Just a week after playing against some of the top teams in the state of Ohio in the Padua Holiday Tournament, Toledo St. John’s headed north to Traverse City, MI for the Scott Miller Invitational – a tournament that featured some of the top high school teams in Michigan.

The Titans, ranked #5 in this week’s Ohio High School Hockey Coach’s Poll, mounted a big comeback in the opening game and rode that momentum to a second-place finish in the tournament. 

St. John’s head coach Matt Bollinger said the level of competition in Traverse City was on par with the field at Padua the weekend before.

Salem and Saginaw Heritage are two of the top three teams in Division I and Traverse City Central was undefeated and ranked 6th in Division II heading into the event.

“The top line from Saginaw Heritage is likely the most talented line we've played against all year,” Bollinger said.

The Titans dug themselves a massive five-goal hole in their opener against Traverse City Central but made a miraculous comeback to stay in the winners bracket.

“The 5-0 hole that we had to climb out of against TCC was self-inflicted,” said Bollinger.  “We feel that we gave them more than they earned in that opening period but it teaches us that we have to play the right way, right away, and that we have the ability to overcome some real adversity.”

The Titans have a pair of four-point league games coming up against Anthony Wayne and Perrysburg this weekend.  The Generals and Yellow Jackets moved up to the Red Division of the Northwest Hockey Conference this season.

“This will be our first time playing either team and they're both playing some good hockey right now so we'll need to be good from the start,” said Bollinger.

After a two-week holiday schedule of tournament games and family time, it is time to get back to the grind of school, practice, and a grueling NHC regular season slate.

“Our guys should be rested and focused heading into an eight-point weekend,” said Bollinger.  “We'll practice today (Jan. 2) for the first time since December 19th, so we'll rely heavily on the positives and lessons picked up during tournament play over the last two weeks to provide us with some momentum.”

More news and notes in the NHC Weekly Update

--- Scott Harrington for Ohio Hockey Digest