Copp inspires, connects with high-achieving athletes at 2025-26 Detroit High School Sports Awards

DETROIT -- Helping celebrate the achievements of the Detroit area’s standout athletes, coaches and teams, Andrew Copp served as the special guest for the 2025-26 Detroit High School Sports Awards at MotorCity Casino Hotel last Wednesday night.

“It’s funny because I didn’t play high school hockey in the state of Michigan, but I was able to play baseball and football,” Copp told DetroitRedWings.com. “It’s cool to see all these athletes having successful seasons. High school sports are a huge part of the community and growing up. It’s cool to see these athletes get recognized. Even if they don’t go play in college or go pro, sports shapes who we are as people through teamwork and all those sorts of things you learn. A very cool atmosphere and event to be part of.”

As the student athletes and their supporters arrived, the Detroit Red Wings forward welcomed many of them on the Green Carpet, taking photos and conversing before the awards presentation officially began. Copp later participated in an inspirational question-and-answer session on stage, sharing experiences from his time as a dual-sport high school athlete and lessons from his road to the NHL.

Born and raised in Ann Arbor, Mich., Copp has been immersed in sports his entire life. His mother, Anne Marie, was a figure skating coach at the University of Michigan, and his father, Andy, coached his youth hockey teams. Copp stayed active year-round during his teenage years, including setting records as a star quarterback at Skyline High School while also turning heads with the United States National Team Development Program.

“You play three sports in high school and hockey to the level that you get to, that takes commitment and no time for anything else besides school,” Copp said. “A lot of sacrifices made, but I think back to some of those memories just being able to play both football and hockey…I was so lucky. The amount of time you put in and the friends you grow up with doing all that, such an awesome time. I hope these kids enjoy it, take what they learned and apply it to the next level.”

Copp played three seasons at the University of Michigan prior to the Winnipeg Jets selecting him in the fourth round (No. 104 overall) of the 2013 NHL Entry Draft, even serving as captain of the Wolverines during his junior campaign in 2014-15. The 31-year-old is now preparing for his fifth season with the Red Wings, which will be his 13th overall in the NHL.

Copp’s journey provides an exciting example for local high school athletes of how their dreams can be realized through hard work, discipline and staying committed to long-term goals.

“I’m trying to get better at hockey too, and then you come to an event like this, and you realize you were once in their shoes,” Copp acknowledged. “You realize how you looked up to whatever athlete you loved when you were in high school, so I’m just trying to set a good example.”

For Copp, attending the event also brought back fond memories, especially the emotion and appreciation of putting on pads each week.  

“When you’re the quarterback, the game is on you,” Copp said. “There’s nothing quite like it in any other sport. Maybe pitching in baseball, a little bit, but if you’re the quarterback and if you play well, your team is probably going to win. That’s a very cool feeling. It’s an intimidating feeling, but nothing quite like it on Friday nights.”