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! 

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.

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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.

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>>

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

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