Park City High’s Ice Miners clinch state championship

The Park City Ice Miners celebrating their state championship win on Wednesday. Photo: Carey Cusimano

PARK CITY, Utah — The Park City High School Ice Miners Hockey Team, led by senior captain Garrett Hebert, clinched the state championship. Hebert shared insights with TownLift into the team’s journey, the pivotal moments of the championship game, and the collective spirit that propelled them to victory.

Reflecting on the accomplishment, Hebert expressed an overwhelming sense of pride and joy, emphasizing the unparalleled feeling of looking into his teammates’ eyes as they realized their hard-won victory. “Really nothing tops it,” Hebert remarked, underlining the unity and shared determination that have been the team’s hallmark this season.

The championship game, according to Hebert, was a testament to the team’s resilience and community support. He highlighted a turning point early in the season—a surprising loss—that served as a wake-up call, instilling a renewed focus and drive among the players. “That really flipped the switch in our heads and we realized wow, what are we doing? We got to turn  this boat around and get our heads straight,” he said.

Hebert’s leadership was instrumental in preparing the team for the pressures of the state championship. Drawing from his experience in previous championships, he provided the necessary support and guidance to help his teammates overcome nerves and jitters. This leadership helped steady the team, especially during a critical moment in the playoffs against Juan Diego, where they rallied from a two-goal deficit to win in overtime—a victory Hebert cites as a defining moment.

“I’m looking down the bench and a lot of guys have their heads down and I think all it took was one person and one goal to kind of give that glimmer of hope,” Hebert said, and after their first goal in overtime, “that’s when we realized, yeah, we’re winning… nobody doubted us from that moment forward.”

Over his four years with the Miners, Hebert has witnessed and contributed to a significant evolution in the team’s culture, shifting towards unity and mutual belief under the guidance of three different coaches.

Beyond the ice, Hebert credits his high school hockey experience with fostering a strong sense of camaraderie and personal growth, which he plans to carry forward into his next chapter at the University of Utah, where he aims to continue his hockey career at the club level and pursue a military path.

Hebert extended heartfelt thanks to his teammates and particularly coach Mike Adamak, for their unwavering support and contribution to his development as a player and person.

“Seeing these guys day in and day out really brings camaraderie and that’s really what high school sports are all about. So I live for that, I live for my teammates, and it really does make me a better person,” Hebert said. “I think that’s what a lot of people overlook nowadays is looking at the individual part of it, but it’s a team sport.”

Editors Note: A previous version of this article incorrectly stated back to back wins. The PC Miners Hockey team has won the State Championship in 2024, 2022 and 2021