AHAI has announced the Coaching Education Program Clinics for the 2013-14 season. All coaches are required to be certified at the appropriate level for the upcoming season.

All 2013-14 AHAI CEP Clinics will be open for registration on July 12, 2013 ONLY on the USA Hockey website. 

Click HERE for full listing of AHAI/USAH CEP Clinics 

Dates & Locations.

Mason has seen more than his fair share of coaches and systems. He has been able to execute his duties exactly as directed for every team he has played for. He is one of those guys that does not stand out, he just gets the job done, shift after shift, and night after night.

Hockey has taken a toll on Mason academically. He has been in nine different schools from the 6th grade until his graduation last year. Graduation was not easy, and he had to spend two summers at a community college to get it done. His overall high school GPA was 1.8. This season he was supposed to be preparing for the SAT, but instead he has enjoyed his first year off from academics.

 Click HERE to read full article.

Being a hockey mom is no small feat. It takes wisdom to know when to keep your mouth shut in the bleachers, and courage to speak up when needed. It takes patience when the kids are young and learning the sport. And it takes twice as much patience when kids are older and coaches don't play your child enough or the ref makes a bad call. It takes a listening ear when your child has had a bad game. And it takes a positive attitude when they've been cut from the rep team-again. It's summer and maybe your kids are having a break from hockey, and just maybe you're a "year-rounder" and are still at the rink even when it's summer. Whatever type of Hockey Mom you are, pat yourself on the back. Hockey Moms, you are doing a fabulous job! Click HERE for 10 reasons.

Well summer time is in full swing and for most hockey people, this means barbeques, swimming pools and Chicago Blackhawks Stanley Cup Championship reruns (maybe not so much for the Boston crowd on this one).

While the summer is underway, the Illinois Hockey Officials' Association (IHOA) seminar staff is busy at work preparing for the upcoming officials' seminar season. First year officials start as a Level 1 and may ultimately progress towards the highest level for officials - Level 4.

Did you know that USA Hockey officials must certify each and every year in order to continue officiating? Yep, that's right. All officials must attend a seminar every year and pass an open book exam through USA Hockey. Levels 2, 3 and 4 officials must also pass a closed book exam. Talk about dedication!

Every year, the IHOA staff and its certified instructors and assistants prepare for and instruct the USA Hockey mandated seminars. This year is certainly no different.

Starting August 1, 2013, any person interested in officiating, and all returning officials, may register for the IHOA seminars. The seminars are conducted throughout the State of Illinois and are level specific.

Each and every year, IHOA is seeking persons interested in becoming officials and there are no limitations to becoming an official other than the ability to skate and the desire to be involved in a great aspect of the game. New officials are male and female, young and beyond young. We see 14 year olds registering and we see 60 somethings registering and everything in between.

So, if you are interested in becoming an official, head to IHOA website and click on the registration link along the left hand side of the home page. All of the information regarding becoming an official and the registration process is listed on the IHOA web page.

Remember, the game cannot be played without officials and we encourage anyone who is interested to apply.

Enjoy the rest of the summer and hockey season is right around the corner!

Mike Barrett

Illinois Referee in Chief and

Supervisor of Officials

mbarrett@ahai2.org

After his senior year at New Trier High School, former Bay State Breakers goalie Greg Ogard was accepted to Denver University as a student. He even had academic scholarships to help him along the way. Ogard played a year for the Breakers in the former Eastern Junior Hockey League. Denver University is welcoming him into the hockey program as a recruited walk-on. Ogard represents the 13th Breakers goalie to move to the NCAA Division 1 ranks in the last 11 years. "I love the campus, I love the area, and the school is a good fit with what I want to do," said Ogard. "When the hockey part came along, I just knew it was the right choice." Ogard is joining a DU program that is going through a transition with a new head coach in Jim Montgomery, and joining a new league in the National Collegiate Hockey Conference. "For the most part, it's a role on the team this first year, and then we'll go from there and see what happens," said Ogard. "Any playing time I get I will have earned. I'm confident in my abilities and I think I'll be able to find my role there. It's going to be a step up from what I'm used to." Click HERE to read full article.

The Football Association in England recently exper-imented with adults playing on a pitch that was relative to kids playing on a full-size soccer field.  St. George's Park Football club created a pitch for adults that was the same scale as if the kids were playing on a regulation pitch.  The video demonstrates what children feel when they play on an adult sized pitch.  The participating coaches described their view of the game, the ability to make plays and the daunting task of playing on a field that is too large for them. We are not saying that soccer and hockey are the same thing, or that the experiences of all will mimic what you see here, but a little perspective is good.  Imagine if we doubled or tripled the size of the ice surface for the older skaters? How would it feel to have to skate 400 feet or take a shot from a blue line that is 120 feet from the goal?  How about a goalie covering a net that is 12 by 8 feet?  Other sports shrink their fields for their younger players (and no, the rules are not kept the same); those kids learn and develop quite well.  One of the greatest soccer countries in the world sees a benefit for their children (if you watch the video you will hear them talk about ball touches) and has made changes.  Take the time to learn more about the American Development Model (ADM) and what it is truly all about. 

Registration will open on Monday July 29, 2013, for the 9th Annual Labatt Blue USA Hockey Pond Hockey National Championships. Details regarding this year's registration process will be announced shortly. The 2014 event will take place Feb 7-9 and again be held on Dollar Lake in Eagle River, Wis.