It's that time of year - playoff time! AHAI would like to wish all participants the best of luck during their respective playoffs, and to remind everyone to display good sportsmanship win or lose whether you are on the ice or in the stands.

Sincerely,

Online registration for the Central District tryouts for both USA Hockey National Development Camp (1997-98, July 9-15 and 1999-2000, July 18-24) hosted in St. Cloud, MN, and the Central District Development Camp (1996-2000, June 22- 27) hosted in Green Bay, WI, is now open through March 15, 2014. Tryouts are open to ALL registered players in the Central District. The cost of the tryout will be $125. Players wanting to be considered for an invitation to the USA Hockey National Development Camp and/or the Central District Development Camp MUST register.

 

The Central District tryout will start after 5:00 pm on Friday, April 25 and conclude by 3:30 pm, Sunday, April 27. All evaluators are Division 1, Division 3 and College Club hockey coaches. Please click HERE for camp details and hotel accommodations.

 

 

It may not feel like it, but the first day of Spring is just four weeks away. With that in mind, AHAI Registrar, Laura Johnson has compiled a list of your most frequently asked questions surrounding the Spring Hockey Season.

What are the dates for the spring season?

The period from April 1 to August 31 of the calendar year is considered the Spring/Summer Hockey Season. Team registrations and rosters may be submitted beginning March 1. Spring rosters will not be in effect until April 1 (the teams may not participate in games until April 1). Fall rosters are no longer valid after March 31 with the exception of nationally bound teams.

 

How do teams register for spring?

The process to register a team is the same in the spring as it is in fall. Teams are registered through AHAI affiliate organizations.

 

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Just who is a Minor Official? No, it is not a teenage referee or linesman. A minor official is an off-ice official - a scorekeeper, time keeper or someone working the penalty box. At the youth level this is very likely a parent volunteer. In some cases a minor official may be a contracted individual who is paid for their services. However, for the purpose of this article, although this conversation applies to contracted minor officials as well, we will be focusing on the parent volunteer in the role of a minor official.

 

What You Should Do as a Minor Official

 

The off-ice or minor officials are considered part of the officiating team. They have very distinct responsibilities as part of that team. The scorekeeper keeps the scoresheet for the game so the on-ice officials and each team has an official record of what happened during that game.

Joe Olson has been involved with Central Illinois hockey for the past 27 years. Joe has been a youth hockey coach, board member, organization officer, team manager, learn to skate/play instructor, and hockey director.

 

In 2006, Joe was asked to start an amateur hockey program in Bloomington, Illinois. Bloomington had not had an ice rink for the previous 22 years. As the Assistant Manager in charge of Hockey at the Pepsi Ice Center in Bloomington, Joe has helped amateur hockey grow to 313 house league players, 8 travel teams, 3 high school teams, and 72 adult league teams per year. Currently for the 2013-14 season, Bloomington Recreational Hockey (Pepsi Ice Center) has 622 players and coaches registered with Amateur Hockey Association of Illinois and USA Hockey.

 

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USA Hockey will lead the nation in the 7th annual Hockey Weekend Across America, presented by CCM on February 28 through March 2. "Hockey Weekend Across America is one of the marquee events on the calendar each year," said Dave Ogrean, Executive Director of USA Hockey. "This year will be unique as we'll celebrate Hockey Weekend Across America the weekend immediately following the conclusion of the Olympic Winter Games." Each of the three days features a special theme. Friday is "Wear Your Jersey Day", Saturday is "Try Hockey for Free Day" and Sunday is "Celebrate Local Hockey Heroes Day".

 

FIND A PARTICIPATING "TRY HOCKEY FOR FREE" RINK NEAR YOU

With approximately 3,300 young men and women playing High School hockey in the state of Illinois, it takes a lot of hard work and dedication to be named one of the 40 AHAI All-State players. NoozeBox.com recently caught up with a few of our talented All-State players and their coaches to find out what being "All State" means to them.

Over the weekend of February 8, both the U.S. National Under-18 and Under-17 Teams laid claim to the 2014 Five Nations Tournament Titles. Representing Illinois on the Under-18 roster was forward, Ryan Wagner of Park Ridge, who is committed to the University of Wisconsin and Defenseman, Louie Belpedio of Skokie, member of the 2013 U.S. Under-17 Team, who is committed to Miami University. Forwards Michael Floodstrand of Hinsdale and Christian Fischer of Wayne represented Illinois on the Under-17 Roster. Floodstrand is committed to Harvard and Fischer to Notre Dame. Wagner, Floodstrand and Fischer most recently played for the Chicago Mission Midget Minor team. Belpedio played for the Chicago Mission as a Bantam before continuing to Culver Military Academy. In addition to our four talented players, Illinois hockey is proud to claim Under-17 Head Coach, Don Granato of Downers Grove and Under-17 Team Physician, Andrew Hunt of Lake Bluff.

SNAPSHOT recently spoke with Dr. Andrew Hunt of Lake Bluff, Illinois, regarding his role as team physician for the U.S. National Under-17 Team that won the 2014 Five Nations Tournament in Sundsvall, Sweden on February 9. "The role of team physician is multi-dimensional," states Hunt. "The team physician obviously looks after the players' health and treats/manages any medical issues that arise. Should a player get seriously injured and require hospitalization, the team physician would assist and oversee any care given at the local hospitals". Hunt further elaborated that, "team physicians also ensure that players stay within World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) guidelines and supervise any testing that may occur. If needed, team physicians also assist coaches and trainers during practice, help with administrative duties and bench assist during games".

 

AHAI recognizes that Illinois Hockey is comprised not only of incredible players, but also of great High School and Youth Hockey Coaches that guide our teams both on and off the ice.

Candidates for AHAI's High School and Youth Hockey Coach of the Year Awards should embody good sportsmanship and respect towards team, parents and officials while providing a positive High School or Youth Hockey experience. Candidates should also teach positive life skills while demonstrating dedication, passion and commitment to community.

 

The High School and Youth Hockey Coach of the Year Award Recipients will be announced during the High School State Championships at the United Center on March 20, 2014. Deadline to nominate is Saturday, March 1, 2014.

 

NOMINATION FORM