The Inland Empire Tournament Series kicked off the 2023-24 season Sept. 1-4 with 70 teams competing at the Sun and Surf Labor Day Tournament at Ontario Center Ice.

A total of 15 teams brought home championship banners at the conclusion of the exciting weekend.

8U A
Champion: Goldrush A1
Runner-up: Anaheim Jr. Ducks A
The Goldrush team brought home the banner with a 4-1 win over the Jr. Ducks.

8U B East
Champion: Bakersfield Jr. Condors
Runner-up: Anaheim Jr. Ducks
This game was all offense as the Condors won it all with a 13-9 win over the Jr. Ducks in the title game.

8U B North
Champion: Empire Hockey Club
Runner-up: Anaheim Jr. Ducks
Empire was crowned champs with a 15-9 offensive barrage over the Jr. Ducks.

8U B South
Champion: Empire Hockey Club
Runner-up: Anaheim Jr. Ducks
Offense was the name of the game here as Empire picked up the championship by downing the Jr. Ducks by a 13-6 count.

10U A
Champion: Empire Hockey Club
Rubber-up: Ventura Mariners
In a tight game, Empire secured the championship with a thrilling 5-4 overtime win over the Mariners as Odell Jackson completed the hat trick for the winner.

10U B
Champion: Santa Clarita Flyers
Runner-up: Jr. Reign
The Flyers defeated the Jr. Reign 5-3 on the strength of two goals from James Szajiner. Emersyn Glines posted a goal and an assist for the Jr. Reign.

12U A
Champion: Jr. Reign Riverside
Runner-up: Jr. Reign Carlsbad
This battle of Jr. Reign teams went to the Riverside club in an 8-0 win over the Carlsbad team in the championship final. Jayden Kehrier earned the shutout in net and Spencer Wills registered a hat trick in the win.

12U AA
Champion: Los Angeles Jr. Kings 2012
Runner-up: Bakersfield Jr. Condors
Jack Leibowitz’s hat trick powered the Jr. Kings to the title in a 5-3 win. Liam Melinko scored two goals as well in the win and Gavin Reskey made 14 saves in net to pick up the victory. For the Jr. Condors, Liam Wilsey scored twice.

12U B/BB
Champion: Bakersfield Jr. Condors (pictured at top)
Runner-up: Jr. Reign Riverside
The Jr. Condors doubled up the Jr. Reign 4-2 as Luke Blattenberg scored the last two goals for Bakersfield. Nick Spinelli added a goal and an assist in the win. Brayden Natividad and Bentley Porche scored for the Jr. Reign.

14U A
Champion: Goldrush
Runner-up: Jr. Reign Carlsbad
Gregory Harris stopped all 14 shots he faced as the Goldrush secured the banner with a 2-0 win over the Jr. Reign. Blake Lagestee and Logan Alsing scored for the Goldrush. Jayden Peterson made 19 saves between the pipes for the Jr. Reign.

14U AA
Champion: Anaheim Jr. Ducks
Runner-up: Bakersfield Jr. Condors
Five different players scored for the Jr. Ducks in a 5-2 win over the Jr. Condors in the title game. Gunnar Turner and Wes Waites each posted a goal with an assist and Chase Romero notched the win in goal. Tyler Racette made 10 saves in goal for Bakersfield.

14U B
Champion: Ventura Mariners
Runner-up: Santa Clarita Flyers
In a close contest, the Mariners took this one in overtime by a 4-3 count. Gavin Campbell’s second goal of the game win it for the Mariners. Christopher Deveau added a goal plus a helper in the win. Mason Mills contributed a goal and an assist for the Flyers.

JV East
Champion: Rose City Pats
Runner-up: Jr. Reign Vychodil
For the Pats, scoring was spread out as seven different players found the back of the net in the 7-2 win in the championship game. Jordan Marquez picked up a goal and two assists, Patrick Durka and Ethan Foster a goal and an assist, Sarkis Zhamkochyan three assists, and Dylan Hazuka a pair of assists. Finn Moision finished 17 saves in goal. For the Jr. Reign, Markus Mineck and Travis Holmes scored, and Matthew Day made 31 saves in goal.

JV West
Champion: West Ranch
Runner-up: Las Vegas Ice Warriors
Dominic Caglia was a rock in net for West Ranch, making 19 saves in a 5-0 shutout over the Ice Warriors to claim the championship.

Varsity
Champion: Anaheim Jr. Ducks
Runner-up: Rose City Pats
Chase MacArthur’s two goals lifted the Jr. Ducks over Rose City, 3-1. Jackson Courtier made 19 saves for the win in net. Kamil Ibashev potted the Pats’ goal and Eric Vargas made 26 saves between the pipes.

Registration is now open for the remaining 2023-24 Inland Empire Tournament Series events, including the IE Fall Classic, which runs Nov. 24-26. The event is hosting divisions in Riverside/Ontario as well as Carlsbad/San Diego, is one of the biggest IE events of the year, and is already nearly full.

Visit www.jrreign.com/tournaments for more information and to register today.

Photos/Jr. Reign Hockey Club

— Matt Mackinder

(September 12, 2023)