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!

STAY CONNECTED

COLLEGE NIGHT REGISTRATION OPEN

AHAI'S COLLEGE NIGHT

REGISTRATION NOW OPEN!

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. Click HERE for Official College Night Flyer.

BENEFITS OF MEMBERSHIP

WOW! I GET ALL THIS?

State Tournaments at all levels from Squirt to Adult, college scholarships awarded to our most deserving student athletes in conjunction with the Chicago Blackhawk Alumni Association, world-class insurance coverage, mandated background screenings for all adults with access to our youth players, a subscription to USA Hockey Magazine, the most widely distributed hockey magazine in the world - these are but a few of the benefits of membership in AHAI and USA Hockey. You may be surprised to learn the "hidden" benefits that you receive with your membership like state-of-the-art gold-standard coaches' education programs to ensure your child's coach has the most current material to assist your skater in reaching their full potential or the intensive training programs each IHOA official must attend so to ensure quality officiating at all levels. READ MORE>>

HOCKEY MOMS' NIGHT WAIT LIST

HOCKEY MOMS' NIGHT WAIT LIST

Hockey Moms' Night at the United Center has reached its registration limit and is now closed. However, if you would like to be added to the wait list please email Gretchen Cockey at gretchen@ahai2.org.

This FREE event will be held 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.

ASK AHAI & ASK THE COACH

ASK AHAI

QUESTION: We have 19 skaters and 1 goalie. According to Rule 201: Composition of Teams, we will have to sit one of our players for each game. Is this correct?

ANSWER: Yes, the rule cited (Rule 201) is a USA Hockey rule. No team may have more than 18 skaters dressed for any given game. I wish we had some flexibility on this rule, but unfortunately we do not. If it is any consolation, all hockey teams - youth, junior, collegiate and international are governed by the same rule - a maximum of 18 skaters dressed on the bench, total of 20 players.

Click HERE to Ask AHAI?

ASK THE COACH

QUESTION: For the last two years now my USA Hockey CEP Certification Level and my AHAI Screening show up incorrectly in my Registrar's software. What gives?

ANSWER:

This usually occurs when a coach uses a different version of their name when they register with USA Hockey. If you are registered with USA Hockey as "Mike Smith", but have been screened as "Michael Smith II", have your USA Hockey CEP Levels and Age Specific Modules done under "Michael E. Smith" and have taken the USA Hockey SafeSport Training as "Michael E. Smith, Jr.", there will be 4 separate files for you; none of which match each other. It is important that you use the same name (whatever version of your name you choose) consistently. This also holds true if a name is changed through marriage. That name change MUST be done by USA Hockey and the AHAI Registrar to ensure that the new name matches your old or previous certifications and/or screening.

Click HERE to Ask the Coach?

AHAI NEWS & INFORMATION


2015 ILLINOIS STATE HOCKEY CHAMPIONSHIPS Click HERE for Dates	2015 ILLINOIS ADULT STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS Click HERE for Dates	2015 TOYOTA USA HOCKEY NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS Click HERE for Dates

ONE TIMERS

What is the AHAI R&E Suspension Committee? READ NOW >>

Know Your Limits: AHAI Game Counts READ NOW >>

Rosters: What is the October 15 Deadline? READ NOW >>

Hockey to the Workplace: 10 Transferable Competencies READ NOW >>

10 Questions About Player Development READ NOW >>

BLACKHAWKS, AHAI HOST UNFORGETTABLE UNITED CENTER ADM CLINIC*

By USA Hockey

It was a magical day at the Madhouse on Madison last Friday, where the Chicago Blackhawks and AHAI hosted a USA Hockey American Development Model clinic.

More than 40 7- and 8-year-olds took part in the event, held on United Center ice prior to the Blackhawks' preseason game against the New York Rangers. The festivities included a 40-minute station-based practice followed by two half-ice games.

"At each station, you could see the teaching and learning as the kids moved through passing, shooting, stickhandling and skating drills, along with competitive-type drills," said Jim Clare, AHAI Mite ADM Coordinator. "As you'd expect, the kids were super excited to skate on the United Center ice." READ MORE>>

VIEW PHOTOS ON FACEBOOK

PURCHASE PHOTOS ONLINE

*Video Courtesy of the Chicago Blackhawks

NIHL MITE PLAYING RULES &

ADM MITE LEAGUE GUIDELINES

As the mite season begins there have been several questions posed about what a half-ice mite game should look like. The ADM Mite League Guidelines document (see link below) describes in detail some of the rules and guidelines that are used around the country to implement reduced ice games at both 6U and 8U. Additionally, NIHL, our Tier II League here in Illinois, has set forth some playing rules of their own that fit the needs of their league. Keep in mind, the league in which your teams play, Northwest Hockey League (NWHL) or your club's In-House Mite Program, may have modified these rules. Clubs can use the ADM Mite League Rules to organize their own programs, run jamborees, or for tournaments if they wish.

NIHL MITE PLAYING RULES

ADM MITE LEAGUE GUIDELINES

AHAI & EVANSTON YOUTH HOCKEY ASSOCIATION RECEIVE GRANTS

AHAI's Diversity Program and Evanston Youth Hockey Association's HIFE Programs each received one of 23 grants awarded by the USA Hockey Foundation for 2015. READ MORE>>

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.	USAH 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! Click HERE for details.	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 penalized player is injured and is unable to take his proper place on the penalty bench. The team places a substitute on the penalty bench for the injured player. Prior to the penalty expiring the injured player recovers and returns to participate in play. What penalty, if any, should be assessed?

ANSWER: A bench minor penalty for illegal substitution should be assessed (Rule Reference: 206(d)). As soon as the injured player is able to replace the substitute on the penalty bench, he must do so at the first stoppage of play.

ILLINOIS HIGH SCHOOL HOCKEY BY ROSS FORMAN

New Trier Green is the easy pick, year in and year out, for the No. 1 spot in the Illinois High School Hockey Top 25 Preseason rankings. The Trevians are certainly the logical choice this season.

Green is the two-time defending state champion, with 16 skaters and two goalies returning. The Trevians' roster this season has 22 players (19 skaters, three goalies), two more than last year. So only three skaters and one goalie don't have first-hand experience skating for - and claiming - glory at the United Center.

"Last year, we won because of our goaltender and because of our team defense. It's no different this season," said Green head coach Bob Melton. "We didn't necessarily get any better offensively, other than being a year older. I still say that our defense is way ahead of our offense." READ MORE>>

ILLINOIS PLAYERS IN THE NEWS

7 IL MEN ON NHL CENTRAL SCOUTING REPORT LIST

Timothy Faulker - New Baden

Matthew Jurusik - LaGrange

Daniel Warpecha - Burr Ridge

Tanner Laczynski - Shorewood

Zach Jordan - Collinsville

Christian Fischer - Wayne

Tory Dello - Crystal Lake