Volume 2 Issue 12
October 15, 2014

Like AHAI on Facebook and/or Follow us on Twitter and you will be entered to win 2 tickets (Section 311, Row 12) to the Hawks vs. Jets on Sunday, November 2, 2014. Contest ends on Sunday, October 26, 2014. Winner will be announced in the October 29th issue of SNAPSHOT!

 

GOOD LUCK!

In This Issue
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! 

 

Congratulations to Kyle Selvig of the Warriors Hockey Club! Kyle was the winner of the A Step aHead Puck Sweepstakes and will receive an autographed puck from Patrick Sharp!
STAY CONNECTED
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Congratulations to Max Fadell of Notre Dame High School! Max was the AHAI College Night winner of the 5 tickets to tonight's Blackhawks game against Calgary!
MIRACLE "OFF" ICE: QUICK ACTION SAVES YOUNG MAN'S LIFE AT PAUL HRUBY ICE ARENA
Emily Petersen
& Jim Paulucci
Of the hundreds of hockey games that are played in scores of rinks every Sunday in Illinois, IHOA Official, Jim Paulucci was assigned to officiate a varsity high school game between the OPRF Huskies and the Sandburg Eagles, which was why his girlfriend, Emily Petersen happened to be at Paul Hruby Ice Arena at Ridgeland Commons in Oak Park. Petersen knew she'd enjoy a great game of high school hockey on Sunday, October 5th, but what she didn't know is that she would save a young man's life that day.

 

As the final period of the Huskies vs. Eagles Junior Varsity game was being played, Petersen said, "I saw an OPRF Junior Varsity player, in full hockey gear, run out of the players' bench and get a spectator from the stands; I then saw a member of the Hruby Ice Arena staff leave the office with what appeared to be a medical box." Being a nurse practitioner in the pediatric cardiac care unit at Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Petersen immediately went to see if she could help. What she found was a 16 year old OPRF varsity player lying unconscious on his side. The player, whose name is not being released out of respect for him and his family, had collapsed during the varsity pre-game warm-up. After determining that the young man had no pulse, Petersen immediately began chest compressions and directed rink staff to call 911. READ MORE>>

COLLEGE NIGHT:OPPORTUNITIES IN HOCKEY AFTER HIGH SCHOOL

AHAI conducted its newly formatted College Night Seminar: Opportunities in Hockey after High School on Monday, October 13, 2014 at the Hyatt Regency in Schaumburg, Illinois.  The turnout was great with more than 1,000 people attending this annual event. Doug Christiansen of the Tier I United States Hockey League (USHL) presented The Junior Hockey experience, Kyle Lawson of College Hockey Inc. addressed NCAA and ACHA College Hockey, and Dr. Beth Pieroth of NorthShore University HealthSystem presented on player safety and concussion awareness. The new format featured a presentation portion as well as an Open House, or "Hockey Fair" where the players and parents were able to talk directly to 18 Colleges and 4 Junior teams. The new format was very well received by the players and parents and with some logistical improvement will be implemented again next year. READ MORE & VIEW PICS>>

WHAT IS AHAI? INFORMATIVE NEW PARENT VIDEO JUST RELEASED!

Did you know that the Amateur Hockey Association of Illinois (AHAI) is the 5th largest amateur ice hockey association in the United States? Founded in 1975 we consist of over 2500 member teams from pre-mite learn-to-skate programs, youth house and travel teams, high school teams, girls' and women's teams to adult and Junior teams.

 

To help our membership better understand the benefits offered by USA Hockey and AHAI, we have produced an informative video explaining the many programs and benefits we have to offer. We take a look at how our Coaching Education Program is committed to developing first rate coaches who will be effective instructors and role models at all levels of hockey as well as how the Officiating Education Program, administered by IHOA, provides our officials with the knowledge and skill to effectively enforce rules to ensure the safety of our players. You will also learn more about AHAI's Player Development Program and SafeSport and Screening Program. AHAI's relationship with the Chicago Blackhawks also affords our members many additional benefits such as the annual High School Hockey Holiday Classic, the MinorHawks Program, the A Step aHead Free Baseline Testing Program and Moms' Night Concussion Awareness Event to name a few.

 

Our hope is this video gives you a greater understanding of all the programs and benefits that come with AHAI Membership. See you at the rink!
ILLINOIS HOCKEY HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2014 ANNOUNCED
The Illinois Hockey Hall of Fame announces the 10th Class of Inductees into its Hall of Fame. The honored inductees this year are:
Builders Category

Ray Berens
Derek Denoyer
Ned Forsberg
Rocky Wirtz
Players Category

Lisa Chesson
Steve Cromie
John Murphy
Referees Category

Sjoukje Brown
Jon Raslawski

Illinois hockey has a very long and rich hockey history, due in large part, to the foundation laid down by these inductees. Their tireless dedication in making sure every individual who had a desire to participate in this great sport has had the opportunity to do so. The IHHF Induction Dinner will be held in their honor on Sunday, January 25, 2015 at the Belvedere Banquet Hall located at 1170 West Devon Avenue in Elk Grove Village beginning at 5:00 pm. Tickets are available by contacting Norm Spiegel at 847/269-2922 or e-mail Norm at jacole@comcast.net.

 

We congratulate this year's Class of 2014 into the Illinois Hockey Hall of Fame. They are in a class all of their own! Please click HERE for further information and a list of past Inductees.

AHAI NEWS & INFORMATION
2ND ANNUAL MOMS' NIGHT AT THE UNITED CENTER
PRESENTED BY A STEP AHEAD
On Tuesday, October 7, nearly 400 Moms joined AHAI, the Chicago Blackhawks, Athletico and NorthShore University HealthSystem for the 2nd Annual Moms' Night Concussion Awareness Event presented by the A Step aHead Program. According to Chicago Blackhawks Youth Hockey Director, Annie Camins, "since its inception the A Step aHead Program has tested over 4000 kids in the youth hockey community." This fun "moms only" interactive event educated AHAI moms on concussion, safe checking, stretching, hydration, proper equipment fitting and culminated in a tour of the Chicago Blackhawks locker room. Check out the video below for highlights of Moms' Night courtesy of Blackhawks TV.
WORLD GIRLS' ICE HOCKEY WEEKEND

The World Girls' Ice Hockey Weekend, a global opportunity for girls to try out hockey as a new sport, took place this weekend across the United States. Here in Illinois the St. Jude Knights, Falcons, Jaguars, Admirals, Yellow Jackets and Franklin Park Panthers hosted events, as well as Rink Side Sports & Family Entertainment Center and Fox Valley Ice Arena. Women's ice hockey is one of the fastest growing sports in the world thanks to events like this one. Head to AHAI's Facebook Page to see some of the smiling faces of the young girls that participated in this great event.

ONE TIMERS
Despite the Surge in Talent, Illinois is Lacking College Hockey READ NOW >>
10 Sanity Tips for Minor Hockey Parents READ NOW >>
The Best Foods to Sustain Energy During Tournaments? READ NOW >>
7 Tournament Survival Secrets READ NOW >>
3 Steps to Better Sleep During Travel Meets! READ NOW >>
Don't Rush Off! READ NOW >>
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.
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

CONSIDER THIS: A player directs a racial or ethnic slur to an opponent, which the Referee does not hear. The non-offending team brings it to the Referee's attention. May the Referee assess the prescribed game misconduct penalty based on the reported incident?

 

ANSWER: No. While these situations threaten the integrity of the game, the actual incident must be heard and/or seen by an On-Ice Official in order to assess the game misconduct penalty. Rule Reference 601(e.2). The Referee should report the incident to the Coach or Captain of the team allegedly using the slur, and advise the team of the required penalty if such a slur is subsequently heard (or seen). At the same stoppage, the Referee should similarly advise the team reporting the slur.

 

VIEW MORE "YOU MAKE THE CALL" ARTICLES

 HIGH SCHOOL HOCKEY NEWS
ILLINOIS HIGH SCHOOL HOCKEY
By Ross Forman

Naperville Central has hit a wall each of the past three seasons in the elite eighth round of the Illinois Hockey State Tournament.  Twice, the Redhawks lost to New Trier Green, and last year they were eliminated by Glenbrook North. But this could be the year that the Redhawks skate for state. Yep, Naperville Central is a true contender to knock New Trier Green off its perch as the two-time defending state champion. "We need to find a way to break through," past the quarterfinals, said Jeff Nelson, in his sixth season as the school's head coach and his 24th overall coaching. Nelson doesn't have to look far for the key to Central's success this season.  His son Troy, a senior in his third varsity season, will key the Redhawks' road out of the West Division of the Illinois High School Hockey League. READ MORE>>

NORTH CENTRAL DIVISION NEWS
By Greg Mrofcza
Check out the latest news and standings for the Gold, Silver and Sterling Divisions of the Illinois High School Hockey League's North Central Division. And don't miss the Game to Watch: Highland Park will look to avenge their only IHSHL loss of the season when they face Crystal Lake South this Saturday October 18th at 7:20pm at the Leaf Centre. READ MORE>>
ILLINOIS PLAYERS IN THE NEWS
3 IL WOMEN ON FOUR NATIONS CUP ROSTER
USA Hockey announced the roster  for the U.S. Women's National Team that will compete in the Four Nations Cup, Nov. 4-8, 2014. Included on that roster are 3 Illinois Natives. READ MORE>>
42 IL PLAYERS ROSTERED TO USHL TEAMS
The United States Hockey League (USHL) is the top junior ice hockey league in the United States, consisting of players 20 years of age and younger. Illinois is proud to have 42 young men rostered to USHL teams this season. READ MORE>>
5 IL NATIVES ON NHL OPENING ROSTERS
The National Hockey League dropped the puck on their 2014-15 season on Wednesday, October 8th and 5 Illinois Natives were on their opening rosters - 2 USHL alumni and 3 NAHL alumni! READ MORE>>
JACK SONESON
Former Naperville Central Standout, Jack Soneson, Scores Big in Front of Home Crowd! READ MORE>>
LOUIE BELPEDIO
ISS Hockey Rates Top Freshmen in NCAA Hockey: Skokie's Belpedio Ranks #10 READ MORE>>
MCGING BROTHERS
Mom Lays Down the Law: No Fighting for Chicago's McGing Brothers as They Play Against Each Other for First Time! READ MORE>>
STINKY HOCKEY GEAR VIDEO CONTEST! ENTER TODAY!
YOUR STINKY HOCKEY GEAR COULD BE
YOUR TICKET TO SEE THE HAWKS!

We know stinky hockey gear and bags are a great sense of pride for most hockey players. Heck, Jack O'Callahan, part of the "Miracle On Ice" 1980 US Olympic team that upset the mighty Russians, once wrote in an e-mail. "It's like the line in 'Apocalypse Now,' modified a bit: 'I love the smell of my stinky hockey bag in the morning. It smells like Victory.'" We also know that Mom does NOT feel the same! So...we challenge you to send us your funniest video proving why you have the stinkiest hockey bag in Illinois! One smelly winner will receive:

2 tickets (Section 311; Row 12) to Hawks vs. Stars game on Sunday, November 16 at 6pm

1 super cool AHAI/Howies Hockey Tape T-shirt

Ultimate Hockey Fan Equipment Dryer courtesy of B&R Sports

2 Bottles of ReVitalyze to help keep your gear smelling like Fresh Linen


Click HERE for Instructions on How to Enter!

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