This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2010, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

The black jerseys have white sleeves, a narrow strip of orange trim and an emphatic "M" on the front.

On Wednesday, 34 members of Murray High School's club hockey team pulled them over dress shirts and ties. They went to a funeral at the Murray South Stake Center, which was so full that the crowd extended beyond the overflow area.

At Murray City Cemetery, the players formed parallel borders for an aisle that extended from a long silver hearse to a frozen grave. They watched as pallbearers, including one of their teammates, carried the pine casket through the corridor.

Hours later, they again wore their jerseys — this time, over pads. Playing as intensely as ever — for a sense of protection, one said — they pieced together an inspired effort, trouncing Northridge 6-1 at Salt Lake County Ice Center.

The day was for Dave Brown, a 48-year-old father of four who died a week earlier after he slipped on the ice and never got up.

"It was a difficult day," said team captain Taylor Johnson. "I think it really just set in, the fact that he wasn't there for us anymore."

Of course, Brown was always there for the Murray hockey team. Even on the day he died — helping, just like always.

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A man for all seasons • Brown was involved with every activity or team his four children were. There was coach-pitch baseball and flag football with Kris, softball with Maddie, hockey with Parker and Dakota. Dakota, the youngest, plays for the Spartans.

For Murray hockey, his official title was trustee. He took care of the business side of things: ordering uniforms, tracking down money. He took care of the non-hockey duties.

That's why, when the Zamboni broke down at the ice center before Murray's game on Nov. 17, Brown was there to help get it off the ice.

The Zamboni covers the rink in a thin coat of water to keep the ice smooth, creating a fresh and especially slick surface. But as the Zamboni sat in the middle of the rink, it continued to dump water in one spot, ultimately melting a hole down to the concrete.

Brown hurried across the ice wearing street shoes. He slipped and landed hard, headfirst. He didn't get up.

"I don't know how many times I've seen people fall," Murray coach Alan Swenson said. "You think of just a public skate, where families take their little kids to skate. Literally, dozens of people on the ice, nobody's wearing a helmet. People fall all the time."

As Brown lay on the ice, a referee yelled, "Call the paramedics!"

In the locker room, Dakota, a backup goaltender, was figuring out whether to take off his pads. From the sound of things, the game was going to be canceled.

"A kid came in and said, 'Dude, your dad fell,' and I said, 'Whatever. He'll get up,' " Dakota said.

Brown spent the next two weeks in a medically induced coma at Intermountain Medical Center's trauma unit.

The hockey players all signed a big card and placed it where Brown would see it as soon as he opened his eyes. On Thanksgiving Day, the team put on a spread of turkey sandwiches for the Brown family, allowing it to put off the real holiday celebration until Dave could join them.

On Dec. 1, Brown died after suffering a stroke.

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Thunderous ovation • Against Northridge, with six minutes left, Dakota Brown stepped onto the same ice from which his father was carried three weeks earlier.

He told coaches he wanted dress for the game but that he didn't think he could play.

"There were so many fans here," he said. "I was so nervous."

Later, he decided he needed to get in the game — for his team, for himself, for his dad.

"It was sad being there and not seeing my dad there," Dakota said, "but the game was just incredible, with all the fans."

The crowd stood and cheered for the goalie. It was the longest and loudest ovation anyone could recall in the small arena.

As he stood in front of the net, wearing his black jersey with white sleeves and orange trim, Dakota felt at peace.

He said it was as if his dad were there, giving him the strength to play — helping, just like always.

boram@sltrib.com Twitter: @oramb —

Benefits for the Brown family

Dec. 27, 7 p.m. • The Murray hockey team will host a benefit night for the family in conjunction with an alumni game at Salt Lake County Ice Center.

Jan. 15, 7 p.m. • The Utah Grizzlies will host a benefit night during their game against Saskatoon at Maverik Center.