A trio of Irvine Ice Foundation teams captured Tier I CAHA State championships and a fourth earned a berth at Pacific Districts on Jan. 31 and Feb. 1 at Great Park ICE and Fivepoint Arena in Irvine. 

The Jr. Ducks 18U and Lady Ducks 19U and 16U teams lifted CAHA banners on home ice, and the 16U AA team reached the final and also earned a district berth. In addition, the 19U's clinched a USA Hockey Nationals berth because the tournament served as both a state and Pacific District competition between them and the San Jose Jr. Sharks. 

The Jr. Ducks 18U team swept the Los Angeles Jr. Kings in two games, 4-0 and 7-0, to earn a district berth for the 11th consecutive year.

Goaltenders Parker Kellersberger and Aidan McKerron each had a shutout for the shorthanded Jr. Ducks, who were without four injured regulars and had two other players in the lineup who were battling injuries. 

"Our two goalies are a big reason why we've been so successful," said coach August Aiken. "That and our team speed have been big strengths from the back end to the forwards. We can create pressure and push the pace, and we were able to do that this weekend."

Aiken's team, which is predominantly first-year 18s, has battled the injury bug all season. The coach has had a full lineup in just four of 44 games. 

"It's been one of those years, but our players have persevered and supported each other," he said. 

Fortunately, they have a some time to heal before districts, which are Feb. 26-March 31 in San Jose. The18U's will be joined by the 16U, 15O and 14U teams in search of USA Hockey Nationals berths.

The Lady Ducks 19U's overcame an opening 2-1 loss to the San Jose Jr. Sharks to defeat their NorCal rivals twice in knockout games. The LDs won Game 2 3-2 in overtime on Elle Gasseau's goal off a rush with Alicia Gomez. They beat the Jr. Sharks 3-1 in deciding third game on the strength Sayg Morton's standout game in net.

"Every single player  wanted it," coach Lilli Marchant said. "Our defensive-mindedness and our goalie were the difference. Sayg stood on her head."

The weekend comeback was doubly important because not only did the LDs win a state championship but a Pacific District title as well. That clinched a return trip to the USA Hockey Nationals because they and the Jr. Sharks are the only two 19U AAA programs in the district this season. 

"This weekend, I noticed a huge shift in the girls," Marchant said. "They knew they were playing for both state and district championships.

"After the first game was a huge turning point for the girls. They knew every game was a must-win after that. Their mindset and preparation was such that they wanted to win, and they said, 'We can do this.'"

The 16U's took a similar path, shutting out the Jr. Sharks 2-0 in the final after falling to the Sharks 8-4 in their opener. In between, the LDs defeated the LA Lions 3-1.

"It was a battle," coach Keely Moy said. "Some of our players have not been in big games, so that first game was a good lesson. Credit the girls, they fought hard. I'm super proud of their effort, and they deserved to win that title."

The keys for the 16U's, as they have been all season, were contributions from the entire team and stellar play from goaltender Tara Milhorn, who capped the weekend with a shutout. 

"So many contributed, and it takes a solid goalie to win at this time of year," Moy said. "Everyone we needed to step up, stepped up. If we don't have three lines contribute, we're going to struggle. Everyone has to show up, and they did in those last two games."

The 16U AAA and 16U AA teams will head to Anchorage, Alaska, on Feb. 19-22, for districts.

The Lady Ducks 16U AA team reached the championship game after twice battling back from losses to earn one-goal wins over Vacaville, the second in a shootout to clinch the spot in the final.