This one snuck through the cracks, but it’s a neat “human interest story”: the Winnipeg Free Press’s Mike McIntyre spoke with Tyler Copp, Andrew Copp’s younger brother, as Tyler visited Manitoba to take part in a golf tournament:
The 26-year-old Copp is among the 156 golfers who will tee it up beginning Thursday morning in the CentrePort Canada Rail Park Manitoba Open at Southwood Golf & Country Club.
His passport may say American, but this one feels like a bit of a home game. Andrew was drafted by the Jets in 2013, made his NHL debut in 2015 and played 501 career regular-season and playoff games with Winnipeg before he was traded to the New York Rangers in 2022, then signed as a free agent with the Detroit Red Wings a few months later where he remains.
“My brother lived here for seven years. Winnipeg will always be something we are familiar with and remember well,” said Copp. “He’s still got a lot of buddies on the team, and honestly, the fans here are great. It’s good to come back. Hopefully, it treats me well.”
After graduating from Mercer University in Georgia, Copp turned pro and gained his PGA Tour Americas card for the 2024 season. His rookie campaign is off to a rough start — six tournaments played, six cuts missed, zero cheques cashed.
“I would give myself a D-plus. Obviously the competition is tough, but I don’t feel like I can’t be right there with them. There’s a constant learning curve. You’ve got to keep staying aggressive,” Copp told the Free Press.
