A record-high 79 teams from Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Oregon, Texas, Alberta, British Columbia and Ontario, Canada, as well as Russia, converged on three Southern California rinks last weekend to compete in the seventh annual Los Angeles Jr. Kings-hosted Carmen Starr Memorial Day Classic, which ran from May 27-30.

Champions were crowned in 12 divisions: 2002 Elite (AK Blast); 2003 Elite (Langley Jr. Rivermen); 2003 AAA (Canwest Knights); 2004 Elite (Jr. Kings); 2004 AAA (Jr. Kings); 2005 Elite (Vancouver Warriors); 2006 Elite (California Patriots); 2006 AAA (Anaheim Jr. Ducks); 2007 Elite (Jr. Kings); 2007 AAA (Jr. Ducks); 2008 Elite (Jr. Rivermen); and 2009 Elite (Jr. Ducks).

“In short time this event has solidified itself as the premier spring showcase on the West Coast, and we expect it to become even bigger and better in the coming years,” said tournament director Brian McDonough. “There was plenty of great competition in every division this year, and that speaks volumes about the effort each player, coach, team manager and family put forth to make the weekend such a success. We want to thank them all for participating.”

Most Valuable Player awards were recognized in the 2002 through 08 divisions, with each receiving a gift card, compliments of HockeyMonkey: 2002 Elite (Hunter Strand, AK Blast); 2003 Elite (Adam Grenier, Langley Jr. Rivermen); 2003 AAA (Jacob Klassen, Canwest Knights); 2004 Elite (Jaden Lipinski, Jr. Kings); 2004 AAA (Dylan Cornforth, Jr. Kings); 2005 Elite (Jamison Sluys, Vancouver Warriors); 2006 Elite (Patrick Fortune, California Patriots); 2006 AAA (Oliver Clarke, Anaheim Jr. Ducks); 2007 Elite (Mason Fleece, Jr. Kings); 2007 AAA (Ethan Barela, Jr. Ducks) and 2008 Elite (Nate Ramos, Jr. Rivermen).

All division champions were also awarded a banner and trophy, and all players on the championship teams received medals. Players on the runner-up teams in each division also received medals.

This year’s Carmen Starr games were contested at Toyota Sports Center (El Segundo), The Rinks-Lakewood Ice (Lakewood) and KHS Ice Arena (Anaheim).

“We can’t thank enough the staffs at our satellite facilities, as well as all of our volunteers, for making this tournament the most successful in its short history,” McDonough added. “We’re lucky to have so many great, selfless people on our team to help make events of this scope hit on all cylinders.

“We also want to thank our restaurant partners – Kings Cove and Grimaldi’s Pizzeria – for their outstanding hospitality throughout the weekend.”

The Carmen Starr Memorial Day Classic is part of the Jr. Kings’ Tinseltown Tournament Series. Pre-registration is now open for the Series’ four 2016-17 events: the Labor Day Festival (Sept. 2-5); Thanksgiving Extravaganza (Nov. 24-27); Presidents’ Day Challenge (Feb. 17-20, 2017); and Carmen Starr Memorial Day Classic (May 26-29, 2017).

“We have an exciting 2016-17 tournament calendar lined up and are looking forward to hosting a lot of great programs from not only California, but across North America,” McDonough said. “Between our first-class home facility (Toyota Sports Center), proximity to LAX and the great competition we regularly attract, coupled with everything else the Los Angeles area has to offer away from the rink, our events are weekend destinations an entire family can enjoy.”

For more information and to pre-register for any or all four events, visit http://www.tinseltowntournamentseries.com.