TRAVERSE CITY — The Bay Reps, Titans and Trojans all took to the ice Thursday as the 2023 Scott Miller Memorial Holiday Hockey Invitational began at Centre Ice Arena.
Traverse City West improved to .500 with its second straight win, knocking off Saginaw Heritage in overtime by a 4-3 final. The Titans (5-5) trailed 3-2 going into the final period before George Guerin scored the equalizer to force extra time.
Jonah Starr lit the lamp in OT to get the victory and move the Titans along in the winner’s bracket of the annual post-Christmas tournament. Also getting goals in the win were Brady Lewis and Hudson Robertson. Alonso Ovaitt made 41 saves on 44 shots between the pipes.
The Titans will take on the Traverse City Bay Reps (9-2-1), who also picked up a first-day win in overtime, at 5:15 p.m. Thursday.
The Reps trailed by a goal, 2-1, going into the third against Toledo St. Francis. A clutch goal from Ethan Coleman knotted the score at 2-2 to send the game into OT, and then Coleman notched the overtime winner on an assist from Grant Lucas for the 3-2 victory.
Lucas scored the Reps’ other goal with assists from Larson Millar and Thomas Boynton-Fisher. Tyler Boynton Fisher made 36 saves in net.
With a win, either the Reps or the Titans will advance to the tournament’s championship game at 3:15 p.m. Friday. The loser plays in the consolation game at 1 p.m.
Traverse City Central fell to Rockford, 9-4. The Trojans will continue tournament play Thursday and Friday at Centre Ice.
BOYS HOOPS
Benzie Central 77
Fennville 41
UP NEXT: The Huskies (5-2) host Onekama on Jan. 5.
Boyne City 58
Ogemaw Heights 41
UP NEXT: The Ramblers (4-3) play in the Boyne City Tournament championship game Thursday.