High School Sports

March 13. 2013 9:59PM

The Sufat family has championship ties at Manchester Memorial

By JOHN HABIB
New Hampshire Union Leader

Brady Sufat, center, with his dad, Gary, right, and uncle, Danny, all who have won an NHIAA hockey championship as a Memorial High player, stand at the JFK Coliseum on Wednesday. (THOMAS ROY/UNION LEADER)

Like father, like son and, like uncle.

Last Saturday at the Verizon Wireless Arena in Manchester history was made when two Manchester public schools met for the first time in a state championship ice hockey game.

When Manchester Memorial defeated rival Manchester Central, 3-2, in overtime for the Division I championship, the Sufat family was able to enjoy an historic moment of their own.

In 1989, Gary won a state championship with the Crusaders who over-came an early 3-0 deficit for an 8-3 victory against Nashua at the old Snively Arena in Durham. Six seasons later, Gary's brother, Danny, captured a state title when Memorial, behind four goals from Corey Ficek, battled back from a two-goal deficit for a 4-2 championship game win against Concord at the JFK Coliseum in Manchester.

Last Saturday, both father (Gary) and uncle (Danny) of Brady Sufat witnessed history when Adam Tack scored the game-winner in overtime for Memorial.

Danny and Gary instantly exchanged lots of high fives when the game was over and in a special moment between father and son after the awards ceremony, Gary embraced Brady.

"My eyes welled up," said Gary. "I know having already experienced a championship season myself of how much work goes into this. I was so proud of him (Gary) that I really got emotional."

Brady called the moment with his father "special and cool. I had seen video of my dad playing in his championship game and even saw my uncle giving high fives to all the players coming off the ice after they won. When I was a freshman, that's really the first time I talked to my dad about how neat it would be to win a state title like him and my uncle."

Gary was named captain during his senior season and Danny was an assistant captain his last season. Both are hoping Brady will be named a captain during his senior year next season.

All three also have another thing in common. They celebrated their state championship with longtime assistant coach John Klop.

All three were at the JFK Coliseum yesterday and mentioned how special it will be to see the 2013 banner alongside the '89 and '95 banners. All three agreed Brady's was special because it came at the expense of Central.

"It's going to be neat to walk into this place, look up and see all three," said Danny. "It's something that rarely happens to any family. That's why its special."