Two teams made it through pool play undefeated in the 19-Under Girls USA Hockey National Tournament presented by Easton and McDonald’s. Assabet Valley took Pool A winning their three games. Assabet defeated Little Caesars, 4-2; Colorado Select, 4-3; and North Buffalo Bisons, 8-1.

One by one, as each Colorado girls team celebrated its Rocky Mountain District championship in the first weekend of March, the Colorado Select AAA 19-Under team watched with a little envy. Colorado’s 19-U team was district champion, but because it had no competitor, it got a free pass into the USA Hockey National Tournament presented by Easton and McDonald’s.It was a bittersweet way to get that far.

The defending national champion Chicago Mission 19-Under team has 10 players back from its 2008 title team. Most of the newcomers to the team competed for Team Illinois and advanced to the national tournament at the 16-U level a year ago.

The Los Angeles Selects 19-Under team braved the cold temperatures in Alaska to claim the Pacific District title and now set their sights on another cold climate and another championship in Rochester, N.Y.

Tyler Ruegsegger first started firing pucks at his kid sister in the garage of their home in Lakewood, Colo. A sixth round (166^th overall) selection of the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft, Tyler's shots helped set his younger sister Becca on a career path that includes backstopping the Shattuck-St. Mary’s 19-Under team at the upcoming USA Hockey National Tournament presented by Easton and McDonald’s.