The Inland Empire Tournament Series, created and hosted by the Jr. Reign, kicked off its 2022-23 season Sept. 2-5 with the Sun & Surf Labor Day Tournament at Icetown Carlsbad, Icetown Riverside, Ontario Center Ice and Toyota Arena.

A total of 14 teams brought home championship banners at the conclusion of the thrilling weekend.

8U B (Pool A)
Champion: Anaheim Jr. Ducks 8U B1
Runner-up: Empire Hockey Club
The Jr. Ducks brought the offense in a big win to take home the championship banner.

8U B (Pool B)
Champion: Anaheim Jr. Ducks 8U B4
Runner-up: Jr. Reign (Riverside)
More offense came from the Jr. Ducks in winning their second championship of the weekend.

8U B (Pool C)
Champion: Jr. Reign (Riverside)
Runner-up: Goldrush
The Jr. Reign and Goldrush combined for 19 goals, with the Jr. Reign coming out on top with a 12-7 championship victory.

8U A
Champion: Goldrush
Runner-up: California Golden Bears
Goldrush scored two goals in the third to take a thrilling 5-3 win over the Golden Bears in the title game.

10U A/BB
Champion: Empire Hockey Club
Runner-up: San Diego Saints
In one of the tightest championship games of the weekend, Empire defeated the Saints 2-1 to earn the banner.

10U A/BB
Champion: Las Vegas Storm 10U AA
Runner-up: Las Vegas Storm 10U A
Jack Heaton scored five goals and the Storm 10U AA team popped five goals in each period to secure the championship.

12U A/BB
Champion: Ventura Mariners
Runner-up: Jr. Reign
Christopher Deveau and Liam Rodrigues each scored twice, and Aiden Zellinger had a goal and an assist to lead the Mariners over the Jr. Reign, 6-1 in the title game. Joshua Guadorff and Crosby Dean added two assists each for Ventura.

12U B
Champion: Las Vegas Ice Warriors
Runner-up: Las Vegas Storm
Kian Barber’s third-period goal was the difference as the championship battle between two Vegas teams went to the Ice Warriors, who edged the Storm 3-2.

12U A
Champion: SB Ice Hawks
Runner-up: Empire Hockey Club
The Ice Hawks used a balanced offense and steady defense to claim the championship after collecting a 3-1 win over Empire in the title contest.

12U AA
Champion: Las Vegas Storm
Runner-up: California Golden Bears
Edgar Yanga scored the decisive goal in the shootout to lift the Storm over the Golden Bears in a phenomenal game, 3-2. Hunter Reid and Nolan Walsh also scored for the Storm, while Jonathan Agazaryan and Martin O’Sullivan netted markers for the Golden Bears.

14U A
Champion: Las Vegas Storm
Runner-up: Las Vegas Ice Warriors
Cayden Francis, Alex Brnilovich, and Ryan Rodriguez tallied for the Storm, who picked up the championship banner with a 3-1 win over the Ice Warriors. Lucas Nervegna added two assists for the Storm, and Ryan Troxell scored the lone goal for the Ice Warriors.

14U B
Champion: Las Vegas Ice Warriors
Runner-up: Orange County Hockey Club
Kevin Breyfogle, Arseni Barsan, Allessandro Sulto, and Tyler Pittinger scored for the Ice Warriors in a 4-1 win over OCHC to take home the championship banner. Benjamin Kellogg registered two assists for Vegas, while the lone OCHC goal came off the stick of Chase Robertson.

JV
Champion: SB Ice Hawks
Runner-up: Jr. Reign 16U
Calvin Frisell’s two goals and an assist paced the Ice Hawks’ attack in winning the championship after a 4-0 shutout over the Jr. Reign. Cade Moharram recorded a goal and two helpers and Ryder Horton added a goal with Everett Kuhm tacking on three assists.

Varsity
Champion: West Ranch Hockey Club
Runner-up: Anaheim Jr. Ducks
Five different players scored for West Ranch in a 5-3 win over the Jr. Ducks to cap the division championship. Ethan War had a goal and an assist, while Andrew Niner, Michael Irven, Nolan Luke Marchant, and Aidan Pierzchalski scored one each in the win. Derek Brock chipped in a pair of assists. For the Jr. Ducks, Kyle Noyes went for a goal and two assists and Maxwell Seymour scored twice.

The next IE Tournament Series event is the Fall Classic, which is scheduled for Nov. 25-27.

For more information or to register, visit www.jrreign.com/tournaments.

Photos/Action Shots Photography (www.facebook.com/actionshotsphotography, www.instagram.com/action_shots_photography)

— Matt Mackinder

(September 21, 2022)