Park Record
Park City and Wasatch Back News
The Miners Red hockey team dominated East 10-1 on Wednesday in the state semifinals at the County Ice Center in Murray, advancing them to the state championship game.
Park City got the scoring started early on Wednesday, going up 4-0 before the first period was halfway through. The Miners Red pushed their lead to 5-0 in the game’s second period before East responded with their lone goal. Park City scored the game’s final five goals, with another in the second period and four in the third.
The Miners Red’s Carson Owen and Pierce Adams led the team with two goals each in the win. Park City’s Luke Stocker had a hat trick of assists on Wednesday. Miners Red goalie Alex Harhi was in net again.
Park City will face off against the winner of East and Brighton Navy, who play in Monday’s consolation final. The Utah school-affiliated prep hockey tournament is double-elimination, meaning the Miners Red have two chances at what would be a third-straight state title. The state champion will likely represent Utah at prep hockey nationals.
“It just felt like we were firing on all cylinders right off the bat,” said Miners Red Head Coach Mike Adamek about Wednesday’s semifinal victory. “They never really got a chance to get into the game.”
The Miners Red’s lone loss this season came on Oct. 6 on the road against East. Despite avenging that loss with an 11-1 victory over East on Nov. 19 at home, Park City still wasn’t over it.
“They’re always good, so I hate to say it, but it’s almost expected,” Adamek added about his team’s performance in the win. “Alex (Harhi) had another really good game. Carson Owen is, I think, one of our best players overall and was the best player on the ice (on Wednesday); he was noticeable. I’m sure a random East student probably noticed how good Carson Owen was. So, those guys really stepped up.”
The Miners Red were able to rest some of their lines with the wide margin of victory on Wednesday. They escaped without any penalty trouble and suspensions and are hard at work preparing for Wednesday’s title game.
Park City was practicing on Friday and focusing on their game. They said they feel good about their standards and level of play regardless of who will line up across the ice from them on Wednesday.
“The way we’re playing right now, if we were playing the New York Rangers, I wouldn’t be concentrating on them,” Adamek said. “As long as our team is playing how we have been playing for the last three or four games, we don’t necessarily (need to) worry too much about the opponent until game day. … I don’t necessarily have a No. 1 choice of who I’d rather play; I think they’re both decent teams.”
The Miners Red use their coaching staff and veteran leadership to maintain their high standards in practices and games where the margin of victory is wide. Having advanced to the national quarterfinals last season, they know what it will take to return to the tournament and find success, a season-long goal of theirs.
Adamek hopes his players and the Park City fanbase still appreciate the accomplishments of the team. As someone who played hockey for most of his life, he knows how rare winning titles at any level is. Adamek hopes the team receives strong crowd support in Murray on Wednesday as they have in years past.
“This year’s team is phenomenal, last year’s team was phenomenal, so I’m a lucky man,” Adamek said. “Playing in front of your peers is fun, that’s part of why you play high school hockey. So yes, we’re hoping for a huge turnout and that Park City shows up for us. … If you only go to one game all year, even though it’s in Murray, you’re going to be able to watch us hopefully win the title and lift a state trophy.”
Monday’s consolation final between East and Brighton Navy will begin at 7 p.m. at the Salt Lake City Sports Complex. Wednesday’s title game at the County Ice Center in Murray will begin at 7 p.m.
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The Park Record newspaper publishes twice weekly in Park City, Utah, and has been serving the Wasatch Back since 1880.
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