The Miners Red hockey team began their season in the fall with the goals of winning their third-straight state championship and advancing to the national championship semifinals or beyond.
Having won the state title on Jan. 28 and defeated Utah’s school-unaffiliated state champ Sky Canyon for the nationals berth on Feb. 9, Park City has turned its attention to preparing for the competition next week in Plymouth, Minnesota.
The Miners Red will face teams from Missouri, New York and Kentucky in their pool play games next Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. The top two teams from pool play will advance to the quarterfinals, where Park City advanced for the first time last season before falling. The Miners Red are the underdogs in their pool, a role head coach Mike Adamek says they’re relishing in.
Preparation for Park City has included practicing and scheduling games against the Park City Pioneers semi-pro team and the Ogden Junior Mustangs, the 18U AA state champs. Adamek also gave his team a week off to recover after the win over Sky Canyon in February.
“We’ve gotten back into it here,” Adamek said. “We leave on the 17th. … We’re managing it pretty well.”
Adamek believes the team’s drive and experience will play big roles in their success at nationals. Much of the team was on last season’s national championships-qualifying team.
“Half of our team was in this exact situation last season,” Adamek said. “That experience will help. I think the kids are excited. It’s obviously easy and fun to come to the rink when you’re getting ready to go to a national tournament.”
Adamek said those who aren’t gearing up for other spring sports as well have been getting in extra time on the ice. He said they play hockey for games on big stages like nationals.
Adamek and assistant coach Tom Gatta are working to scout their first few opponents before next week. The team will watch future opponents’ games as well in Minnesota. Adamek said it’s more important that his team is prepared, but secondarily important that they know what their opponents’ tendencies are.
“Our kids really love and care about each other,” Adamek said. “Everyone has heard of Park City, Utah, (but) not for hockey. We want to make sure that we try and put us on the map a little bit in the hockey world as well. … These kids are 17, 18 years old. They care about legacy. The first team from Utah that can go win a national championship will be remembered by kids that are 10 years old right now.”