Titans win Padua holiday tournament

December 15-17, 2006. The Varsity Titans played in the annual Padua Holiday Tournament last weekend.  It was a perfect example of it’s not how you start but how you finish.  After getting off to a poor start with a 4-2 loss to University School in the opening game, the Titans ran off four straight victories including an exciting 5-4 overtime shootout victory over the same University School in the finals.

In the second game on Saturday morning, St. John’s had to play an equally tough team in perennial state power Lakewood St. Edward’s.  The Titans came out much stronger in this contest and jumped out to a 4-0 lead and was able to hold on to win 4-2.  

In the evening contest, Lake Catholic was playing the Titans tough and the contest was tied 1-1 late in the second period.  With St. John’s down a man, Ray Morris got the team going with two short handed goals in a minute span and the Titans went in to the third period inspired and up 3-1.  St. John’s seemed to feed off that and scored four third period goals to win convincingly 7-1.

Coming into Sunday morning, three of the four teams in St. John’s bracket still had a legitimate chance to reach the finals.  St. John’s had the toughest task as they took on defending state champs Parma Padua.  The Titans were up to the task and played some of their best hockey to defeat Padua 4-2.  After the victory, the team had to stick around to see the outcome of the other games before they knew they would be playing in the finals.

In the finals, St. John’s came out and played a very fast and aggressive University School much tougher.  They seemed to have the game in hand up 4-2 midway through the third period.  Two quick University goals changed that and regulation ended with the score tied at 4-4.  The two teams exchanged opportunities to end the game with neither team able to capitalize and overtime ended with the score still tied.  The championship game was going to be determined by a shootout.  Once again, the Titans proved it’s not how you start but how you finish.  After Ray Morris led the shootout off with a miss and University School scoring on their first attempt the Titans found themselves down 1-0 right off the bat.  Danny Johnson and Cody Mathews were able to convert on their attempts and Tyler Marzec made sure those were enough stoning U School on their next four attempts giving St. John’s Jesuit a thrilling championship victory.

Once again, the success of the weekend was strong team play as several players were able to make significant contributions throughout the weekend.  Also once again the goaltending was outstanding all weekend.  Tyler Marzec was voted outstanding goalie of the tournament and Tad Huber was voted most valuable defenseman of the tournament.  Congratulations to all for a well earned tournament victory.