The Miners Red hockey team dominated Brighton Navy once again in the state title game on Wednesday night at the County Ice Center in Murray, winning 7-1 to secure their third-straight championship. 

Park City jumped on their opponents early, sending their packed stands into a frenzy. Miners Red star Mitchell Berry found the back of the Brighton Navy net a little over four minutes into the first period. Jayden Jacobs added to the Park City lead minutes later, before Brighton Navy responded with a breakaway goal. Berry scored for a second time with about five minutes left in the first period. 

The Miners Red attack put the game out of reach in the second period, scoring four goals. Wyatt Nellis got the puck past Brighton Navy’s Skyler Velez twice in the second period, and Hunter Jacques and Niko Morgan each scored once. 

The third period saw the game spill a bit out of control, with several fights on and off the ice. Police were called to the arena to help manage fan confrontations. Brighton Navy let frustrations get the better of them, with nine penalties to Park City’s five, including five late, predominantly fighting and unsportsmanlike conduct penalties. 

“It never gets old winning a state championship,” Miners Red Head Coach Mike Adamek said. “We have a culture of winning, so we kind of expect it. But, you never get used to that feeling of watching your kids celebrate or that last five minutes on the bench. It’s kind of the reason why I think we coach this group.”

Park City celebrates with their fans on Wednesday night following the win. Credit: Jack Casebolt/Park Record

Park City’s assistant coach Tom Gatta credited the team’s fast, physical and team-first play for their success. He said they start teaching those principles at the youth levels in town. Adamek thought seeing the puck go into the Brighton Navy goal first was huge for his players being able to relax and play their typical suffocating style, in which they throw several strong lines at their opponents. 

“Our kids thrive on it,” Adamek added on the strong crowd support on Wednesday. “I think the Brighton-Park City rivalry in all sports kind of showed through there a little bit. The chants were awesome. Me and (Gatta) looked at each other on the bench halfway through the first period, like, ‘Wow. This is the hockey we used to be playing when we were kids.’”

The referees on Wednesday had to manage rowdy on-ice action, but also some fresh seafood making its way onto the ice, something that’s become a tradition among the fans in the state title games. Adamek thought the early lead helped his team relax through all that was going on. Adamek and Gatta were proud of how their high school players managed all of the fighting and chippiness on the ice, knowing that they still have much to play for down the line including potential national championships.

Park City found out at their team dinner on Tuesday night that the win on Wednesday wouldn’t secure them their bid to the national championships, to be held in Minnesota later this winter, as it did last season. The Miners Red will need to defeat the state champion of the school-unaffiliated division, which Sky Canyon and DCI will play for on Monday night. Sky Canyon had a chance to win the title on Wednesday, taking the ice against DCI following Park City’s win, but fell 8-7. The school-unaffiliated playoff bracket is also double elimination, and Sky Canyon hadn’t lost until Wednesday. 

Senior Miners Red star Mitchell Berry celebrates one of his two goals. Credit: Jack Casebolt/Park Record

“The rest is huge,” Adamek said about a potential quick turnaround for the national championships qualifying game. “Being able to ramp it back up after winning a state championship, that’s hard to do. … But, we have good leadership, seniors and kids that have played a lot of big games. So, we’re going to lean on those leaders.”

Park City senior goalie Alex Harhi said the team wants to keep winning to put on a show for their fans and to accomplish the second goal they set out at the beginning of the season: to make a deep run at nationals. Unlike Wednesday, where the Miners Red could play the title game over if they lost being undefeated in the playoffs, the nationals qualifying game will be single elimination. Berry said the team is going to rest up and stay disciplined with their normal routines leading up to the qualifying game. 

“It’s a dream,” Harhi said about Wednesday’s third-straight title. “When I was a little kid, I didn’t expect to be a three-time state champ for Park City High School. It’s an absolute blast. … We’re like a huge family here.”

“We’re going to enjoy it and not take it for granted,” Berry said. “You don’t want to forget a core memory in your life. But, we have one more to go. … The boys were saying, ‘Job’s not finished’ in the locker room.”

Park City will enjoy their title and prepare for their national championships qualifying game against the winner of the school-unaffiliated playoff bracket. Credit: Jack Casebolt/Park Record

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