For the Park Record

Prior to Wednesday night’s Park City High School hockey playoff victory over Viewmont, Park City head coach Aaron Dufford was named Utah High School Hockey’s "Coach of the Year." The award is voted on by the state’s hockey board of trustees.

This is only Dufford’s second year as Park City coach, but the PCHS alumnus has quickly transformed the Miners into a state championship contender. Last year’s team finished in the final eight in the state with an 8-4-1 record. This year’s team is 14-1-1 and is one of the four remaining undefeated teams in the playoffs. This year’s Miner JV finished with the top record among the 21 junior varsity teams in the state.

"It’s an honor to receive the Coach of the Year award, but it’s really a team award," Dufford said. "Each and every one of our players has bought into a system that makes us successful as a team. You can be the most talented painter in the world, but without the right brush and colors you may never be able to create a great piece."

After playing for Park City High School, Dufford played high-level junior hockey in Michigan and Montana. He was also a part of Team USA in the 2005 World University Games in Innsbruck, Austria.