JV Titans win AW MLK tournament

January 12-15, 2007. St Johns JV Titans traveled to Findlay OH over the Martin Luther King JR Holiday Weekend to play in the Anthony Wayne’s annual “I HAVE A DREAM to win” tournament.

The JV Titans started the weekend off well on Friday with a convincing 6-0 win over the hosting Anthony Wayne Generals.  Michael Brahaney was very solid in net posting a complete game shutout turning away all shots faced.  The offense was led by Tyler Jarosz, who was awarded game MVP, and Cory Speelman.  

Saturday’s game saw a different Titan team take the ice.  St Johns was matched up against Mentor Lake Catholic.  St John’s started the game well jumping out to a 1-0 lead, but they could not keep the pressure on.  The JV Titans blew a tire and ended up losing the game 4-1 to a quick and determined Lake Catholic team.  

Going into Sunday’s game St Johns still had and outside chance of making it to the tournament Championship game.  According to tie breaker rules St John’s could not allow more than one goal in a win to advance to the championship.  The JV Titans squared off against the Eastwood Eagles club team, in a battle that was highlighted by superior goaltending from Luke Gibb.  Gibb posted a shut out and the offense supplied plenty of fire power scoring five goals.  Jacob Kuhn and Zach Jones both notched goals in the win.  The JV Titans were going to the dance.

In the Championship game, the Titans again faced off against the Eastwood Eagles.  Monday’s game saw a few changes in both team’s lineups and Eastwood had their top goaltender and defenseman dressed and ready for action. The game was a back and forth match up, full of intensity from both squads.  Late in the third stanza, SJJ held a slim one goal advantage when they were called for an interference penalty, giving Eastwood a man advantage in the waning moments.  Eastwood took a timeout and returned to the ice without their goaltender and an added sixth skater.  Their pressure was too much and they got the equalizer with 34 seconds remaining forcing the Championship into a shoot out.  Through the first five skaters Luke Gibb turned away 2 Eagles.  Titans Zach McClintock and Jacob Kuhn both notched goals and St Johns final shooter Tyler Jarosz was called upon to even the score.  Tyler made a nifty move and buried the puck 5 hole to send the game to sudden death.  Luke Gibb gave the Titans a chance to win in the first round of Sudden death with a nice kick save on the glove side.  Sophomore Zach Jones stood at center ice with a chance to take home the hardware for the Titans.  Jones, who the team calls “dangles”, made two solid moves and lit the lamp for a Titan Victory.

The Titans play was anchored by solid defense all weekend by freshmen Collin Marzac and Christian Sattler.  The offense was steady and led by senior Noah Lamprecht’s consistent play.   The Titans now look forward to finishing league play and making a run at the Northwest Hockey JV championship.