UPDATE: Xtreme Starts 2-0 in Ashburn Tournament

UPDATE MARCH 30: The Ashburn Xtreme U12 hockey team continued its winning ways with a 17-0 win over the Pawtucket/Providence Bear Pirates. The Xtreme, which has outscored its opponents 29-2 in the first two games plays again today at 3:30 p.m. in Ashburn. Today the team faces the Charlotte Jr. Checkers, which are also 2-0 in the tournament, outscoring opponents 10-4. Good luck Xtreme!

Initial story:

The Ashburn Xtreme 12U hockey team defeated the Utah Jr. Grizzlies 12-2 in the first round of the USA Hockey 12 & Under Tier II National Championships at the and . The tournament continues through April 1.

The Xtreme, the Reston Raiders and the Montgomery (Maryland) Blue Devils are the local teams vying against 35 other teams with the best 11- and 12-year-old hockey players from across the country to be named champion.

Teams qualified by having winning their respective league and state championships, or qualifying tournaments. The 38 teams have been divided into three conference groups based on geographic location. The teams will play “across the board” to avoid facing the same teams they normally encounter.

The Xtreme won its preliminary round game Wednesday and plays today, March 29, at 1:45 p.m. at the Ashburn Ice House (Ashburn East). The team plays again at the Ice House (Ashburn East) at 3:30 p.m. Friday, March 30.

In the first round, several players scored goals or assists, with Chace Shepard and Chad Musa each grapping 3 goals, and Michael Miller and Dylan Brink each landing 3 assists. Shepard also had an assist, while also scored a goal. Andrew Lorinchak scored 2 goals and helped with 2 assists, while Mitchell Rebholz knocked 2 in the net and helped on an assist. Hunter LeClair scored a goal and had 2 assists, while Andrew Fiedler, Carl Joseph Kline and Nicholas Ryerse each had an assist.

Hockey fans who can’t make the home team’s games can find the schedule for all games at the USA Hockey website. Ashburn is in the 2A grouping.

The quarterfinal (in Ashburn) and semifinal (in Reston) games follow on Saturday, March 31, with the championship games set for Sunday, April 1, in Ashburn.

While Ashburn received an automatic berth as the official host team, the Xtreme 99 Pee Wee squad is well deserving of the honor, having compiled a 23-1 mark during the 2011-12 Chesapeake Bay Hockey League (CBHL) regular season and playoffs, including a two-game sweep at the Virginia State Championships (7-0, 13-3) over local rivals Reston, who will represent Virginia as the state runners-up. Montgomery, meanwhile, captured the Maryland State Championships and their entry into Nationals by sweeping the Howard Huskies (4-3 and 8-1).

All games are open to the public. Tickets are available for purchase at both rinks throughout the course of the five-day tournament. Weeklong tournament passes cost $35 (ages 13 and older) or $25 (kids ages 5 to 12).  Single day passes are $15 (ages 13 and older) and $7 (kids ages 5 to 12). Admission is free for children ages four and under.  For more information on the USA Hockey National Championships, please visit www.usahockey.com or contact Brian Bishop at 703-533-4830 or brian.bishop@aboutbwf.com.