The Inland Empire Tournament Series’ third event of the 2023-24 season, the IE MLK Challenge, ran Jan. 12-15 with more than 70 teams competing at LA Kings Icetown Riverside and Ontario Center Ice.

A total of 13 teams brought home championship banners at the conclusion of the exciting weekend.

8U A East
Champion: San Diego Jr. Gulls
Runner-up: Los Angeles Jr. Kings
The Jr. Gulls scored often in bringing home the championship with a 13-5 win.

8U A West
Champion: Jr. Reign
Runner-up: Arizona Hockey Union Silver
In a tight title game, the Jr. Reign edged the AHU squad 4-3.

8U A South
Champion: Los Angeles Jr. Kings (Beaudoin)
Runner-up: Anaheim Jr. Ducks
Offense was the name of the game as the Jr. Kings picked up the championship win with an 11-8 win over their SoCal counterparts.

8U B East
Champion: Flagstaff Northstars
Runner-up: Las Vegas Ice Warriors
In a matchup of northern Arizona vs. Nevada, the Northstars came out on top 9-4 to secure the title.

8U B South
Champion: Arizona Hockey Union White
Runner-up: Jr. Reign
Goals were again aplenty as the Knights outscored the Jr. Reign 9-6 to bring home the championship banner.

8U B West
Champion: Arizona Hockey Union White
Runner-up: Anaheim Jr. Ducks
This competitive game went down to the wire, with the Union taking down the Jr. Ducks 4-3 for the title.

10U B
Champion: Arizona Hockey Union Silver
Runner-up: Anaheim Jr. Ducks
Kanoa Weir scored two goals and Connor Knowles and Luke Pelekoudas each had a goal and an assist as the Knights doubled up the Jr. Ducks 4-2 to claim the championship. Coleston Myers added two assists and Zacharia Diaz made 16 saves for the win in goal. Ryan Coulter recorded both goals for the Jr. Ducks and Albert Chavarria finished with 21 saves between the pipes.

10U A/BB
Champion: Jr. Reign Carlsbad
Runner-up: Empire Hockey Club
Jace Copple scored four goals and added an assist to pace the Jr. Reign to an 11-2 win for the championship. Sophia Weber and Hudson Jones each tacked on two goals with an assist, Preston Floss had a goal and an assist, and Camden Kobus and Kirill Ignatev scored one apiece. Nicholas Garland chipped in two assists and Raymond Doucette finished with 11 saves for the win in the crease. For Empire, Matias Silva had a goal and an assist and Wyatt Scogin scored. Carter Stevenson and Kodiak Brown combined on a 24-save performance in net.

12U A
Champion: Jr. Reign
Runner-up: Anaheim Jr. Ducks
The Jr. Reign took the 7-1 win on the strength of four goals and an assist from Spencer Wills. Gavin Ordaz went for two goals and an assist and Isaiah Ignacio added a goal to back Jayden Kehrier’s 13 saves in net. Drew Salazar scored the Jr. Ducks’ goal and Benton Sherrill finished with 25 saves in goal.

12U B/BB
Champion: Jr. Reign Riverside
Runner-up: Mammoth Stars
It was all offense for the Jr. Reign, who defeated the Stars 10-2 to secure the championship banner. Michael Herrera posted a hat trick, while Dominic Enea-Gonzalez netted a pair and Nathan Burton scored twice with a trio of helpers. Jacen Mower and Shikai Hong each had a goal and two assists, with Bentley Porche and Andrew Ito also scoring. For Mammoth, Noah Gaffre and Blaise Pondella found the back of the net.

14U A/B
Champion: Jr Reign Carlsbad
Runner-up: Empire Hockey Club
Brian Duffy’s hat trick lifted the Jr. Reign to a 6-2 win in the title game over the Empire Hockey Club. Isaias Torres added a goal and an assist, Sebastian Hernandez also scored, and Jayden Peterson finished with 18 stops for the victory in goal. Pine Wade added two assists. Seth Heinrich had a goal and an assist for Empire, Kyle Cantelletta also scored, and Simeon Gillett and Ethan Cantrell combined to make 24 saves in goal.

JV
Champion: Cherry Creek Bruins
Runner-up: Boise Premier Hockey
In a battle pitting a Colorado high school team against a squad from Idaho, the Bruins downed Boise 3-2 in a shootout. to bring home the banner. Brozek Bulatovic and Ilias Kalergis both went for a goal and assist for the Bruins. For Boise, Preston Graves had a goal and a helper and Jayce Rogers also scored.

Varsity
Champion: Jr. Reign 18U AA
Runner-up: Heritage Eagles
This close contest saw the Jr. Reign edge the Eagles 2-1 in overtime for the championship. Troy Smith posted the game-winning goal, while Jeremy Loosmore scored in regulation. Kyle Gassman scored for the Eagles, another high school team from Colorado.

Registration is now open for the final 2023-24 Inland Empire Tournament Series event, the Presidents Day Open, which runs Feb. 16-19.

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

For spring season events, visit Monarchy Hockey at www.monarchyicehockey.com/tournaments.

Photos/Jr. Reign Hockey Club

— Matt Mackinder

(January 24, 2024)