Nine teams crowned division champions at Inland Empire Tournament Series’ Presidents’ Day Open

BY MATT MACKINDER

The Inland Empire Tournament Series, created and hosted by the Jr. Reign, continued its 2022-23 season Feb. 17-20 with the Presidents’ Day Open at Icetown Riverside and Ontario Center Ice.

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

8U South Champion: Jr. Reign RV2

Runner-up: Stockton Colts

The offense was out on full display for the Jr. Reign in bringing home the championship banner with a 12-5 win.

8U North Champion: Henderson Silver Knights

Runner-up: Jr. Reign RV2

Defense and scoring took the title for the Silver Knights in an 8-0 shutout to claim the championship.

10U South Champion: Jr. Reign Carlsbad

Runner-up: Mammoth Stars

In a tight game throughout, the Jr. Reign won the title with a 7-6 win, getting three goals in the third period to get the job done. Roman Cournoyer went for two goals and an assist, Sean McManus added two goals, and Kiril Ignatev, Sawyer Ormeno, and

Jaxson Jonas scored one each to back Elias MacDonald’s effort in goal. For the Stars, Noah Geffre scored four goals with an assist, and Grant Duff and Blaise Pondella chipped in goals.

10U North Champion: Stockton Colts

Runner-up: OCHC

Owen Colao tallied four goals and two assists for the Colts in the 7-1 victory. Dalton Lenhardt added two goals and two assists and Jeremy Mayes scored the other. Joshua Brown took the win in goal. For OCHC, Anthony Durka scored and Landon Miller was between the pipes.

12U South Champion: AV Avalanche

Runner-up: Jr. Reign Carlsbad

The Avalanche took the 7-3 win on the strength of a Zain Saleh hat trick and single goals from Mason Murphy, Lyric Taylor, Luke Thurston-Defelice, and Neo Kholev Mukhin. Mateo Erceg-Kopkind had a goal and an assist for the Jr. Reign, while Graam Lindsay and Brooks Arnold also tallied goals. Rocco Mascloveccio played well in goal.

12U North Champion: Goldrush BB Runnerup: Jr. Reign RV BB Timofey Purvins had three goals in a 4-3 win for the Goldrush. Adam Burke added a goal and an assist and Gavin Ramirez chipped in a pair of assists. Richard Whitehead scored two goals for the Jr. Reign and Oleksandr Kyrylenko added a goal with an assist.

14U Champion: SF Sabercats

Runner-up: Stockton Colts

Marc Borzoni and Ethan Ngo each scored twice in a 5-1 win for the Sabercats. Cooper Lewis added a goal and an assist and Trevor Luhning contributed three assists and David Cuperstein two helpers with Carlos Ayon taking the win in net. Donovan Soliven scored for the Colts and Miles Cooper was solid between the pipes.

JV

Champion: Bishop Broncos

Runner-up: Corona Norco Stingrays

Ryan Mojarro scored a pair of goals to pace the Broncos to a 4-2 win and the JV championship. Aden Arndal added a goal and an assist in the victory. For the Stingrays, Jason Beckman and Jacob Pacillas scored.

Varsity

Champion: Capistrano Coyotes

Runner-up: Stockton Colts

The Coyotes led from buzzer to buzzer and skated away with the title after a 6-0 shutout.

The next IE Tournament Series event is the Memorial Day Showdown, which is scheduled for May 26-29.

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

Scottsdale native, Bobcats grad Hastings commits to NCAA D-I Stonehill

The NAHL’s New Mexico Ice Wolves have announced that Top Prospects forward Hunter Hastings has committed to play NCAA Division I hockey for Stonehill College.

Hastings, 21, is in his fourth and final season playing junior hockey, two seasons of which have been spent in the NAHL. The Scottsdale native is currently tied for fourth in team scoring with 34 points (nine goals, 25 assists) in 50 games.

“I’m very excited to announce my commitment to play Division 1 College Hockey and further my education at Stonehill College! Thank you to my teammates, coaches, friends and family for helping me get to this point,” said Hastings on social media. Hastings was recently selected to and played in the 2023 NAHL Top Prospects Tournament for the South Division team where he had a goal and assist in two games played.

Hastings, who is also an NAPHL grad, made his NAHL debut with the Minnesota Wilderness during the 2020-21 season, appearing in 10 games and recording three points. During the 2017-18 season, Hastings played in the NAPHL for the Arizona Bobcats’ 16U team, where he recorded 27 points in 21 NAPHL games and also was selected to and played in the 2017-18 NAPHL 16U All-Star Game.