The Saint Louis University club hockey team didn’t win the four-team tournament it participated in last weekend. But it may have changed its season.

The Billikens finished second in the Catholic Invitational, winning two of three games, losing only to the eventual tournament-champion, Mercy Hearst. SLU led the tournament in scoring and gave away its sole loss due to a penalty-ridden second period. But more than final scores, the Billikens gained confidence.

“It was a perfect road trip,” said coach John Bosch.

The tournament’s unconventional structure may have helped. Teams were awarded two points for a victory and one point for winning a period. In the case of a tie in a particular period, each team garnered one-half of a point. Bosch said that format changes the way a team prepares for a game. And for SLU, that was a good thing.

“It keeps it a thinking game,” Bosch said. “Period by period. It makes sure the guys are thinking as more of a unit. It definitely was a positive; it brought the team together.”

The Billikens entered the tournament with a disappointing 1-5 record. They lost three of their first four games to the University of Illinois and then dropped a pair to the University of Wisconsin Whitewater.

SLU has lost twice by one goal and twice by two. The Billikens are scoring just over three goals a game, but are allowing just over four.

“We’ve been in every game,” Bosch said. “It’s a matter of one or two goals. The combination we need is improving goaltending and putting the offense together.”

The goaltending was improved last weekend. Bosch had been rotating keepers, but he decided to play freshman Casey Martin all three games of the tournament. It worked-Martin allowed just five goals.

“Both of our keepers had gotten off to bad starts,” Bosch said. “It was important to get confidence.”

Just like a season ago, it’s been Dan Chadakhatzian, Brian Elder and Daniel Gauthier pacing the Billikens offense. Elder was the tournament’s leading scorer, registering three goals and four assists in the three games. He has six goals and eight assists on the season, tying him with Chadakhatzian for the team lead in points, with 14. Chadakhatzian has nine goals and five assists.

But last season, the Billikens were dominating Division II club hockey. Now they’re in Division I, struggling for victories. Any regrets?

“It’s a pleasant surprise that the games have been close,” Bosch said. “They’re not blow outs, and that shows that we made the right move.

“It’s a challenge. Last year we waxed everyone. This year it’s tough.”