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Volume 2 Issue 18
January 7, 2015
HIGH SCHOOL STATE TOURNAMENT SEEDING, ALL STATE & SHOWCASE SELECTION PROCESS
By Jim Powers, AHAI High School Chairman

 

As the end of the regular season approaches, we receive numerous questions regarding seeding for the State Tournament, as well as All State and Showcase team selections. There are many misconceptions that exist regarding the above and AHAI's role. The following is a synopsis of the process in place.

 

State Tournament Seeding Process

Each year every High School Club is provided an information packet which contains all information necessary to apply and/or register for the State Tournament online. In this application/registration packet teams are provided information in regards to seeding for the State Tournament. The system in place provides for coaches from each team to vote and/or seed each team. In the information packet provided, it is recommended that each coach seed and/or rank other teams that coach's team has played, or that he or she has seen play. Each coach's ranking and/or seeding is inputted into the computer program, which then provides an average ranking and/or seeding for each team. The highest average ranked team is then seeded number one, with the remaining teams following in descending order. The seeding and/or ranking of teams for the State Tournament is done solely based upon the coaches' vote. The only role that AHAI plays in the seeding and/or ranking process is the accumulation of the data necessary to rank the teams. READ MORE>>
January Photo of the Month

Don't forget to submit your photos to gretchen@ahai2.org for the January Photo of the Month Contest! Click HERE for full details.
AHAI NEWS & INFORMATION
Mid-Season Classic Mite Cross-Ice Tournament a HUGE Success!

Twenty-four (24) Mite teams took to United Center ice for 39 games on Sunday, December 28 for the Mid-Season Classic Mite Cross-Ice Tournament. Nearly 330 mites battled it out on 3 cross-ice rinks spanning the Blackhawks home ice with three teams taking home the Championship in their respective divisions. The Kane Division saw the Joliet Jaguars defeat the Leafs, the Toews Division had the all ADM AHAI Mission squad defeat the Chicago Jets, and in the Keith Division the River Dogs outlasted Canlan Ice Arena's In-House Mites. 

The day began with an opportunity to watch the Blackhawks practice; a few lucky skaters walked away with a stick or two from the Blackhawks players as they exited the ice from their morning skate. As the rink transformed from one large sheet to 3 smaller cross-ice sheets, the teams made their way to the locker rooms right down the hall from the Blackhawks. As one parent put it, "You created memories that will last a lifetime!" READ MORE>>

Jaguars
Kane Division Champions

Chicago Mission
Toews Division Champions

Chicago River Dogs
Keith Division Champions

Leafs
Kane Division Runner-Up

Chicago Jets
Toews Division Runner-Up

Canlan In-House Mites
Keith Division Runner-Up

Click HERE to View Full-Size Photos
Try Hockey For Free Day is Saturday, February 21!

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.

 

Currently nearly 290 locations across America have registered to host a Try Hockey For Free event including these Illinois locations: Ice Valley Ice Centre (Kankakee), Franklin Park Panthers, Rolling Meadow Renegades, Sabre Hockey Association (All Seasons, Aurora), Decatur Youth Hockey, Hoffman Estates Wolf Pack, Admirals Hockey Club and Danville Youth Hockey. READ MORE>>

 

To register your rink as a host site, please click HERE.
2015 ILLINOIS STATE HOCKEY CHAMPIONSHIPS
Click Division Name for Complete State Tournament Information





**Please note Tier II registration has begun and will end on January 8, 2015**
AHAI Announces 2015 Adult State Tournament! 

AHAI announces that the 2015 Men's and Women's State Tournament at various adult levels (Multiple Men's and Women's Divisions for all skill levels, Novice/Rec, CII, CI, B, A) will take place at the Darien Sportsplex from April 23-26, 2015. The Adult State Tournament is open to Adult (21+) Men & Women USA Hockey registered players and teams who played at least 8 games together in the 2014-2015 season, or non-USA league teams and players that wish to become USA Hockey members before the Tournament. Players may play on only one team in the Tournament. READ MORE>>

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWS
USA Hockey/Central District Girls Player Development Information 
By Mary Ann Robinson, Girls'/Women's Section Representative 

Please take the time to review the document below. It is directly from USA Hockey and explains the new process for the National Development Camp Program. The major change is that there will no longer be a 14U National Development Camp, but the Central District will continue to offer a 6 day/5 night development camp for 2001 birth years. You MUST register and tryout April 17-19, in Fond du Lac, WI. Registration will be online and will open February 15 and close March 1. The Central District camp will consist of 6 teams of 2000 and 2001 birth years and 2 teams for 1996  through 1999. This camp will be hosted in Green Bay, WI, beginning June 21 and concluding June 26.  In addition, USA Hockey is adding a new camp - the U18 Camp starting June 27-July 3, 2015. This camp will consist of 66 players and players will be invited by the National office staff, more details should be made available at the USA Hockey Winter Meeting on January 15-18.  An additional email will be sent to all registered players with the registration link the week of February 8.

 

2014 USAH GIRLS PLAYER DEVELOPMENT GUIDE

HIGH SCHOOL HOCKEY
2015 High School Holiday Hockey Classic


Glenbrook North defeated New Trier Blue 2-1 to bring home the 21st Annual Blackhawk Charities High School Holiday Hockey Classic Championship on Monday, December 29. Click HERE for Championship Game Photos.
Ross Forman's High School Hockey


Hockey Happenings
 

One of the best battles in the state is for supremacy of the Catholic League, with every team eyeing the prestigious Kennedy Cup - and at least four true contenders for the title this season.

 

Providence Catholic is the leader, barely. The Celtics have 27 points, thanks to a 13-2-1 record. They are two points ahead of Benet and five points ahead of Notre Dame, but Providence also has played two more games than those teams. The Celtics have six league games remaining in January, including a brutally difficult final four stretch: Benet, Notre Dame, St. Rita and Fenwick. READ MORE>>

Ross' Top 20 Rankings
  1. New Trier Green
  2. Providence Catholic
  3. Glenbrook North
  4. Benet Academy
  5. Loyola Gold
  6. St. Rita
  7. Barrington
  8. Naperville Central
  9. Rockford
  10. Neuqua Valley
  11. Notre Dame
  12. New Trier Blue
  13. Sandburg
  14. Maine Township
  15. Glenbrook South
  16. Waubonsie Valley
  17. Stevenson
  18. Glenbard
  19. Highland Park
  20. Fenwick
Illinois West, North Central & Hayes-Suburban Announce All Star Rosters!

Illinois West
North Central
Hayes-Suburban

Please click on League Logos for more information on dates and locations of All Star Games and "Varsity" or "JV" to view All Star Rosters. Congratulations!
Illinois West Hosts College Day Seminar
Illinois West varsity players were invited to attend a College Day Seminar hosted by Illinois West. This program was designed to discuss the ACHA program and opportunities to play college hockey after high school. With the college coaches on each bench, a select number of players from each club were also offered the opportunity to scrimmage. Representatives from Bradley, Iowa, Lewis, Northern, Northwestern and Robert Morris were on hand to discuss the ACHA and their programs. READ MORE>>

North Central Division Update 
With just 1 month remaining in the regular season the Champions Division of the IHSHL North Central Division is beginning to take shape. As expected, Highland Park and New Trier Blue continue to set the pace for the division. Highland Park sits in first, but New Trier Blue has played 3 fewer games. New Trier Blue took the first meeting of the regular season 3-1 back on December 17, but the hot ticket will be when these two teams face each other on January 14 in Wilmette at 7:50pm. READ MORE>>

Hayes-Suburban Division Announces All Star Rosters 

The Hayes-Suburban Division of the IHSHL will hold their annual All Star games on Saturday, January 10, 2015. The site for the games will be on the Campbell Rink of the Darien Sportsplex (451 Plainfield Road in Darien, IL). The JV Stars will kick off the action with a 6:15pm opening faceoff. They will be followed by the Varsity Stars at 8:00pm. Admission is always free to this mid-season showcase of the leagues finest talent. READ MORE>>

ONE-TIMERS
Search is on for Most Passionate Hockey Communities READ MORE>>
Women with Whistles: Q & A with Illinois' Own Erin Blair READ MORE>>
4th Annual Eddie Olczyk Award for Youth Hockey READ MORE>>
ILLINOIS HOCKEY HALL OF FAME BIO SERIES
JON RASLAWSKI ~ OFFICIALS' CATEGORY
W. Jon Raslawski has been involved with USA Hockey/AHAUS (Amateur Hockey Association of the United States - now USA Hockey) since 1970. He started his skating career at the late age of 8, on figure skates at the Rainbow Ice Arena in Chicago. His Father, the late Ted Raslawski, soon realized that he was not meant for figure skates, and made the investment in hockey equipment and lessons with Harry Sator (IHHF 2008) at the Michael Kirby Ice Studio in Park Ridge. Although Jon lived in Chicago, the trips and the experiences were well worth it. Moving to Park Ridge in 1974 significantly increased his opportunities to play hockey. READ MORE>>

The IHHF Induction Dinner will be held on Sunday, January 25, 2015 at the Belvedere Banquet Hall in Elk Grove Village. We encourage the Illinois Hockey Community to join us in welcoming the Class of 2014 into the Illinois Hockey Hall of Fame. Tickets are available by contacting Norm Spiegel at 847.269.2922 or e-mail Norm at jacole@comcast.net.
ASK THE OFFICIAL BY DAVE ZEDNIK
QUESTION: What is the USA Hockey interpretation of body contact versus body checking? Is a penalty required every time body contact is made?

ANSWER: No. Rule References 604(c Note) and Glossary. No check does not mean no contact and the Body Contact category game can be very physical. The Glossary defines both Body Contact and Body Checking, as well as several other educational materials (including videos). In fact, USA Hockey strongly encourages legal body contact to occur in all ages of the Body Contact category as part of the skill progression that teaches legal body checking. READ MORE>>
ILLINOIS PLAYERS IN THE NEWS
Dunne Named Captain for U.S. Women's National U-18 Team
Chicago Fury's Jincy Dunne (U19) has been named captain of the U.S. Women's National Under-18 Team for the 2015 IIHF Under-18 Women's World Championship. READ MORE>>


3 Illinios Players Named to 2015 USHL/NHL Top Prospects Roster
Congratulations to Michael Floodstrand (Hinsdale) of Team USA, Tanner Laczynski (Minooka) of the Chicago Steel and Seamus Malone (Naperville) of the Dubuque Fighting Saints! READ MORE>>
CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS NEWS

Blackhawks Breakaway Scholarship DETAILS>>
Top-Shelf Teachers Program DETAILS>>
UPCOMING EVENTS
NIU Huskies AHAI Youth Hockey Night

Don't miss the Northern Illinois University Huskies take on rival St. Louis University Billikens on Friday, January 23 at 7:30 p.m. at the Leafs Ice Centre. All AHAI players in their jerseys will receive free admission to the game. Come see two of the top ACHA college teams in the Midwest faceoff against one another! Click HERE for more details!


Unite on the Ice

On Thursday, February 5 All-Star hockey greats will reunite on the ice at Soldier Field in this rare showdown of historical hockey talent, featuring former Blackhawks' player, coach, and Hall of Famer Denis Savard; former St. Louis Blues forward Gino "The Tank" Cavallini; Jamal Mayers, former member of the 2013 Stanley Cup-winning Chicago Blackhawks; and former NHL All-Star and Chicago Blackhawks team captain Adrian Aucoin. All proceeds benefit St. Jude, where no family ever receives a bill for treatment, travel, housing or food. Proceeds from the open-skate sessions, plus raffles and auctions for the chance to win signed memorabilia and prizes, will all benefit the kids of St. Jude. READ MORE>>

Pink in the Rink
The Chicago Mission prides itself on producing not only great athletes, but great people as well. Every year, the girls program at the Chicago Mission hosts a 'Pink In The Rink' fundraiser in order to increase awareness about cancer and raise money for the American Cancer Society. The oldest girls team, the Chicago Mission Girls Under 19 team, leads it with assistance from the three younger teams, the Under 16, Under 14, and Under 12 teams. This will be the Chicago Mission Girls 7th annual Pink In The Rink Fundraiser. READ MORE>>

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