Registration is now open for the 2 and 2 Challenge for the 2014-15 season. The 2 and 2 Challenge is a call-to-action for local associations that guides youth hockey leadership through national programs to achieve their growth goals. Associations accepting the 2 and 2 Challenge will participate in Welcome Back Week (Sept. 15-21, 2014), host a Try Hockey for Free event on a national day (Nov. 8, 2014 or Feb. 21, 2015) and offer a Transition Program (after your Try Hockey event). Visit HERE for more information or click HERE to get started today.

STAY CONNECTED

Stay Connected

MEDIA PARTNER

SNAPSHOT will be celebrating it's first anniversary next week. Over the course of the last year SNAPSHOT has endeavored to educate the Illinois hockey community regarding a myriad of topics from the Tier II Two Choice Rule, role of your organization's registrar, new USA Hockey rule changes to how AHAI's Player Development, High School state tournament seeding and All State and Showcase Selection processes work. Our goal was not only to educate the Illinois hockey community, but to highlight the successes of our players, both current and alumni, as well as our youth hockey organizations.

We realize that there is not always time to read SNAPSHOT from top to bottom; therefore, we are pleased to announce the creation of ahaienews.com. The AHAI e-News website has every article published in SNAPSHOT over the last year, as well as many additional articles related to various hockey topics such as concussion and nutrition. One of AHAI e-News' best features is that it is searchable, both by category and keyword. We hope you take a moment to check it out!

Sincerely,

Gretchen Cockey

Communications Director

LIKE AHAI ON FACEBOOK AND WIN!!!

Like AHAI's Facebook Page and you could win 2 tickets* to the Chicago Blackhawks Opening Night Game for the 2014-15 Season! Contest ends Sunday, May 25, 2014. The lucky winner will be announced in the Wednesday, May 28th edition of SNAPSHOT.

*Tickets are 300 Level and valid only for the Chicago Blackhawks 2014-15 Opening Night Game

2014 AHAI ANNUAL MEETING:

DATE SET FOR JUNE 1

The 2014 Annual Meeting of the Amateur Hockey Association of Illinois, Inc. will take place on Sunday, June 1, 2014, at the Woodfield Hyatt Hotel in Schaumburg beginning promptly at 9:00 a.m.

Any individual who wishes to submit their name as a candidate for the position as a Board of Director of AHAI must submit their name, in writing, to the Chairperson of the Nominating Committee, Mike Durkin, 1460 Notting Hill Road, Algonquin, IL 60102 no later than Sunday, April 20, 2014. A short biography stating the individual's background, hockey experience, etc. should be included. The nominating committee will then send to each team a list of all candidates and their biographies prior to the AHAI Annual Meeting in accordance with the By-Laws, Rules and Regulations.

Any individual who wishes to submit a new By-Law proposal or a change to an existing Bi-Law must submit their proposal(s), in writing, to the President of AHAI, John Dunne, 2 S 713 Grove St., Warrenville, IL 60555, no later than Thursday, May 1, 2014.

Thank you in advance for all of your help and cooperation in the furtherance of youth hockey in Illinois.

AHAI MITE ADM PROGRAM: A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY

FOR '06 & '07 BIRTH YEARS

This coming Fall season AHAI is offering the AHAI Mite American Development Model (ADM) Program as a unique opportunity for 7 and 8 year-old mite players. The AHAI Mite ADM Program will be administered by the four AAA Tier I Organizations (Fury, Chicago Young Americans, Mission and Team Illinois) and will offer a 25-week development program run by the Tier I coaches. Participants will be evaluated in late August and 44 players will be selected per Tier I organization. These skaters will be trained under a strict and fully compliant ADM development structure consisting of station-based skills practices, small-area games, and half-ice hockey games. Each player in the program will be tested before, during, and after the season. Players and parents choosing this Mite ADM option will agree not to participate in full-ice hockey games during the program. Each group of 44 players will be broken down into four teams and will play games each weekend against the other AAA organizations in Illinois. No full-ice games will be played or allowed by these skaters. If a skater does not make a team, they can return to their local association for September 1st tryouts or evaluations.

TEAM ILLINOIS CELEBRATES REPEAT SHOWCASE TRIUMPH!

By Terry Stasica

In sports, a team's success is typically measured by wins and losses, but for the America's Showcase, the measurement of a team's success is by the number of future opportunities each player receives as a result of that player's and the team's showing for the tournament. America's Showcase is the premier scouting event for Junior and Senior High School Hockey players. After every game, scouts came down to speak to the players from various teams that they felt would fit well into their system. This year the Illinois team was very successful as Illinois players were very heavily scouted (even in an 8 a.m. game).

Click HERE to read the full story (with pictures!) on Team Illinois' road to capturing back-to-back America's Showcase Championship Titles.

AHAI INFORMATION

TIER WHAT?! HELP!

What Level Should My Child Play?

The decision on what level your skater should play (Tier I, Tier II or Tier III) depends on many variables - cost, travel, and level of commitment are just a few. The reality is some of these levels of play overlap. For instance, some Tier III teams are equal in skill and ability to some tier II teams. The same can be said for Tier II and Tier I, though not as often. It comes down to what works best for the player and family. So now what?! Read on for a description of each tier and for what player each was designed.

AAA HOCKEY

The Early Bird Gets the Worm!

One question that is often asked of AHAI is why AAA tryouts are held so early when AA tryouts cannot occur until September 1. There are several reasons why this order makes sense. AAA hockey is the highest level of youth hockey in the state. Holding AAA tryouts early allows the AA clubs to identify those skaters that advanced to AAA before they have to plan their season. Imagine the challenge if both AAA and AA were holding tryouts at the same time.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWS

2014 USA HOCKEY CENTRAL DISTRICT GIRLS SELECTIONS

This past weekend Capitol Ice in Middleton, Wisconsin was the host to over 300 players attending the 2014 USA Hockey/Central District Girls Development Camps tryouts. Please click the link below for the players who have accepted an invitation to USA Hockey's 2014 National Development Camps. Congratulations to those selected and to all that attended tryouts!

2014 USA HOCKEY CENTRAL DISTRICT GIRLS SELECTIONS

CAMP PHOTOS ON FACEBOOK

LEVEL 4 CEP CLINIC

DATES

Saturday, June 21

8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Saturday, June 22

8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

LOCATION

Sheraton West Des Moines

PREREQUISITE

Level 3 Completion

For more information on clinic topics, fees, accommodations and registration, please click HERE.

FESTIVAL TRYOUTS

Click the links below to view the Team Rosters and Ice Schedule for all the 1997, 1998 and 1999 selected players from the 6 States which makes up the USA Hockey Central District. These players will attend USA Hockey's Central District Festival Tryouts held the weekend of May 2nd, 3rd, and 4th in Fond du Lac, WI. AHAI wishes good luck to all our Illinois players! Click HERE for a list of Illinois players receiving an invitation to attend the Central District Player Development Camps/Festivals.

JUNIOR HOCKEY: ILLINOIS AND BEYOND

If your skater has any interest in playing Junior Hockey now is the time to begin the process of deciding if your son should tryout and where to tryout. Most of the Tier II and III teams hold open evaluations in the early summer months. From these evaluations teams will invite a select few to return to their main camp, usually in July, for a formal tryout to see who makes the final roster. Tier I is typically an invitation only camp. Unlike youth hockey, just because your skater makes a team doesn't mean they have a permanent spot on the roster. Teams can cut a skater at any time up to a certain date. This can leave a player with no place to play in the middle of a season. Again, know what you are signing up for. Let's begin here in Illinois.

VIKINGS YOUTH HOCKEY PROGRAM BOOMING IN ORLAND PARK

By Jeff Vorva, Special to the Tribune

When the Blackhawks raise the Stanley Cup, there is a rise in interest for area youth hockey teams. A couple of Blackhawks Stanley Cup championships in recent years have turned hockey in the Chicago area from a yawner to something worth shouting about. Fans are excited to climb on the Hawks' bandwagon. Kids want to become the next Patrick Kane or Jonathan Toews. That means better business for an organization such as the Orland Park-based Vikings Youth Hockey program, which makes its home at the Arctic Ice Arena.

USA WINS GOLD OVER CZECH REPUBLIC

Captain, Louie Belpedio, of Skokie

The U.S. Men's National Under-18 Team defeated the Czech Republic, 5-2, on Sunday, April 27 at Lappeenranta Arena. With the win, Team USA captured its eighth gold medal at the 2014 International Ice Hockey Federation Men's Under-18 World Championship. Skokie native and Team USA Captain, Louie Belpedio, was named one of the best three players of the tournament for the United States.

COME IN THIS WEEKEND & SAVE BIG ON YOUR GEAR!!!

This Saturday, May 3rd and Sunday, May 4th all AHAI Families will receive 20% OFF your entire purchase at Your Local Sports Authority store! Don't miss your chance to stock up on all your gear for 2014 and any other sporting good needs you may have as the 20% savings is good on any purchase so you can stock up the whole family! Get your running shoes, coolers for long tournament days, shade chairs, spray fans, golf accessories and anything else you need to make your season complete! Please print the attached coupon and redeem in store anytime during the valid dates. Sports Authority looks forward to serving AHAI Families!

For more details, or if you can't print attached coupon at bottom of the newsletter, please email kvanderweg@sportsauthority.com. You can also show your email to a manager and they will get a coupon for you. Sports Authority looks forward to serving you and wishes you Good Luck with your season! PRINT COUPON NOW