Park City High Hockey heading towards playoffs

After their third-straight Utah State D-1 Championship, the Park City Miners hockey team participated in the National Championship Tournament in Texas, finishing with an overall record of 1-2. Photo: Jennefer Traeger.

PARK CITY, Utah — Vowing to maintain its ongoing state championship record, the third-ranked Park City High School D1 Hockey Team won last night’s home game at the Park City Ice Arena 5 – 0 against the eighth-ranked Sky Canyon Predators from the extreme Northern Utah area. Adding to its season record of winning every home game, Park City has won nine of its overall games, losing only two. 

The first quarter started with a bang as freshman Cooper Ford scored a quick goal, assisted by sophomore Liam Van Valkenburgh. senior Keegan Torrey put away two more goals to make the score 3 – 0 by the end of the second.

In the first three minutes of the third period, Valkenburgh scored from down low in the corner with the assist from Torrey.

With only seven minutes left, junior Rigan McIntosh put a goal past the Predators.

The final goal was assisted by sophomore Garret Hebert and Ford.

“I thought our team moved the puck really well, and we made steps in the right direction today. What I would like to see from the team is for them to continue to trek in the right direction, to see them work together more consistently,” Park City Coach Jack Skille said to player-correspondent Cooper Ford. “Tonight was a good showing for the coaching staff to see that everyone on the team is starting to understand our concepts.”

Coach Skille knows of which he speaks as a former National Hockey League (NHL) athlete.

Park City’s next game is on Wednesday, January 19, against Herriman Hockey at the Park City Ice Arena at 6:30 pm.