Every young hockey player, from the time they strapped on a pair of skates and felt the breeze as they whisked down the ice for the very first time, has dreamed about standing on the blue line during the flag raising ceremony at an Olympic Gold Medal game as they play their country's national anthem. Very few have ever been able to realize that dream and have been able to feel the pride of representing their nation by winning that Gold Medal.

 

Brody Roybal, from Northlake, Illinois, will have that chance next March at the 2014 Winter Paralympic games in Sochi, Russia. As the youngest player ever to be selected to the United States Paralympic Sled team, and possibly the youngest ever chosen for any nation's Paralympic sled team, Brody's selection to the team did not come without a lot of hard work, sacrifice and dedication.

 

Brody was born without any legs . . . to make matters more difficult, he is unable to wear prostheses since he has no femur bones. This perfect abnormality hasn't stopped Brody from pursuing his dream - in fact it has empowered him. At the age of five his first attempt at sports was wheelchair basketball - a sport he tried and didn't like. He then tried horseback riding which also wasn't something that captured Brody's interest. Then, his parents Bob and Michele heard about sled hockey for kids with physical disabilities and they thought he should give it a try. That was all it took. He was directed by Patrick Byrne, a member of the 2002 United States gold medal sled team to go the Hornets Youth Sled team, a program available at no charge for any youngster with a physical disability who can propel himself or herself on a sled. 

 

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Editor's Note: Kevin McKee from RIC Blackhawks also made 2014 Sled Squad. Kevin, from Chicago, Illinois, will be featured in the next edition of the AHAI Newsletter.

When Jared Prince was given the task of writing an argumentative essay concerning a foundation he felt strongly about by his Health Teacher, Ali Peltz at South Elgin High School in South Elgin, IL, little did he know that his essay would reap more benefits than just a good grade. After reading all submitted essays, Peltz presented the top three essays to her 9th and 10th period health classes to vote on which most compelled them. Prince's essay, Tomahawks Special Hockey Foundation was deemed the winner and a week of raising awareness and fundraising for the Tomahawks with fellow students, family members and teachers ensued, culminating in a very nice donation to the Tomahawks.

 

The week of January 6, AHAI will be hosting a USA Hockey ADM Chicago World Tour. Modeled after similar events held in Boston, New York, and Michigan, USA Hockey's ADM Regional Managers and National Staff will be scattered throughout the Chicagoland area hosting informational meetings about the American Developmental Model (ADM) for Association Parents and Coaches. These sessions are designed to be both informative and conversational. 

 

USA Hockey will cover a myriad of topics from how the ADM is being rolled out and received around the country to how it applies at all levels, not just mites. Each night, we will host 3 to 4 different meetings throughout the area and attempt to reach 12-16 different locations during the week.  There will be raffles at each site and one grand prize winner for tickets to a Blackhawks game. Please stay tuned for additional information including dates and locations.  We hope you take this opportunity to listen, understand, and ask the questions you have concerning the ADM. The events in other states proved to be very valuable and informative to those who attended.

William Buddy Meyers, a principal owner of the Wolves who founded the franchise with Don Levin and Grant Mulvey in January 1994, has been involved in the world of hockey for more than 35 years. He is a former certified agent of the National Hockey League Players' Association and is past attorney for the Soviet Red Army Hockey Team (CSKA).Presently a director of the Israeli National Hockey board and founding principal of Game7Seven LLC. Both of his sons were members of the Deerfield Falcons, playing hockey from Mites through Bantam levels - both started in the house league and then on to travel teams. 

 

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The Chicago Blackhawk Alumni Association (CBAA) distributes college scholarships annually to the most deserving high school hockey players. Awards are determined from a candidate's level of community service, volunteerism, good citizenship, as well as hockey talent of the individual who receives $5,000.00 annually over four years.

 

In December of each year, scholarship applications are available for download. Fully completed applications including letter of recommendations, original transcripts, and scholar essays are due no later than February 1st of each year. Once all of the forms are gathered, a selection committee from the Blackhawk Alumni Association (CBAA) will review all of the candidates and then select the three recipients.

 

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

DOWNLOAD CBAA SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION

2013 CBAA SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS

In the continuing effort of assisting and developing amateur hockey in Illinois, AHAI, in conjunction with the Chicago Blackhawks, will host the 14th Annual Blackhawks/AHAI Coaching Clinic on Thursday, January 16, 2014 at the United Center from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Blackhawks Head Coach Joel Quenneville along with Assistant Coaches Mike Kitchen and Jamie Kompon, Goaltending Coach Steve Weeks and Strength and Conditioning Coach Paul Goodman will be on hand to discuss different techniques in coaching, as well as field questions from the AHAI Coaches in attendance. Topics of discussion will include best use of ice time, running a practice, proper conditioning and nutrition; good sportsmanship; proper equipment and having fun within the game of hockey.

 

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