Bulldogs on Ice claim state title after stellar season

Courtesy photo/Shutterspeed and Blake Palmer

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The Bulldog hockey team claimed the 2012 Utah State High School championship on Feb. 27. Courtesy photo/Shutterspeed and Blake Palmer

by Erin Dugan

Special to the Intermountain Catholic

The Judge Memorial Catholic High School hockey team, coached by Todd Brown, had an outstanding 2011-2012 season, capturing the team’s first state championship in over two decades. Along the way, the squad claimed an overall record of 15-2-1, including exhibition games.

"I would definitely say that we had a huge target on our backs going into the playoffs since we have taken out the top three teams: Skyline, Viewmont and Murray," said junior Sam Taylor. This target, however, didn’t hide the desire the team had for a state championship. Judge hockey hadn’t clinched the state title since goalie Marshall Wallace’s father, Matthew, played two decades ago.

The first playoff game was a test for the Bulldogs. Because of a schedule change, they played Riverton on Feb. 5 without key players and senior captains Wilson Lamb and Nick Brown, who had both departed for the Teton Science School.

"It was miserable. It made everyone on the team nervous and put a lot more pressure on our other top players," Taylor said.

The first round game did indeed prove difficult, but with the perfect combination of luck and skill, the Bulldogs came home with a 4-3 sudden death victory. With the momentum of a first-round win and the return of Lamb and Brown, the team went on a roll. The Bulldogs defeated Park City 5-1, then Timpanogos 7-3, and followed that with a victory over Murray 6-2. The title game of the statewide double elimination tournament took place Feb. 27 against Bingham. The Bulldogs struck early and often, jumping to a 5-0 lead in the second quarter en route to an 8-5 win and the chance to hoist the championship trophy in front of jam-packed stands at Steiner.

"The hard work and commitment to the team was fully displayed throughout the entire season and the payoff was with our crowning as state champions," said head coach Todd Brown. "This state championship was something which began as a distant dream four years ago and became reality with the win in the championship game."

Coach Brown will step aside from coaching following this championship to catch up on many things, work related, he said.

Reflecting on the past four years Brown said, "During a daunting period of my first year as coach at Judge, a good friend and priest told me, ‘Stick with it, do your best; this is your ministry for now.’ I took those words to heart. I want all the players I’ve coached while at Judge to know that you’ve meant so much more to me than the sport itself. I’m truly grateful for these past four years."

Earning Utah High School Hockey Academic All-Star honors were seniors Brian Allen, Nick Brown and Wilson Lamb; juniors Alex Leopardi, Sam Taylor and Marshall Wallace; sophomore Matthew Villar; and freshman Duncan Hickman.

Wilson Lamb, senior captain for the Judge Memorial Catholic High School hockey team, was named Utah High School Hockey’s "Robinson MVP- North," and Andrew Bergquist (forward) and Nick Brown (defenses) were named as finalists for the Tim Hixon Memorial Scholarship.

Erin Dugan is a senior at Judge Memorial Catholic High School.