Make sure to scroll to the bottom of this issue of SNAPSHOT for great Contests & Giveaways!



Volume 2 Issue 10
September 18, 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! 

 

LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT
Greetings! 

Welcome to another exciting season of Youth and Girls' Hockey in Illinois. I know it's a very busy time of year as teams are forming and everyone is getting to know teammates, coaches and other parents. Again this season, the focus for AHAI is player safety, member conduct and information/communications with the AHAI membership.

 

As we are well into the second year of the AHAI e-newsletter, SNAPSHOT, AHAI hopes it meets the needs of you, the members. The goal was to provide timely and accurate information to all of AHAI's members. SNAPSHOT, along with AHAI's social media sites (Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube and Google+) are the main sources of communication with AHAI members. Additionally, we launched ahaienews.com in April of 2014 so that our members could search and access past articles from SNAPSHOT. Ahaienews.com also has many other relevant articles, as well as tips and advice from other trusted sources like USA Hockey. Please continue to send in your questions to "Ask AHAI" and your ideas and suggestions for articles you'd like to see in upcoming issues of SNAPSHOT.

 

The A Step aHead initiative is a free baseline testing program open to all AHAI players aged 13 to 18. This program is free due to the support and sponsorship of the Chicago Blackhawks, NorthShore University HealthSystem, Athletico and AHAI. Information on the A Step aHead program can be found on the AHAI website or on ahaienews.com. Hockey Moms' Night Out at the United Center on Tuesday, October 7th is presented by the A Step aHead program and is an excellent opportunity for Moms of AHAI players to get information on player safety, concussion signs/symptoms, post-injury treatment of concussions AND tour the Chicago Blackhawks locker room.

 

Again this season you will see officials calling aggressive penalty infractions. All officials have gone through educational seminars and have been instructed to call the aggressive, dangerous penalties. That being said, it is up to our coaches to coach the dangerous penalties out of the players. Coaches that attend USA Hockey/AHAI Coaching Education Clinics are also instructed on the prevention of dangerous play. Last but not least, players need to take responsibility for their actions. Remember penalties are only called after they happen.

 

READ MORE>>>

MITES MOVING TO SQUIRTS:
2 MYTHS CLARIFIED
THE MYTH: If you register as a mite player this year for the Fall on a team outside of USA Hockey, when Spring season comes around it will cost you more money to register for a USA Hockey team rather than just stay with the non-USA Hockey program. 

 

FALSE: USA Hockey's Fall 2015-16 Registration opens on April 1. If your mite is moving up to squirts and would like to play for a USA Hockey team/club in the Spring, he will not have to pay a registration fee again to play in the Fall. That April 1 registration is good until August 31, 2016.

 

THE MYTH: USA Hockey is going to half-ice games for Squirts.

 

FALSE: USA Hockey has never promoted this as a scenario for the squirt aged players; they have encouraged every age level to follow the principles of the ADM and age appropriate training. These guidelines have been clearly stated and explained, and are available at admkids.com. Questions? Please email miteADM@ahai2.org.

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AHAI NEWS & INFORMATION
AHAI'S COLLEGE NIGHT

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 Wednesday, September 24, 2014.

 

OFFICIAL COLLEGE NIGHT FLYER

REGISTER NOW THROUGH OCTOBER 1 TO WIN! 
The A Step aHead program, brought to you by NorthShore University HealthSystems, Chicago Blackhawks, AHAI and Athletico is excited to give away a Patrick Sharp autographed puck! Enter to win by registering for your baseline test TODAY through October 1, 2014. Click "register now" button for Official Rules & Eligibility.




HOCKEY MOMS' NIGHT
AT THE UNITED CENTER!
Hockey Moms* are encouraged to attend this FREE event on October 7, 2014 from 6:30pm to 8:30pm at the United Center to learn more about safety in youth hockey. Moms will take part in interactive stations to learn about concussion awareness, safe checking, hydration for hockey players, and the rules enforced by referees to improve safe play. Attendees will also hear more about free baseline testing through the "A Step aHead" program. Moms will get to "shoot the puck" to win prizes and take a tour of the Chicago Blackhawks' Locker Room! Please wear comfortable clothing as you will be moving through light station activities.



*This event is for Moms' only - no children please.
COACHING NEWS & INFORMATION
 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
YOU MAKE THE CALL!

CONSIDER THIS: A coach's team gets 14 penalties of which 3 are majors in one game.  Rule 411 says he sits the next game due to the three major penalties.  If the official gives him a game misconduct, he now has 15 penalties which would necessitate another game. It appears as though he sits for the 411 infractions (3 majors) and for 15 penalties in a game as well.

 

ANSWER: Yes, the officials would have to file a game report stating that the coach had received three major penalties as listed under Rule 411. That game report would also list the three major penalties and the three different players that received them. But that coach is only suspended, he does not receive a game misconduct. He is allowed to finish that game and is then suspended for the next regularly scheduled game of his team. Consequently, there are not 15 penalties.

ILLINOIS HIGH SCHOOL HOCKEY
HIGH SCHOOL HOCKEY
By Ross Forman

Summer fun is over and as the temperature outside is getting colder, high school hockey action inside is heating up. Welcome to the 2014-15 high school hockey season.

 

New Trier Green is the defending state champion (Red Division), and with very few players gone from last year's team, the Trevians look like the early favorite to be skating, once again, at the United Center next March. The Trevians stopped Glenbrook North 2-1 for its most recent state title - and a new, huge banner at the Winnetka Ice Rink showcases all titles won by the school dating back decades. READ MORE>>

NORTH CENTRAL DIVISION NEWS

By Greg Mrofcza 

Summer is over and it's back to the rink for the largest High School league in Illinois hockey. The Illinois High School Hockey League-North Central Division will begin play the 2nd week of September.  The 2014-2015 season will employ new competitive scheduling guidelines during a tiering round at both the Varsity and JV level.  Click HERE for a quick guide to these changes for both levels to keep everyone informed.
ILLINOIS PLAYERS IN THE NEWS
GOOD LUCK ILLINOIS PLAYERS

Celebrating its 12th anniversary this fall, the North American Hockey League (NAHL) Showcase Tournament has evolved into one of hockey's most prestigious and well-attended events of the entire season. For scouting purposes, the five-day event from September 17-21, 2014, in which all 24 NAHL teams play four regular-season games, is a can't-miss for every NCAA program and NHL team as they get their first look at some of the best and brightest hockey talent North America has to offer. READ MORE>>

 

ILLINOIS PLAYERS PARTICIPATING

4 ILLINOIS WOMEN ATTENDED U.S. WOMEN'S NATIONAL TEAM EVALUATION CAMP

USA Hockey held its 2014 U.S. Women's National Team Evaluation Camp September 12-15, at the University of New England in Biddeford, Maine. READ MORE>>

 

 

Corrine Boyles (D) - Wheaton

Megan Bozek (D) - Buffalow Grove*

Lisa Chesson (D) - Plainfield*

Kendall Coyne (D) - Palos Heights*

 

*These players are Olympians

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
ADMIRALS EARN USA HOCKEY MODEL
ASSOCIATION DESIGNATION!
USA Hockey announced the Admirals Youth Hockey Club, in addition to five other youth hockey organizations, have earned designation as a USA Hockey Model Association, bringing the total number of model associations nationwide to 17. Look for a featured article on the Admirals Youth Hockey club in the next issue of SNAPSHOT!  READ MORE>>
DISABLED HOCKEY WORKSHOP
The 2014 Disabled Hockey Workshop will be October 3-5 in Washington, DC. New and existing program administrators from around the country will come together for a weekend of educational sessions and networking. The best part is that the workshop is FREE!

ARE YOU UP FOR THE CHALLENGE?
The 2 and 2 Challenge is a call-to-action for local associations and rink facilities. It is a blueprint that guides youth hockey leadership through national programs and tools to realize their goal of acquiring 2 additional players and retaining 2 additional players than the previous season's total.

HOST A GIRLS HOCKEY WEEKEND
USA Hockey is looking for associations and rinks to host opportunities to build awareness, celebrate your current players and grow participation for girls' hockey as part of the IIHF Girls' Hockey Weekend

CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS NEWS
WATCH THE BLACKHAWKS LIVE!

As part of their ongoing partnership with AHAI, the Blackhawks are pleased to offer AHAI members the opportunity to purchase Blackhawks tickets for select games during the first half of the 2014-15 season. Receive $5 off of tickets purchased in the 300 level. To purchase tickets click HERE and enter the promo code AHAI. You may purchase up to 4 tickets total (4 tickets to one game or 2 tickets to 2 games). The deadline to purchase tickets is Monday, October 6, 2014, or while supplies last. If you have any questions, please contact Matt Brooks at 312-455-7039 or mbrooks@chicagoblackhawks.com.

UPCOMING EVENTS
SUBMIT YOUR EVENT TO AHAI
Do you have an event you would like to share with the Illinois Hockey Community? Click HERE to send your charitable event information to AHAI Communications Director, Gretchen Cockey for consideration. We will post your information on our Events Tab on ahaienews.com.
COYOTE HOCKEY CITY CLASSIC AT SOLDIER FIELD
BANCROFT SCHOOL FIRST ANNUAL AWARDS DINNER



The Bancroft School will welcome 1980 Olympic Gold Medal "Miracle On Ice" Hockey Team member, John Harrington, as the keynote speaker at the First Annual Bancroft Awards Dinner on Thursday, October 9, 2014 at DePaul University.


ContestsCONTESTS & GIVEAWAYS!
STEELWIN A PAIR OF SEASON TICKETS TO THE CHICAGO STEEL!
Don't miss the Chicago Steel's Opening night game vs. the Bloomington Thunder on Friday, October 3 at 7:30pm. Friday night is also Skate with the Steel Night. After the game fans can skate on the ice, take pictures with and get autographs from Chicago Steel players!


    
Like AHAI on Facebook and/or Follow us on Twitter and you could win a pair of Chicago Steel Season Tickets! Contest ends Monday, September 29. Winner will be announced in the Oct. 1st Edition of SNAPSHOT!


NIUCONGRATS TO OUR NIU HUSKIES SEASON TICKET WINNER!


Congratulations to Kristi Hyde of the Leafs Hockey Club! She is the winner of a pair of NIU Huskies season tickets! GO HUSKIES!
CRAZYWIN A SIGNED COPY OF HOCKEY MOMS AREN'T CRAZY!

Hockey Moms all across Illinois are gearing up for another great (crazy!) season of hockey! To get your hockey season off to a great start we are giving away 4 signed copies of Jody Anderson's Hockey Moms Aren't Crazy! This book pays tribute to Hockey Moms everywhere with hilarious illustrations, jokes and stories - including contributions from Hockey Moms and hockey greats, like Mike Eruzione! READ MORE>>



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