Volume 2 Issue 9
September 3, 2014
In This Issue
Tier II Two 
Choice Substitution Application Process
The application process for Tier II Two Choice Substitutions is now open through October 15, 2014. Questions? Contact AHAI Tier II Chairman, Gregg Chudacoff.

Concussion Awareness

Free Baseline Testing is now available through November 30, 2014 for all AHAI members aged 13-18. Every athlete who completes a baseline test this year will be entered to win an official Chicago Blackhawks Jersey signed by Patrick Kane! 

 

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COLLEGE NIGHT: A ROAD MAP
TO HOCKEY AFTER HIGH SCHOOL

Mark Monday, October 13, 2014 on your calendar for AHAI's Annual College Night: A Road Map to Hockey after High School. We are excited to announce that this year's College Night will have an ALL NEW "Open House" format with over 20 community colleges, 4-year colleges and Junior Teams! This yearly event is a must for all High School Juniors (of course Sophomores and Seniors are welcome too). Don't miss this great opportunity to begin planning YOUR road to hockey after High School. Registration opens Tuesday, September 16, 2014.
*SPECIAL FEATURE*
TRYOUT SURVIVAL GUIDE
Tryout time can be one of the most confusing and stressful times of the year for Illinois youth hockey families, especially if you are new to our great game. Below you will find links to several great articles covering a myriad of topics from nutrition and hydration to how to "stand out" at tryouts as well as deal with the stress tryouts inevitably evoke.

Of particular note is the video "A Study on Praise and Mindsets." Parents often tell their kids to work hard. This is sound advice to help them succeed in hockey and in life. Putting forth "effort" to learn and grow is an important prerequisite for future success. How we as parents, coaches and teachers praise that effort may be even more important than we realize. This short video illustrates the effect we can have on our kids with the proper reinforcement of their effort.

AHAI wishes all our skaters
good luck at tryouts!

CATCH THE EXCITEMENT OF NIU HOCKEY! YOU COULD WIN SEASON TICKETS!
CATCH THE EXCITEMENT OF NORTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY HOCKEY!

Founded in 1965 the Huskies field both an ACHA Division II and Division III team (formed in 2011) with 90% of their players hailing from the Chicagoland area. This promises to be a great season for the Huskies, who play out of Leafs Ice Center, with 28 returning players highlighted by seniors, Justin Rucinski, Nick Leon and Alex Hare. READ MORE>>

Follow AHAI on Twitter and you could win a pair of season tickets to the NIU Huskie's 2014-15 ACHA DII Hockey Season!
ASK AHAI  & ASK THE COACH
ASK AHAI

QUESTION: Does AHAI/USA Hockey have any rules or guidelines in regards to advertising on a website or in regards to particular content that would be disallowed? Are there any rules or regulations in regards to having any type of sponsorship on game jerseys?

ANSWER: Yes, you may accept advertising on your website and put sponsor names on your jerseys; please reference AHAI Rules and Regulations - Article II, Section F: Amateur Play - General Principles. Basically, funds cannot be "direct" to the player. As an example, a "donor" cannot sponsor a player by paying his hockey fees. Any donation must go to the club, and the club must then decide how to disperse funds based on its written policy. Therefore, the club must have a written policy on criteria and the basis for that criteria. READ MORE>>

  

Click HERE to Ask AHAI?
ASK THE COACH

QUESTION: I just completed my Level 3 AHAI CEP Clinic on Saturday. Today is Monday and it has not yet been updated in my USA Hockey CEP file on the USA Hockey website.

ANSWER: It will take from 7 to 10 days before the update will be visible on the USA Hockey CEP website database.

Click HERE to Ask the Coach?


CONCUSSION QUESTION OF THE MONTH
By Elizabeth M. Pieroth, PsyD, ABPP

QUESTION: What is the best hockey helmet to prevent concussions?

ANSWER: There is no one hockey helmet that has been shown to reduce the frequency or severity of concussions. There has been significantly more research done on football helmets than hockey helmets but the findings are generally the same. The single most important factor is the fit of the helmet.  Make sure that you purchase a helmet that best fits your child and regularly check how the helmet fits throughout the season.  If needed, consult with someone who is experienced in examining both the fit and the condition (wear and tear on a helmet affects fit and the protection it offers) of a helmet.

Have a question about concussion you'd like answered?
Click HERE to ask Dr. Elizabeth Pieroth.
AHAI NEWS & INFORMATION
AHAI MITE ADM PROGRAM BEGINS!
Two weeks ago the AHAI Mite ADM Program, run by the Chicago Mission, kicked off its evaluation camp for aspiring 2006 and 2007 aged Mites. Sixty (60) skaters came out for the evaluations run by Gino Cavallini, his coaching staff and several of his Midget AAA players. The kids were put through a series of station-based drills and skills. Selections are currently being made, and the Chicago Mission is gearing up for a fun and exciting season with the Mites. Click HERE to view photos on Facebook.
IHHF SEEKING NOMINATIONS FOR CLASS OF 2014
The Illinois Hockey Hall of Fame (IHHF) is seeking nominations of qualified individuals to be enshrined into the Illinois Hockey Hall of Fame for the Class of 2014. Click HERE for Nomination Qualifications & Procedures. If you know of someone who meets the criteria set forth in the IHHF Qualification & Procedures, you are encouraged to click HERE for Nomination Form. To view past inductees click HERE.
HAPPY READING! FACE-OFF CONTEST WINNERS ANNOUNCED
Congratulations to our 2 winners of Michael Betcherman's latest hockey thriller, Face-Off!

David Roegner
MCYHA Sharks High School Hockey

William Panoutsos
Chicago Young Americans

A STEP aHEAD'S MOMS' NIGHT CLINIC AT THE UNITED CENTER!


Stay tuned to SNAPSHOT for more information on the Second Annual Moms' Night Clinic at the United Center brought to you by the Chicago Blackhawks, NorthShore University HealthSystem, Athletico and AHAI! 
COACHING NEWS & INFORMATION
COMMITTED TO DEVELOPING QUALITY COACHES:
AHAI/USA HOCKEY COACHING EDUCATION PROGRAM

Hockey is the only major youth sport where all coaches must be screened, attend different levels of coaching education certifications and then take age-specific modules for the birth years they are coaching. The objective of the USA Hockey Coaching Education Program (CEP) is to improve the caliber and quality of coaching in amateur hockey. Five levels of achievement and six online age-specific modules have been established to educate and train each coach, from the beginner to the highly skilled expert. The Coaching Education Program is committed to developing coaches who will be effective instructors and role models through a comprehensive education program at all levels of play. The program emphasizes fundamental skills, conceptual development, sportsmanship and respect for teammates, opponents, coaches, officials, parents and off-ice officials. READ MORE>>

 CEP HIGH PERFORMANCE CLINIC
The Admirals, an Illinois ADM Model Youth Hockey Association, will host a High Performance Clinic that will feature USA Hockey's national level speakers, Michele Amidon, Bob Mancini and Scott Paluch on Saturday, October 25 at Center Ice of DuPage. Click HERE for detailed clinic information.
CENTRAL DISTRICT LEVEL 4 CLINIC

The USA Hockey Level 4 Coaching Clinic for the Central District will take place on Saturday and Sunday, September 27 & 28, 2014 at the Renaissance Hotel located in Schaumburg, Illinois. Click HERE for more information.
2014-15 CEP CLINIC SCHEDULE

AHAI is pleased to announce the schedule for the 2014-15 Coaching Education Program (CEP) Clinics. Online registration to attend a CEP Clinic is now open. Click HERE for full CEP Clinic schedule. Click HERE to register.
ILLINOIS HOCKEY OFFICIALS' ASSOCIATION (IHOA) NEWS
IHOA IS LOOKING FOR YOU!

The Illinois Hockey Officials' Association (IHOA) is looking for YOU to officiate this season. IHOA just added a new seminar in Northbrook on September 27, 2014. Are you up for the challenge? I am sure you are wondering what you have to do to become a referee. Hopefully, this article will provide you with some insight into the registration process.

 

The Illinois Hockey Official's Association (IHOA) conducts all aspects of officials' registration, instruction, curriculum, training, evaluation, supervision and mentoring. From the beginning of an Illinois ice hockey official's career to the end of his/her career and everywhere in between, IHOA plays a vital role in the entire process. READ MORE>>

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWS
GIRLS' HOCKEY DATES FOR 2014-15 SEASON

The Central District has released important dates for Girls' Hockey for the 2014-2015 Season. Please click HERE for full listing.
USA HOCKEY NEWS
WHAT IS THE ADULT FIRST GOAL PROGRAM?

The Adult First Goal Program is equipment based and designed to provide USA Hockey-registered adult hockey leagues a national platform of resources to introduce new adults to the sport. Being a good partner in the business is about joint efforts between USA Hockey and registered adult leagues to grow the game.

 

The goal is to have adult leagues host Adult First Goal Programs for adults over the age of 18. The program provides local adult leagues the perfect opportunity to introduce new adults (men & women) to the game of hockey and then move them into the local league therefore helping to grow your adult league. The Adult First Goal Starter Equipment can be used to start an adult learn to play program or can be integrated into an existing adult learn to play program. READ MORE>>

ILLINOIS PLAYERS IN THE NEWS
MISSION U19 CAPTAIN SOPHIE SKARZYNSKI NETS
GAME WINNER!
Sophie Skarzynski (Lake Forest, Ill.) and Sophie Shaver registered multiple-point games and Brittany Bulgalski stopped 24 shots to help the U.S. Women's Under-18 Select Team to a 4-1 victory over Canada here today in the third and final game of the 2014 Under-18 Series. READ MORE>>
4 ILLINOIS PLAYERS SELECTED FOR 2014 CCM/USAH ALL-AMERICAN PROSPECTS GAME
USA Hockey announced the 42 players who will compete in the third annual CCM/USA Hockey All-American Prospects Game set for Sept. 25 at First Niagara Center, home to the National Hockey League's Buffalo Sabres. Congratulations Tory Dello (Crystal Lake), Christian Fischer (Wayne), Mike Floodstrand (Hinsdale) and Tanner Laczynski (Shorewood)! READ MORE>>
CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS NEWS
JUNIORHAWKS & INTERMISSION RELAY RACE/SHOOTOUT REGISTRATIONS NOW OPEN!

If you have a Mite or Squirt team within your organization who would like to skate on the ice at the United Center, you will need to fill out a lottery form on our website. Last season alone, 42 clubs were able to showcase their talents on our ice. Don't miss out on your opportunity to play here in 2014-15! Click HERE for information on the JuniorHawks program presented by Meijer. Click HERE for information on the Blackhawks Intermission Relay Race/Shootout. Questions? Call Matt Brooks at 312-455-7039 or email at mbrooks@chicagoblackhawks.com.


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