It's the holidays and that means the hockey season is half over. Can you believe it? Before you know it, it will be time for playoffs.

 

There is a lot of hockey being played over the next few weeks. There is the 21st Annual Chicago Blackhawks Charities High School Holiday Hockey Classic which will take place at The Edge Ice Arena in Bensenville December 26-29. The Chicago Blackhawks, USA Hockey and AHAI are hosting the Mid-Season Classic, a Mite cross-ice tournament December 28th at the United Center for AHAI registered teams. All players and parents will be able to watch a Blackhawks practice prior to the tournament and will enjoy many concourse activities throughout the event.  There are also numerous local tournaments and outdoor High School games hosted by many of the High School leagues. If we are lucky and the weather cooperates, there might be some outdoor pond skating in the near future.

 

I also want to encourage all of you to use the AHAI communication tools; read the AHAI newsletter, SNAPSHOT, send information on your teams or club to AHAI for posting on Facebook and Twitter. These are great tools for getting and giving information.

 

Enjoy the season with your teams and families. The time goes much faster than we realize. As we move into the second half of the season, please remember why the players play the game: they love to play! As parents, coaches, officials and administrators, it's all of our responsibility to ensure that the players have a safe, fun and positive environment as part of their experience. Players might not remember many of the games they play in, but they will remember the experience, good or bad, that the entire season brings.

 

Thank you for being part of USA Hockey and AHAI and we hope you have a safe and happy holiday season!

 

Sincerely,

 

John Dunne

AHAI President

It's almost here - the Mid-Season Classic Mite Cross-Ice Tournament is this weekend, December 28th at the United Center. Twenty-four (24) mite teams representing 20 associations or rinks, will hit the ice at 2pm for a day full of hockey, friendship and fun! Three Divisions (Kane, Toews, and Keith) will compete throughout the day, culminating in a Championship Game that evening.

 

READ MORE FOR GAME SCHEDULE>>

For the 2nd year, AHAI will be sending the Pee Wee Illinois State champions from the Tier II AA Division as well as a second Pee Wee Tier II team to Sun Prairie, Wisconsin to face off against the State Champions from around the Midwest. Last year Illinois was represented by the Deerfield Falcons and the Chicago Huskies. State Champions from Wisconsin, North Dakota, Minnesota, Missouri, Michigan are invited and are expected to participate in this invitational tournament March 27-29, 2015. READ MORE>>

Local rinks and associations next chance to be a host site for Try Hockey For Free Day presented by Kraft, is Saturday, February 21st. This event is part of the eighth annual Hockey Weekend Across America.

 

During this event, host sites give local children the opportunity to try youth hockey for the first time. Jerseys, goodie bags, grassroots promotional tools and an online registration platform will be provided to the first 300 host sites that register. Local programs are asked to put forth an hour of ice, have an adequate volunteer staff on hand and provide participants with a minimum of helmets, skates and gloves. READ MORE>>

USA Hockey's Girls'/Women's Department is making changes to the National Camp Program effective 2015. Please click HERE to view a slideshow of the changes. If you have questions/concerns after reviewing, please feel free to email me at wahadir@yahoo.com or call 920-758-3063. Remember, to be eligible for the Central District Camp you MUST register online (registration will start February 15 and close March 1) and tryout April 17th-19th, 2015. The Central District camp is forALL registered USA Hockey players who reside in the district for birth years 1996-2001.

Glenbard is making a strong push for a return trip to the United Center, to avenge last season's second-place finish after losing to Waubonsie Valley in the Combined Division state championship game.

 

Glenbard is 21-8-1 overall, 15-4 in the West Division of the Illinois High School Hockey League, which puts them in second-place, four points behind league-leading Neuqua Valley (17-1). Glenbard rolled into Christmas on a four-game winning streak after victories over Wheaton West, Plainfield, Hinsdale South/DG, and OPRF. READ MORE>>

Stan Mikita Division:

First-place: Glenbrook North

Second-place: Notre Dame

 

Glenn Hall Division:

First-place: Providence

Second-place: Neuqua Valley

 

Denis Savard Division:

First-place: CBC

Second-place: Naperville Central

 

READ MORE>>

Two Illinois teams played for The Culver Military Academy's Annual Cornfield Cup, New Trier Green and Glenbrook North.  In an epic game, New Trier Green defeated Glenbrook North by the score of 5-4. The 8 team field included Shattuck Saint Mary's, St. Ignatius of Ohio, Carmel of Indiana, host Culver Academy, Gilmore Academy and Walsh Jesuit of Ohio. READ MORE>>

The best high school teams throughout the Midwest will compete in the 21st Annual Chicago Blackhawks Charities High School Hockey Classic on December 26 at the Edge Ice Arena. Click HERE for ticket information and tournament bracket and schedules.

Graduating Illinois High School Players are encouraged to apply for the annual Chicago Blackhawk Alumni Association (CBAA) Scholarship. Each year the CBAA awards 3 $5,000 4-year scholarships to the most deserving high school hockey players in the state. Click HERE for more information.

QUESTION: A 6'2" player checks a 5'2" player legally separating him from the puck. Neither player is knocked down and both players continue to play. The Referee stopped play and called a Head Contact penalty. Does the Head Contact rule mean that our larger players have to play zero contact hockey against anyone who is small? I am not sure that this is the intended interpretation.

ANSWER: The 2013 Rule Changes that mandate a minor plus misconduct penalty for Boarding, Charging, and Head Contact incidents were put in place to remove dangerous contact from the youth game. Dangerous, punishing and intimidating hits need to be removed if we want to see players enjoy the sport and reach full potential. READ MORE>>

With a quick flourish of his hand, Michael B. Barrett drops the puck and drifts out of the way as hockey sticks clap together, fighting for control.

 

Amidst the blur of green and white jerseys, Barrett moves back to the edge of the action, eyes fixed on the puck and players. He floats to and fro, swiveling across the ice, always watching and waiting. In milliseconds, Barrett does a quick hop and pivots to skate backwards as the players charge toward him like a herd of steers. Watches. Waits. Faster than you can blink, Barrett throws his right arm in the air and his left hand to his mouth to blow his whistle. He holds his arm up for a moment then drops it down to his knee, lightly tapping it once with the palm of his hand. Kneeing penalty. READ MORE>>

University of Phoenix is pleased to collaborate with the Chicago Blackhawks to offer a scholarship program. Click HERE for more information regarding eligibility and selection, terms and conditions, and consent and release and how to apply.

Know a teacher who is top shelf? The Chicago Blackhawks and University of Phoenix have partnered for Top-Shelf Teachers, a program that recognizes and rewards hardworking educators in the states of Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin. Click HERE for more information and to nominate a teacher today!