JV Wins the Championship!

After a very long and competitive season, the IEU Wolverines have successfully completed their championship run with a 4-2 over the Edison Chargers! What a fantastic job this team did, and it couldn't have been done without the dedication and teamwork from this team.

In a historic moment, this is the organizations very first championship banner. After years and years of coming close, it was this team that proved the Wolverines are a winning organization and a competitive culture. Cherish the moment together as you all deserved it!

Setting the standard moving forward, the Wolverines will look to defend their title year after year. Looking ahead, you can register for our spring program to continue playing together and to prep to defend the title next season!

After a successful 2023-2024 regular season, the Inland Empire United JV (Wolverines Junior Varsity) had a victorious 2023-2024 playoff run after defeating Damien JV, Corona Norco JV, and Edison JV in order to win the Lincoln Conference Final and the Junior Varsity Final.

Semifinals | Saturday, February 24, 2024 | Inland Empire United JV 2, Damien JV 0

Inland Empire United JV (Wolverines Junior Varsity) faced Damien JV at Anaheim ICE NHL Rink and won with a final score of 2-0.

Wolverines Junior Varsity shut out Damien JV 2-0 with goaltender Gavin Detert holding down the fort and not letting any of Damien JV’s 17 total shots on goal into the back of the net. Keanu Gonzales, Damien JV’s goaltender, saved 13 out of 15 total shots by the end of the game.

There were no goals recorded during the first or second period. Two penalties were called in the first period with each team receiving an interference penalty. Three penalties were called during the second period. Two roughing penalties and one interference penalty was called on the Wolverines Junior Varsity. Damien JV were unable to capitalize on any of the three power play opportunities during the scoreless second period. By the end of the second period, there were a total of 11 shots on goal by Damein JV; 5 shots on goal during the first period and 6 shots on goal during the second period. Wolverines Junior Varsity had a total of 7 shots on goal by the end of the second period; 3 shots on goal during the first period and 4 shots on goal during the second period.

Wolverines Junior Varsity’s Larry Desaulniers scored the first goal of the game during the third period at 11:41. This goal was assisted by Nathan Olive and Nathan Henriquez and made the score 1-0 in the Wolverines Junior Varsity’s favor. With 24 seconds left in the third period, Nathan Olive scored an empty-net goal, assisted by Justin Bourland, and secured the 2-0 win. Only one penalty was called during the third period on Damien JV for too many players on the ice, however, Wolverines Junior Varsity was unable to score on this power play opportunity. Damien JV had 6 shots on goal while Wolverines Junior Varsity had 8 shots on goal by the end of the third period.

The Wolverines Junior Varsity moved on to the Lincoln Conference after a thrilling semifinals which ended with an impressive 2-0 shutout. Their Lincoln Conference Final matchup was scheduled on Friday, March 1, 2024 at 6:30 PM PST against Corona Norco JV and was located at Great Park Ice & FivePoint Arena Rink #4. Both teams went into the matchup with a record of 1-0-0 which made for an intense 23-24 playoff game.

Lincoln Conference Final | Friday, March 1, 2024 | Inland Empire United JV 5, Corona Norco JV 2

Inland Empire United JV (Wolverines Junior Varsity) faced Corona Norco JV at Great Park Ice & FivePoint Arena Rink #4 and won with a final score of 5-2.

Wolverines Junior Varsity won the Lincoln Conference Final after they scored a total of 5 goals and their goaltender, Gavin Detert, saved 22 out of 24 Corona Norco JV's shots on goal. Corona Norco JV fell short despite their goaltender, Easton Lee, saving a total of 24 out of 29 Wolverines Junior Varsity’s shots on goal.

Wolverines Junior Varsity was on the board first after Justin Bourland scored a goal which was assisted by Olive and Desaulniers at 09:21 and made the score 1-0. Corona Norco JV received a penalty for high sticking at 07:24 which put the Wolverines Junior Varsity on the power play. With the man-advantage, Desaulniers scored a power play goal, assisted by Olive and Deboer, which extended Wolverines Junior Varsity’s lead to 2-0. Corona Norco JV was able to answer back and make it a one-goal game after scoring a power play goal at 02:03 after Wolverines Junior Varsity received a high sticking penalty (2-1). The third period closed out with Wolverines Junior Varsity receiving a cross-checking penalty at 01:30 which put Corona Norco JV on the power play once again which was unsuccessful. By the end of the first period, the score was 2-1 in Wolverines Junior Varsity’s favor. Corona Norco JV had 7 shots on goal and Wolverines Junior Varsity had 10 shots on goal.

The second period remained relatively quiet until Corona Norco JV tied the game after they scored an unassisted power play goal at 03:49 (2-2). Two penalties were called during the second period with each team receiving a penalty each. The first penalty was called on Wolverines Junior Varsity for elbowing and the second penalty was called on Corona Norco JV for tripping. Both teams had 7 shots on goal and the period ended with a score of 2-2.

Wolverines Junior Varsity took control of the third period as they scored 3 goals before the game ended. Although they did not score on their power play opportunity after Corona Norco JV received a roughing penalty, this did not stop Wolverines Junior Varsity from breaking the tie and extending the lead by three-goals. The first goal of the third period which broke the tie and momentarily made it a one-goal game was scored by Wolverines Junior Varsity’s Evan Lynch and assisted by Rivers Chapperosa at 09:40 (3-2). Trevor Piatkowski scored an unassisted goal 10 seconds later and further extended the Wolverines Junior Varsity’s lead (4-2). Lynch scored an emptynet goal with 1 second left of the third period which ended the period with a final score of 5-2 in the Wolverines Junior Varsity’s favor. Corona Norco JV’s goaltender, Easton Lee, saved 11 out of 14 shots on goal while Wolverines Junior Varsity’s Detert saved all 10 shots on goal by the end of the period.

The Lincoln Conference Final had a great start and finish for the Wolverines Junior Varsity. Despite facing challenges during the first period and second period, the Wolverines Junior Varsity’s persistence and determination drove the team to a victorious win. The team’s collective effort throughout the whole game and Detert’s resilience in the net during the third period was commendable.

The Inland Empire United JV (Wolverines Junior Varsity) was named the 2023-2024 Lincoln Conference Champions by the end of this game.

This determination and resilience would be the driving force in the Junior Varsity Final which was scheduled on Saturday, March 2, 2024 at 7:00 PM PST against Edison JV and located at Great Park Ice & FivePoint Arena Rink #4. Wolverines Junior Varsity went into the matchup with a record of 2-0-0 and Edison JV went in with a 3-0-0 record which made for another high-stakes 2023-2024 playoff final.

Junior Varsity Final | Saturday, March 2, 2024 | Inland Empire United JV 4, Edison JV 2

Inland Empire United JV (Wolverines Junior Varsity) faced Edison JV in the Junior Varsity Final which was located at Great Park Ice & FivePoint Arena Rink #4 and won with a final score of 4-2.

Wolverines Junior Varsity triumphantly won the Junior Varsity Final after scoring a total of 4 goals and having their goaltender, Gavin Detert, in the net. Detert saved 11 out of 13 shots on goal by the end of the game while Edison JV’s goaltenders saved a total of 24 out of 28 shots on goal.

The Wolverines Junior Varsity striked first at 09:19 with a goal scored by Olive which was assisted by Henriquez and made the score 1-0. Olive would continue the Wolverines Junior Varsity’s momentum with an unassisted goal at 04:24 and made it a two-goal game (2-0). Joshua Herrera closed out the first period with another Wolverines Junior Varsity goal, assisted by Matthew Castillo, with 14 seconds left of the period. Herrera’s goal ended the period with a score of 3-0. The first period was a disciplined period as neither team received a penalty. Wolverines Junior Varsity had total control over the first period as they had 10 shots on goal while Edison JV ended the first period with 1 shot on goal.

Edison JV opened up and took control of the second period as they scored their first goal of the Junior Varsity Final at 07:49 and made it a two-goal game (3-1). This goal was left unanswered and Edison JV scored again at 06:17 and cut the deficit to one-goal. The second period ended with a score of 3-2 and two penalties received. Each team received a penalty during the period; Wolverines Junior Varsity received a roughing penalty and Edison JV received a tripping penalty. The Wolverines Junior Varsity had 10 shots on goal and Edison JV had 5 shots on goal by the end of the second period.

Tempers flared during the third period however, that did not stop Wolverines Junior Varsity from extending their lead. Olive scored an unassisted, shorthanded empty net goal at 01:25 and made the final score 4-2. Olive’s goal also completed his first hat-trick of the 23-24 playoffs. Shots on goal by the end of third period were relatively close as Wolverines Junior Varsity had 8 shots on goal and Edison JV had 7 shots on goal.

The Inland Empire United JV (Wolverines Junior Varsity) was named the 2023-2024 Junior Varsity Champions.

The players who stood out during the Wolverines Junior Varsity’s playoff run included Nathan Olive and Gavin Detert.

Nathan Olive, Wolverines Junior Varsity forward, had a total of 7 points by the end of the playoffs which consisted of 4 goals and 3 assists. He also recorded an impressive hat-trick during the Junior Varsity Final against Edison JV.
Gavin Detert, Wolverines Junior Varsity goaltender, had a save percentage (SV%) of 0.926 and goal against average (GAA) of 1.51 after facing a total of 54 shots in all 3 playoff games and 135 minutes played.

This determination, resilience, and hunger to win was the driving force throughout the playoffs and resulted with the team being the Junior Varsity Champions. The 2023-2024 regular season and playoffs was memorable and one that the team should be proud of as they pushed through any hardships that came their way and always came back stronger than ever to end on a high note.