The Inland Empire Tournament Series’ second event of the 2023-24 season, the IE Fall Classic, ran Nov. 24-26 with more than 50 teams competing at LA Kings Icetown Riverside, Icetown Carlsbad, Ontario Center Ice, and San Diego Ice Arena.

A total of 11 teams brought home championship banners at the conclusion of the exciting weekend.

8U A
Champion: Jr. Reign Riverside
Runner-up: Jr. Reign Carlsbad
This thriller between Jr. Reign teams ended up going to a shootout tied 8-8. The Riverside club won the game 9-8 after clinching the shootout.

8U B
Champion: Empire Hockey Club Black
Runner-up: San Diego Saints
Empire won the battle of high-powered offenses, bringing home the banner after an 8-5 win.

10U B
Champion: Las Vegas Ice Warriors
Runner-up: San Diego Jr. Gulls
Five different players scored for the Ice Warriors in the 5-1 win to secure the championship. Elijah Franco and Maverick Byers each had a goal and an assist and Kaleb Martens, Cole Ferderer and Apollo Fletcher scored one each. Brandon Zupan netted the lone goal for the Jr. Gulls.

10U A/BB
Champion: Tri Valley Blue Devils
Runner-up: Pasadena Maple Leafs
Tri Valley brought out the scorers and defeated Pasadena 8-2 to win the title.
Malcolm Glover had two goals and two assists in the win, Kenji MacDonald and Colin Cardillo each notched a goal and two assists, Damon Keyser and Luke Edwards added a goal and an assist each, Ethan Liu and Maxx Raser also scored, and Carson Kaplenko chipped in two assists. In goal, Rasmus Holmbaeck took the victory. Obiejando Boykins and Micah Song scored for Pasadena and Theodore Paquette Reza played strong in goal.

12U B/BB
Champion: Las Vegas Ice Warriors
Runner-up: SDIA Oilers
Joshua Kastner Liam recorded a goal and an assist as the Ice Warriors claimed the championship with a 4-2 victory. Raymond Armstrong, Garrett Meiers, and Corey Janecek also scored for the Ice Warriors and Jeremiah Castro Ivyn earned the win between the pipes. Trace Jonas and Zakkory Simpkins scored for SDIA, with Samuel Aubin getting the call in goal.

12U A/BB
Champion: Jr. Reign (pictured top)
Runner-up: Las Vegas Ice Warriors
The Jr. Reign was led by Spencer Wills’ two goals and an assist en route to a 4-1 win to bring home the banner. Isaiah Ignacio added a goal and an assist and Gavin Ordaz added a goal. Jayden Kenrier picked up the win in the Jr. Reign net. For the Ice Warriors, Adler Vanblaricum scored the lone goal and Harrison Angulo was sharp in goal.

14U A
Champion: Las Vegas Ice Warriors
Runner-up: AV Avalanche
Greyson Milton scored twice to lift the Ice Warriors to a 3-1 win and the title. Victor Caspary also found the back of the net and Aidan Scherr-Tefft was the winning goaltender. Gavin Grubert scored for the Avalanche and Landon Stoney fared well in goal.

14U B
Champion: Las Vegas Ice Warriors
Runner-up: Los Angeles Jr. Kings
Cash Johnson pitched the shutout and Kyle Diaz went for a goal and three assists in the 6-0 victory for the championship. Luke Burgoyne and Landon Cabral added a goal and an assist apiece, and Ethan Shohet, Brayden Schuebel and Nathan Ehlers all scored. For the Jr. Kings, Jeremy Glenn and Mia Raley shared time in the blue paint.

HIGH SCHOOL JV
Champion: Corona Norco Stingrays
Runner-up: Central Cathedral Jets
The Stingrays led from start to finish and skated away champs after a 9-2 win over the Jets. Adam Malinowski contributed two goals and two assists, Nathan Fanning registered two goals and an assist, Nathan Cano two goals, Hayden Delaney a goal and two assists, and Tristan Vorhees and William Barker also scored. Nicholas Matar chipped in two assists and Easton Lee collected the win between the pipes. Luke Ring and Declan Stapleton scored for the Jets and Leo Weismiller was busy in goal.

HIGH SCHOOL VARSITY SOUTH
Champion: Jr. Reign 16U AA
Runner-up: Las Vegas Ice Warriors
Daniel Nemecek popped three goals and guided the Jr. Reign to a 4-2 win to bring home the championship banner. Drake Dunphy added a goal, Markus Mineck tacked on two assists, and Matthew Day took the win in the Jr. Reign cage. For the Ice Warriors, Zachary Machado-Welch and Calvin Christensen scored and Ethan Erdman played well between the pipes.

HIGH SCHOOL VARSITY NORTH
Champion: Corona Norco Stingrays
Runner-up: Jr. Reign 18U AA
In a tight game, Jacob Velarde and Jeremiah Croley scored in the first period and the Stingrays held on to gain the title with a 2-1 win. Makai Collins turned in the winning performance in goal. Mason Java netted the lone Jr. Reign goal and Nicholai Rubio was stellar in net.

Registration is now open for the remaining 2023-24 Inland Empire Tournament Series events, including the MLK Challenge, which runs Jan. 12-15, and the Presidents Day Open, scheduled for Feb. 16-19.

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

Photos/Jr. Reign Hockey Club

— Matt Mackinder

(December 6, 2023)