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Official Media
Partner of AHAI
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A Step aHead FREE
Registration NOW OPEN!
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Click HERE to register today!
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Facebook Contest Winner
Congratulations, John Urbik of Naperville! John won a pair of season tickets to the NIU Huskies Division II Hockey Games at Fox Valley Ice Arena.
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2013-14 CEP Clinic Schedule
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All coaches are required to be certified at the appropriate level for the upcoming season. All 2013-14 AHAI CEP Clinics are open for registration ONLY on the USA Hockey Website.
Click HERE for full listing of AHAI/USAH CEP Clinics Dates & Locations
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QUESTION:
I registered for an AHAI CEP Clinic, but now due to a family emergency, I must transfer to another clinic date. How do I get this done?
ANSWER:
The information is located on the USA Hockey website. Click HERE for instructions on how to transfer clinics or obtain a refund.
Editor's Note: Readers may email any questions to Ask the Coach to be answered in future issues.
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DEAR AHAI:
I am a new manager of a High School team and I heard there is a consequence for playing too many games either up or down. I don't want to make a mistake. Can you explain this to me and point me to the rule in the AHAI Guide?
DEAR MANAGER:
I am glad you asked that question. It is a question many have but few seem to ask. It is really pretty simple. There are basically 5 steps.
Rules & Regulations
Article I, Section C,
Items 11 and 12
1. Split or "Cut" the players into Varsity OR JV (mark all Varsity players with a "V") on their rosters.
2. Double roster the JV players you want to Varsity; freeze half of that Varsity roster.
3. Double roster the unfrozen Varsity to the JV team.
4. The JV doubled players can play 6 Varsity league games each.
a. If a JV player plays a 7th Varsity game - he is penalized - by not being able to play ANY more JV games (league, Exhibition or tournament) for the rest of the season.
b. He is eligible for Varsity state tournament.
c. He is NOT eligible for the JV state tournament.
5. The Varsity double rostered players can play 6 JV league games each.
a. If a Varsity player plays a 7th JV game - he is penalized by not being able to play ANY more Varsity games (league, Exhibition or tournament) for the rest of the season.
b. He is NOT eligible for the Varsity state tournament
c. Also he is NOT eligible for the JV state tournament.
This is why it is SO important that the coach and the team manager track each players double rostered games played. If they make a mistake or don't inform the player (and parents) of the consequence, it could disqualify the player and his team for the State Tournament. No one wants to see a mistake made. That is why AHAI's Registrar and the HS Committee Chairman continue to inform the Club Registrars and Presidents of this rule. There is an explanation of the "intent" of the rule in the policies section on the www.AHAI.org policies. I hope this is clear for you now and wish you and your players well this season. As always, ASK AHAI should you have any further questions.
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WIN A PAIR OF (QUITE IMPRESSIVE) BLACKHAWKS TICKETS
Become a Fan of AHAI's Facebook Page Today!
 Become a Fan of AHAI's Facebook Page and you will be entered to win a pair of tickets (5th row, lower level) to Game 10 - Hawks vs. Jets on Wednesday, November 6th at 7:00 p.m. Contest ends on Wednesday, October 30 at 11 p.m.
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Click HERE for Scheduled Panelists
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Chicago Area Moms Flock to the UC
A Step aHead's Mom's Night
On Wednesday, September 25, nearly 400 Hockey Moms from over 70 different AHAI Affiliate Organizations attended A Step aHead's "Mom's Night" at the United Center. AHAI's Official Media Partner, NoozeBox.com was on hand to interview Dr. Elizabeth Pieroth, Concussion Specialist to the Chicago Blackhawks, as well as capture our Hockey Moms' reactions to A Step aHead's inaugural Mom's Night at the United Center.
Click HERE to watch video Click HERE to view pictures on Facebook
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Understanding Mite Playing Rules
By Jim Clare, AHAI Mite Task Force Chairman
As the new season gets rolling there have been several questions raised to the mite task force and AHAI in reference to the new playing rules for mites (8U). USA Hockey and AHAI are implementing the American Development Model (ADM), and have been for several years. The ADM is a methodology of developing our players from Mites to Midgets based on the Long Term Athlete Development process, known as the LTAD. I encourage our readers to visit www.admkids.com to better understand what the ADM is all about. The AHAI newsletter will be running regular articles concerning the ADM.
One particular section of the ADM that is causing some confusion is the reduced playing surface rule, or cross-ice/half-ice. USA Hockey has reduced the playing surface for all 8U players across the country but has allowed for Affiliates to ask for an exception to this rule within certain boundaries. Only about 15 states asked for any type of exception, and in almost every case they asked that their 8U players be allowed to play 10 games of full-ice beginning after January 1, 2014. States like Massachusetts, New York and Michigan for example, were part of this group. Only AHAI received anything greater than 12 games. Only AHAI is allowed to play full-ice games as early as December 1, 2013. Please keep that in perspective as you try to better understand what we are allowed to do concerning mites in Illinois.
Click HERE for Explanation of Mite Playing Rules
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Why Do We Keep Talking About the "A Step aHead" Program?
Elizabeth M. Pieroth, PsyD, ABPP
 If you have read the AHAI newsletter for the past month or so you have seen numerous mentions of the joint initiative called A Step aHead. Yet, you may not fully understand why this program was started and why it is so important to the hockey community. Over the past 10-15 years there has been increasing focus on concussion in sports, but much of the attention has been on football. However, there is a high rate of concussions in hockey, particularly given the number of practices and games that occur over the lengthy hockey season. Unfortunately, hockey players are not provided with baseline neurocognitive testing at their schools because hockey is typically a club sport. This raises significant concerns that these athletes were not getting adequate education on concussions and may not be receiving optimal post-injury care. Neurocognitive testing is a component of concussion management as it provides objective data on post-concussion cognitive changes.
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Important Central District Girls/Women Hockey Dates
 October 15 Deadline for women's teams to declare for USA Hockey Nationals. Email team declaration to Mary Ann Robinson, USA Hockey Central District Girls Representative and copy Tom Hansen, Central District Registrar.
March 21-23 Central District Tier I & Tier II playoffs in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin to advance to USA Hockey Nationals
April 2-6 USA Hockey Nationals for Girls Tier I, Tier II and Adult Women A, B & C Divisions.
April 25-27 Central District tryouts for both USA Hockey Player Development Camp and Central District Development Camp in Madison, WI.
June 22-27
Central District Player Development Camp for birth year 2000, 1999, 1998 and 1997 in Green Bay, WI.
Questions and/or concerns? Contact Mary Ann Robinson, Central District Girls Representative at wahadir@yahoo.com or call 920.758.3063. |
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Cyclones vs. Airplane
Team Raises $1300 for Illinois Special Olympics
 On Saturday, September 21, the Cyclone Central States Bantam Major team participated in the Law Enforcement Torch Run Plane Pull benefiting Special Olympics Illinois at O'Hare field. Event organizer, Jami Breslin stated, "We all believe it is important that the kids understand the importance of giving back". The group exceeded their $1000 goal, raising over $1300! Breslin added, "It was great to see these boys bonding and hanging out, especially for a great cause. We exceeded our fundraising goal, which is wonderful!
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BMO Harris Bank Youth Hockey Player, Coach & Volunteer of the Month
 The Chicago Blackhawks and BMO Harris Bank are committed to honoring our hockey community by congratulating each month during the season, a: - Youth Hockey Player
- Amateur Hockey Coach
- Hockey Volunteer
Criteria is based on:
- Hockey Accomplishments
- Volunteer activities in the nominee's community
- Demonstrated passion, dedication and spirit through commitment to community
In determining the Youth Hockey Player of the Month, the judges will also consider the nominee's academic accomplishments and involvement with his/her school. Click HERE for official rules. Click HERE for nomination form.
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