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A Step aHead ~ Last Call!
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Hurry! Registration closes Saturday, November 30, 2013. The 1000th player to register could win a signed Patrick Kane puck.
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Official Media
Partner of AHAI
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QUESTION:
What is the difference is between the Rules and Ethics Committee and the Suspension Review Committee?
ANSWER:
The Rules and Ethics Committee, or R&E as it is known, handle "off-ice issues", while the Suspension Review Committee handles "on-ice issues".
Rules and Ethics' off-ice issues are usually about the protection of our players, officials, coaches and fans. They are generally administrative issues, for example, coaches or clubs not following rules, roster eligibility or Zero Tolerance issues (fans or parents that do not behave themselves). In the end R&E is trying to get people to behave themselves in an appropriate and responsible manner. You can read more in our USA Hockey Safe Sport manual.
Suspension Review Committee or SRC deals with on-ice issues of the players, coaches and officials; specifically the protection of our players. The objective is to correct the behavior of players, coaches and officials during games and ensure proper enforcement of USA Hockey and AHAI rules that will protect other players from the dangerous actions of a few that may cause injury to another player.
READ MORE
Editor's Note: Readers may email any questions to Ask AHAI
to be answered in future issues.
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QUESTION:
USA Hockey has informed me that my Level 3 will expire on December 31st and that I have already re-certified my Level 3 online twice and therefore not eligible to do so again. I must take a Level 4 clinic. I don't see any Level 4 clinics scheduled in Illinois before December 31st.
ANSWER:
Level 4 CEP Clinics are only conducted by the USA Hockey District Coach-in-Chief. Illinois is in the Central District of USA Hockey. With 6 states in this District, Illinois usually gets a Level 4 clinic every other year. As Illinois hosted a Level 4 in November of 2012, we are not scheduled to host again until the Fall of 2014. The Level 4 CEP clinic is a 2 to 3 day program scheduled on a weekend. Click HERE to look on the USA Hockey website; use the Search Engine tool to locate any Level 4 clinics remaining on the schedule.
Editor's Note: Readers may email any questions to
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December Mite Jamboree
Host Sites Needed!
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 The second AHAI Mite Jamboree will be held December 21-22 at various rinks around the area. Rinks, clubs and/or associations interested in hosting a jamboree this weekend should contact Scott Larsen, NIHL Mite Division Director. NIHL has graciously taken the lead in organizing these events and AHAI has sponsored them by covering ice costs for host sites. Host sites will need 4-5 hours of ice for the event. It is a fun event and a great time is had by all!
 AHAI's Media Partner, NoozeBox.com will be on hand at one of our Host Sites...it could be YOU! Click HERE to view October Mite Jamboree Video.
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Win, lose, or tie, even with the fiercest rivalries, hockey families share a common bond - the love of the game. Hockey families have always come together to support each other in tough times. Recent storms in Central Illinois around the Peoria area have left several hockey families homeless. The Peoria Youth Hockey Association (PYHA) is asking the hockey community for its support during this difficult time. Please join us in helping the hockey families in our area who lost or had their homes severely damaged.
MORE INFORMATION
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Give Back During the Holiday Season
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What Is Your Club Doing to Give Back During the Holiday Season?
AHAI's media partner NoozeBox.com is looking to feature clubs and teams that are giving back to their communities this holiday season. Email kbuer@noozebox.com with the details of your volunteer activity including the date, time and location, as well as your contact information, and NoozeBox cameras might be there to create a video for the AHAI Newsletter!
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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 and a 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.
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All 2013-14 NIHL players are encouraged to participate in this season's "Academic Excellence" Program.
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Become a Reality TV Star!
Okay...It's Really an AHAI Feature Video by NoozeBox.com
Do you know a hockey family that would be worthy of a reality show? AHAI's media partner NoozeBox.com is looking to capture the real-life drama of getting multiple kids to various rinks, tournaments, games and practices. If you or someone you know hustles to get a busy family to every puck drop - nominate them to be part of a fun documentary shoot for a video feature in the AHAI Newsletter. Email kbuer@noozebox.com with a few sentences on why a family you know would be perfect for this video feature.
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I Ain't Misbehaving....
The Difference Between a Misconduct and a Game Misconduct
Have you seen a player or coach receive a Game Misconduct penalty? Do you know what that means? A misconduct penalty means the removal of a player (player only, not a coach) from the game for 10 Minutes. A game Misconduct penalty means the removal of a player or coach for the remainder of the game and at least one additional game. Let's talk about a Misconduct penalty first. Misconduct penalties usually come in one of two ways. First, an outright Misconduct (a player abuses an Official) or second, as an added penalty for various Rules infractions also popularly known as a 2 and 10.
READ MORE
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The Role of a Hockey Director (Even Though I'm Not One...)
By Tom Gullen, Superintendent of Facilities, Winnetka Park District
When John Dunne, President of AHAI, asked me to write this article I said I'd be happy to, BUT you do realize I am not a Hockey Director? He said, "Roll with it," so here I go. My actual title with The Winnetka Park District is Superintendent of Facilities, running and managing Golf, Tennis, Paddle, and Ice facilities. But what I also do is play a role with the Winnetka Hockey Club; coach, ice scheduler, tournament coordinator, and sort of the person who knows what needs to be done and when it needs to happen. D.J. LaVarre is our Hockey Director.
READ MORE
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Add a Newsletter Title to Your Legacy!
Winner Receives Signed Blackhawks Jersey - You Pick the Player!
 Help us name AHAI's e-Newsletter! We need a catchy name for our bi-weekly e-Newsletter and we are looking to our Illinois hockey community for creative ideas. See if you can add a newsletter title to your legacy! The winner will receive bragging rights AND a Blackhawks jersey signed by a current Blackhawks player of your choosing! Contest ends Monday, December 16, 2013. Winner will be announced in Issue 18 on Thursday, December 26, 2013. Good luck!
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Bench Management
It's a Crucial Part of the Game
 Legendary University of Wisconsin hockey coach, Badger Bob Johnson, said it best, "Coach on the bench not from the bench." Game management and bench management are part of a winning strategy for your team. From tasks as seemingly simple as how to conduct line changes, which coach mans which door to handling running clocks and which players to play are all part of game management. Who is responsible for what on your bench? Who handles injuries, match-ups, discipline, constructive criticism, and praise? As the head coach, it is your responsibility to organize your bench, organize your assistants, and organize your players. Beyond these more obvious management areas there are other more complex tasks the coach needs to deal with.
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Meet Sean Berens, Players' Category
Illinois Hockey Hall of Fame (IHHF) Inductee Series
Sean Berens, son of Ray and Joan, has been a part of Illinois hockey since the age of 3 when he put on his first pair of hockey skates. Instructed by his father Ray for most of his life, he began playing with the Northwest Chargers followed by Team Illinois and William Fremd High School. In this time Sean won 9 Illinois State Championship titles. He then made the move to the United States Hockey League (USHL), where he joined the Dubuque Fighting Saints and finished among the league leaders in points (3rd) in his first season. Sean went on to represent Illinois, playing twice for the US National teams in Switzerland and Japan. He received MVP honors in the gold medal game against Russia in the Pacific Cup final.
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Hockey Weekend Across America
Host Locations Needed for National Try Hockey For Free Day ~ March 1, 2014
Right on the heels of a successful event on November 2 in which 12,602 children tried hockey for the first time across the United States, including 200 new skaters in Illinois, USA Hockey and AHAI are pleased to announce Hockey Weekend Across America, presented by CCM. The event will be highlighted by a national Try Hockey For Free Day on Saturday, March 1st. This is a nationwide effort to capitalize on the excitement of the Olympic Winter Games and give local associations the opportunity to introduce new kids to youth hockey. You don't want to miss out!
The FIRST 500 associations to register as a host site will receive jerseys, giveaway items, marketing tools, USA Hockey sanctioning and much more. Click HERE to learn more/view FAQs. Thank you! ~ Michael Durkin, AHAI Membership Development Chairman
REGISTER AS A HOST LOCATION
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Last week AHAI launched the inaugural issue of "Just For Mites", a monthly newsletter that will cover all things Mites. Each month AHAI will provide in-depth coverage of mite hockey, both here and across the country. The focus on mite hockey is important to the strength and growth of the game of hockey in Illinois. It is the foundation for the many clubs, associations and rinks around the state. As U8 Mite hockey is the largest segment of skaters in the state, AHAI felt it was important to give the youngest of our skaters some additional attention and focus with specific news, events, and information covering this foundational age group. Look for information from around Illinois, across the country, coaches' tips and drills and contests for our young skaters. We hope you enjoy this newsletter and encourage those outside the mite community to sign-up to receive "Just For Mites"; we feel all can benefit from this information.
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Illinois GROW Hockey Summit Expands!
Woodfield Hyatt, Schaumburg, IL
In an effort to capitalize of the success of the Blackhawks winning the Stanley Cup last year and the upcoming Winter Olympics and Paralympics in Sochi, Russia, the Amateur Hockey Association of Illinois, Inc. (AHAI) recently hosted an Illinois GROW Hockey Summit at the Woodfield Hyatt in Schaumburg, Illinois. All of the major players involved in hockey in Illinois were invited to participate. They included representatives from USA Hockey, AHAI, the Chicago Blackhawks, the Chicago Wolves, the Chicago Steel and the Peoria Rivermen (the Rockford IceHogs were invited but declined to participate).
The purpose of the Summit was to review the past history of the growth of players joining our sport and the unique opportunity that exists this year coming off a Stanley Cup win and the upcoming Olympics to grow our sport by combining the forces of the hockey powers here in Illinois.
READ MORE
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Attention ALL Girls!
Central District Girls Tryout Weekend Announced
 The Central District will hold open tryouts for all Tier I, Tier II, Tier III and High School Girls on April 25-27, 2014 at Capitol Ice Arena in Middleton, Wisconsin. This tryout is for both the USA Hockey National Camp and the 2014 Central District Camp. If you have questions or need additional information, contact Mary Ann Robinson, Central District Girls'/Womens' Section Representative Director at wahadir@yahoo.com or call 920.758.3063 (home) or 920.242.1150 (cell). Look for more information in upcoming newsletters.
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2014 America's Showcase: HS Girls
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania ~ April 10-14
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Team Central ~ 2013 Champions
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The Central District will again participate in the America's Showcase in Pittsburgh, PA (2nd year for Girls' High School Teams). Sophomores, Juniors and Seniors that play High School Hockey in the Central District (Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and Wisconsin) are eligible to tryout. Additional information about the 2014 America's Showcase will be posted and emailed as it becomes available. For additional information and questions please contact Mary Ann Robinson at: wahadir@yahoo.com or call 920-758-3063 (home) 920-242-1150 (cell).
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4th Annual USAH Sled Hockey Classic
Chicago Blackhawks Sled Team Takes 6th
 The fourth annual USA Hockey Sled Classic, presented by the National Hockey League and hosted by the Pittsburgh Penguins, took place last weekend at CONSOL Energy Center, Robert Morris University Island Sports Center and Blade Runners Ice Complex in Pittsburgh, Pa. The field included a record 16 teams, each affiliated with an NHL club. The event is part of the third annual Come Play Hockey Month, a joint effort of USA Hockey and the NHL.
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