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MURRAY — Thanksgiving is supposed to be the time spent with loved ones around the dining room table. But for Michelle Brown and her family, this past Thanksgiving was spent around her husband's hospital bed.
"The Murray hockey parents were the ones who brought Thanksgiving to my family — and it wasn't just my immediate family, it was my extended family. So there was a lot of us," Michelle said. "They took time out of their own Thanksgiving to do that for us."
For the givers, it was simply doing what Dave Brown had done for them: giving time.
For years, Dave has been the trustee for the Murray High School hockey team, doing anything and everything the team needed.
Dave didn't know much about hockey until his sons began playing about six years ago. Then he did what he'd done with his other children. He volunteered, and learned to love the sport.
The day before Thanksgiving, a freak accident happened. Before a game, Brown went out to help push the broken-down Zamboni. He slipped and fell on the ice at the Salt Lake County Ice Center.
"He didn't end up with any bruises or broken bones, just hit his head," Michelle said.
Brown spent two weeks in a coma, then passed away after suffering a stroke. He was 48 years old.
"The community — from Utah hockey all across the United States — I've received letters and I've received cards from people from everywhere," Michelle said.
After Dave's funeral, hockey players lined a path in the cemetery leading to his gravesite. Hours later, Dakota played the final minutes of Murray's game in his father's honor.
As a team we go to his gravesite before every game. We go there and talk as a team, and our coaches rally us up.
–Dakota Brown, Dave's son
"I really felt like my dad was there watching me that game," Dakota said. "It was one of the most awesome things I've ever experienced. It was really cool."
"We knew how much he loved our team and how much he loved the game and so, you know, we tried to play for him and for the Brown family because that's what's important," said Dakota's teammate Taylor Johnson.
"It's given us motivation," another teammate said. "It's made us want to play harder ‘cause we know Dave's up there looking down on us; so we want to play hard for Dave because if he was here, he'd want us to play as hard as we can."
The Spartans continue to play hard — they're currently 7-3 this season.
With only a few games left before the playoffs, Dakota says he knows his father will be near.
"I know he will," Dakota said. "As a team we go to the gravesite every time before a game. We go there and we talk as a team, and our coach kinda rallies us up; and I think he'll be there watching us."
The Utah Grizzlies play Saturday night at the Maverik Center. When fans who buy a ticket mention Dave Brown's name, part of the proceeds will go to help the family.
There's also an online auction with hockey memorabilia. CLICK HERE for more information.
E-mail: kaiken@ksl.com
