan all over Alaska for more than 30 years and was impressed with the fast, accurate follow-up shots out of the Citori 825. (SCOTT HAUGEN)
Admittedly, I’m not a double-barrel aficionado, but I do appreciate a gun that handles and kills with efficiency. I was alone on this first test run, something I prefer when trying new gear in order to see and know the results of my shooting performance. The next flock held tight. I picked a solo adult that banked left, and I dropped it. A handful more fell that afternoon. The shotgun’s maiden voyage had my attention.
GETTING USED TO IT
For five days I carried, shouldered, shot, cleaned and bonded with the Browning Citori 825. Its balance and uniform weight distribution made for fast handling and precise follow-throughs. Even on fast-flying willow ptarmigan, I never played catch-up.
I was skeptical about how good this trip would be, as I had a severely torn rotator cuff awaiting surgery. Nonetheless, I could maneuver the 825 with ease and shoot it with consistent precision.
Its smooth, fast and refined Fire Lite 2 Trigger features a mechanical design that offers immediate secondshot capability, a big bonus when targeting speed demons on the tundra. This trigger doesn’t rely on recoil to set the hammer for the second shot. As a result, it yields a trigger pull with less take-up, a more crisp break and reduced over-travel. The result is no wasted time recovering from recoil to get on that second bird.
FEATURES THAT MATTER
The Citori 825 boasts a styled receiver with a low-profile design that further aids with recoil control and minimizes muzzle jump. This means you can stay in the gun and track fast-flying birds with utmost efficiency. I shoot with both eyes open, and doing so not only allows a big sight window, it lets you plainly see what your gun is doing in relation to flying birds.
What I immediately noticed with the 825 was the end of the barrel stayed on the birds; it didn’t jump above the flushing flock on the first shot. The result was a fast, accurate second shot. This routinely meant a quick 10-bird
Haugen tested a range of brands and pellet types in the 825, and all shot well.
(SCOTT HAUGEN)
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group of seven fellow upland hunters with varied shooting experience all
well
the over-and-under
limit. I was fine with that. Then I could move on to catch some coho.
Another feature of the Citori 825’s build that stood out was the comfort of the front end. It’s close to the bore line, which optimizes the swing and the ability to quickly and smoothly point it at a fast-moving target. The feeling is fluid as you track, catch up to and gain the lead on fast-moving birds.
SPREADING THE WORD
Seven friends joined me on this trip; all were carrying the new Citori 825. While personally shooting a gun is the best way to learn what it can do, a solid second is to watch others wield it. This is especially true when the group brings a range of upland shooting experience, from fairly new to seasoned veteran, to the field.
I closely watched how others
handled and shot the 825, first noticing how quickly follow-up shots came for everyone. There were a lot of doubles. Shooters stayed in the gun very well. Some hunters came out of the gun early, due more to flinching for an anticipated recoil that wasn’t there, but they recovered in time to drop a second ptarmigan.
A couple times the group of hunters spread out across the tundra. When birds jumped in the middle of the shooting line, gunners on the outside were put to the test. By the time the flushing ptarmigan reached them, the birds were at top speed. Still, everyone shot extremely well overall, a testimony to the guns and loads being shot.
CARRYING THE LOAD
I put three different loads of nontoxic shot through my Citori. One was
straight No. 6 steel, another a No. 2/4 steel blend, and the third was bismuth. We were hunting within a wildlife refuge where nontoxic shot is required. All shells shot perfectly out of the modified and full chokes, which were simple to install and didn’t slip.
The bismuth loads packed a punch in other guns I’d fired them in. But the recoil of the Citori 825 was noticeably reduced with much less jump. The end result is greater shooting comfort and faster, more accurate follow-up shots.
The Citori 825 is a top-of-the-lineperforming shotgun, which I look forward to using again. In fact, I might just take it on a white-tailed ptarmigan hunt I’m hoping to embark upon soon. ASJ
Editor’s note: Follow Scott’s adventures on Instagram and Facebook and order his signed books at scotthaugen.com.
