14-1 blowout powers-forward Miners hockey team to second round of high school playoffs

2025-2026 Park City High School Miners Varsity Red Hockey Team at home venue of the Park City Ice Arena on Senior Night. Photo: courtesy of Brockton Umstead

SALT LAKE VALLEY, Utah — Park City’s Red Varsity Miners high school hockey team beat the team from Farmington High in the first round of the affiliated playoffs on Monday night at the Acord Ice Center in West Valley City with a final score of 14 – 1.

They finished the regular season with an overall record of 13 and 1.

The Miners came out of the gates strong ending the first period up 6 – 1. Posting a 9 – 1 at end of the second, Park City walked away from this round with a 14 – 1 score. Showing solid sportsmanship, the athletes from Park City simply shook the hands of their opponents following the final whistle with no exuberant celebration.  

The video below shows team co-captain and senior Hunter Hutchison with a super slap-slot goal as a forward in the second period of the game. At that point, Park City had 26 shots to Farmington’s five. Along with hockey, Hutchinson also played lacrosse and golf while a Miner. He plans to play club hockey after graduating from PCHS and is still finalizing his college choice.

Video courtesy of Bonita Hutchison

The other team captain, Hunter Jaques, also a senior, scored a hat-trick in the round one playoff game.

Assistant Captains Mitchell Berry and Charlie Cusimano, who is signed to play football in college, are also seniors this year. Additional seniors on this team include Alex Harhi, Brockton Umstead, Chris Biglow, Conner Richardson, Harper Brent, Luke Stocker, and Nikolas Morgan.

Umstead, whose position on the ice is as a center, like so many other students, was working at a local ski resort over the school holiday break. Among countless other Ski School job duties, when the real animals take a day off, he gets to be a mascot and make lots of guests happy. After graduation he will be attending Northeastern University in Boston and playing club hockey.

Prior to Monday’s game he told TownLift, “Playing hockey for the Miners is really fun, my senior year has been amazing. We have a good record and great athletes with zero selfishness among the teammates.”

In February, he’ll head to the Milan Cortina 2026 Paralympics, like he has in previous years’ Games to support his mom and dad, alpine skiing Paralympic multi-medalists. 

Next up, the Park City High hockey team plays in round two of the playoffs on Monday night, January 12, at the Salt Lake City Sports Complex. 

They’ll try to defend their state title from last year, which they earned after beating Brighton in the finals. The Miners have clinched the Utah Championships three years out of the last five.