In This Issue
STAY CONNECTED
TIER I TRYOUTS
Click HERE to view 2015 Tier I Tryout Schedule
Volume 2 Issue 25
April 15, 2015
WHERE WILL THE PUCK DROP FOR KRAFT HOCKEYVILLE? OUR VOTE IS FOR DECATUR!
After thousands of submissions, Kraft has narrowed it down to the final 10 arenas. Now it's our time to help decide who is America's most passionate hockey community! Vote for the Decatur Civic Center, home to the Decatur Youth Hockey Association TODAY through Thursday April 16! The winning arena not only gets the title of Kraft Hockeyville, but will also host an NHL 2015-16 Pre-Season game in their community, and receive $150,000 towards upgrading their local arena! You can vote up to 50 times per method each day! Text Decatur to 35350 or call toll-free 1-855-255-5975! READ MORE>>
A DAY TO REMEMBER

By Leah Pascarella ~ The crowds were roaring at the United Center on a recent Sunday in March, but this time the cheering wasn't for the Chicago Blackhawks. In conjunction with the Amateur Hockey Association of Illinois (AHAI), the Blackhawks hosted the 2015 Illinois State High School Hockey Championships, and the success of the event was yet another indication of the rapid growth of youth hockey in Illinois. The event marked the 28th year that AHAI has hosted the state championships at the Blackhawks' home rink, and the turnout was bigger than ever before. An on-ice photo shot following the games indicated just how much youth hockey has grown in the state. Every attendee wearing their current youth hockey jersey was invited to meet at center ice for a picture; approximately 750 players posed around the Blackhawks logo for an impressive group shot. READ MORE>>
AHAI ANNUAL MEETING INFORMATION
AHAI IS EXCITED TO INTRODUCE A COMPLETELY NEW FORMAT FOR THE 2015 ANNUAL MEETING! SEE BELOW A DESCRIPTION & SCHEDULE OF OUR NEW ANNUAL MEETING SEMINAR SESSIONS!


2015 AHAI Annual Meeting
Schedule & Information
The AHAI Annual Meeting will be held on Sunday, May 31, 2015, at the Hyatt Woodfield in Schaumburg starting at 8:30 a.m. This year the meeting format will be different and will include association board membership seminar sessions. These seminar sessions will be geared toward the education of Association Board of Directors, Hockey Directors and Coaches and other interested members. Instructors will be from AHAI and USA Hockey; each session will be 40 minutes in length. The early seminar sessions will focus primarily on the education and contacts for further assistance. The last breakout sessions will be open forums which will include updates on possible changes for each discipline along with a question and answer session. The closing session will be a brief recap of the day and the election of the AHAI Board of Directors for 2015-2016 along with any voting needed for proposed AHAI Bylaw changes.
Board of Director Nominations &
Bylaw Proposals

Any individual who wishes to submit their name as a candidate for the position as a Board of Director of AHAI must submit their name, in writing, to the Chairperson of the Nominating Committee, Ken Michel, 8150 West 111th Street, Palos Hills, Illinois 60465 no later than Sunday, April 19, 2015. A short biography stating the individual's background, hockey experience, etc. should be included. The Nominating Committee will then send to each team a list of all of the candidates and their biographies prior to the AHAI Annual Meeting in accordance with the By-Laws, Rules and Regulations.

 

Any individual who wishes to submit a new By-Law proposal or a change to an existing By-Law must submit their proposal(s), in writing, to the President of AHAI, John Dunne, 2 S 713 Grove, Warrenville, Illinois 60555, no later than Thursday, May 1, 2015. Thanking you again in advance for all of your help and cooperation in the furtherance of youth hockey in Illinois.
In order that we may best facilitate the Annual Meeting Seminar Sessions, PLEASE REGISTER by emailing Paul Jakubowski at pjakubowski@ahai2.org with the name of each/every person from your club/organization that will attend and which SESSION(S) they wish to attend.
2015 AHAI Annual Meeting Session Schedule

GOOD LUCK TO THE ELITE PLAYERS SELECTED TO PARTICIPATE IN
THE CENTRAL DISTRICT PLAYER DEVELOPMENT CAMPS
The 2015 Amateur Hockey Association Player Development/ Identification Tryout Camp concluded the weekend of March 22nd.  As determined by the ranking process which started in January, the Head Coaches of Tier I, Tier II and High School Varsity, assembled the top IL players in the 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2001 birth years for this Player Development Camp. The players who participated should be very proud of their accomplishments. Only 36 Forwards, 24 Defensemen and 8 goalies were selected per birth year to participate in this AHAI Player Development Camp. READ MORE>>

CLICK HERE FOR LIST OF PLAYERS SELECTED TO PARTICIPATE IN CENTRAL DISTRICT PLAYER DEVELOPMENT CAMP
AHAI ADULT STATE TOURNAMENT
Over 30 Women's and Men's Adult Teams registered so far, all Divisions open for last call teams! Four game minimum! Great awards! Low cost! Register now!
 

The 2015 Men's and Women's State Tournament will take place at the Darien Sportsplex 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 Hockey 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>>

TIER I TRYOUT SCHEDULE ANNOUNCED
AHAI is pleased to announce the 2015 Tier I Tryout Schedule! Click Tier I logo to view.

 
INFORMATIVE ARTICLES ON TIER I, TIER II, TIER III & JUNIOR HOCKEY
2015 AMERICA'S SHOWCASE
Team Illinois Takes 2nd!
By Terry Stasica, Team Manager ~ After placing first the last two years Illinois started the 2015 America's Showcase with a rematch of last years' final game. Illinois won the first game 5-0 then went on to beat Indiana 5-0 and Missouri Blue 7-0 before going to the quarter finals vs Mid Am. Illinois came out on top in this game 5-1 and went on to beat Wisconsin 9-3. The final game saw Illinois facing the host team Pittsburgh in a rematch of the 2013 final game. After being tied 1-1 after the first period, Pittsburgh scored 3 unanswered goals giving them a 4-1 lead in the third period. COMPLETE TOURNAMENT WRAP-UP>>
Team Central Takes 2nd!
By Anita Lichterman, Asst. Team Manager ~ Team Central earned the title of Runner-Up in the Girls' Division of the 2015 America's Showcase at the Robert Morris University Island Sports Center in Pittsburgh, PA on Sunday, April 12. The objective of America's Showcase is to provide a highly competitive National event for those premier High School student athletes who play for USA Hockey registered High School teams and to provide the opportunity for these premier players (who may not be traditionally scouted) to be seen by major hockey programs in the United States. COMPLETE TOURNAMENT WRAP-UP>>
HIGH SCHOOL NEWS
Illinois West Concludes a Successful 2014-2015 Season

Illinois West High School Hockey had a great 2014 - 2015 Season. The league had many highlights starting with our annual goalie camp in August at All Seasons Ice Arena.  We started this camp six years ago and had eight goalies from league teams attend each night.  This year, we had over thirty-five goalies from the league each evening.  Our goalie camp has great success getting the goalies ready for the season. Next year we plan to add a defensive camp as well; details will follow. READ MORE>>

CENTRAL DISTRICT GIRLS' NEWS
Girls Central District Player Development Tryout Schedule Announced
Good luck to all the girls participating in the Girls Central District Player Development Tryouts this weekend, April 17-19 in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. Please contact Mary Ann Robinson immediately if there is a conflict. All players are expected to be at the entire tryout unless notification was given prior to tryout. Click birth year below for team rosters.
ASK THE OFFICIAL BY DAVE ZEDNIK

QUESTION: The puck is shot by either an attacking or defending player and hits an Official. After hitting the Official, the puck hits the boards then rebounds into the goal. Is the goal allowed?

 

ANSWER: Yes. Rule Reference 617(c.3). No goal may be scored from a direct deflection off an Official. However, if the puck deflects off an Official and then off any other obstruction, other than the goal post or cross bar, including any player, the goal must be allowed. READ MORE>>

ILLINOIS PLAYERS IN THE NEWS
Sean Dhooghe Among USAH's NTDP First 10 Commits for 2015-16 Season 
Forwards Sean Dhooghe (Aurora, Ill.), Grant Mismash (Edina, Minn.), Michael Pastujov (Bradenton, Fla.), Scott Reedy (Prior Lake, Minn.)  and Brady Tkachuk (St. Louis, Mo.), along with defensemen David Farrance (Victor, N.Y.), Max Gildon (Plano, Texas), Quinn Hughes (Orlando, Fla.), Nate Knoepke (Farmington, Minn.) and Josh Maniscalco (Perkiomenville, Pa.) will join USA Hockey's National Team Development Program for the 2015-16 season. READ MORE>>
3 Illinois Men Rostered to 2015 U.S. Men's National Under-18 Team 
USA Hockey has announced the 23-player roster for the U.S. Men's National Under-18 Team that will compete at the 2015 International Ice Hockey Federation Under-18 Men's World Championship from April 16-26, in Zug and Lucerne, Switzerland. Congratulations and good luck to Michael Floodstrand (Hinsdale), Christian Fischer (Wayne) and Clayton Keller (Swansea). READ MORE>>

CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS YOUTH HOCKEY NEWS
Register TODAY for the Blackhawks 3v3 Hockey Tournament!

The third annual Chicago Blackhawks 3v3 Hockey Tournament will take place June 20-21 at Arctic Ice Arena (10700 160th St Orland Park, IL 60467). It is a cross ice tournament open to mites, squirts, and peewees. Teams are comprised of up to 6 skaters (3 skater minimum), and 1 goalie. The entry fee is $525 and includes a three game minimum, team jerseys, t-shirts, and Blackhawks prizes. Click HERE for more information regarding registration and tournament rules.
BMO Harris Bank March Volunteer, Coach & Player of the Month
The Chicago Blackhawks and BMO Harris Bank are committed to honoring our hockey community by congratulating each month during the season, a Youth Hockey Player, Amateur Hockey Coach and a Hockey Volunteer. Click HERE for criteria and nomination form.

 Player- Brendan Meyers, Hornets Sled Hockey, Coach- Michael Svac, Chicago Blackhawks Special Hockey, Volunteer- Susan Foster, Plainfield HS, BMO Representative, Lucino Sotelo, Annie Camins, Youth Hockey Director, Chicago Blackhawks, Spencer Montgomery, Youth Hockey Coordinator, Chicago Blackhawks
Chicago Blackhawks April Youth Hockey Captains' Spotlight 
The Captain Spotlight is a new youth hockey initiative that features four local high school hockey captains per month. These captains are invited to a Blackhawks game and are interviewed on the defining characteristics of what makes a good leader.Congratulations Barrett Sullivan, Crosley Duckmann, Matt Kinker and Mike Desalvo!

USA HOCKEY NEWS & INFORMATION
11th Annual USA Hockey Disabled Festival Is Best Yet

The eleventh annual USA Hockey Disabled Festival concluded on Sunday (April 12) and was a success on all fronts. The three-day event saw a record 71 teams and nearly 1,000 players participate in the largest disabled hockey event of its kind.

 

"The 2015 USA Hockey Disabled Festival was a smashing success," said J.J. O'Connor, USA Hockey Disabled Section chair. "It was wonderful to see so many athletes with a disability coming together for the largest disabled hockey event ever. Our goal was to provide an opportunity for the participants to leave with a smile on their face and I believe we reached our goal." READ MORE>>
USAH Comments On VTU Hockey Helmet Rating System
Virginia Tech recently released a five-star rating system for hockey helmets. USA Hockey has reviewed the findings and below is commentary from Dr. Michael Stuart to help guide parents, players, coaches and officials. Stuart, from the Mayo Clinic, is USA Hockey's chief medical and safety officer. The Hockey STAR rating does not prove if a specific helmet will or will not prevent or even reduce the risk of concussion if worn by a hockey player.

The contention that the current hockey helmet has limited ability to prevent a concussion is not a new concept. Numerous experts and the Ice Hockey Summit: Action on Concussion have stated that a hockey helmet is effective for reducing the risk of skull fracture, but not concussion.(2)   However, improved force dissipation by the hockey helmet is an important goal to help decrease the number and severity of concussions in hockey. A hit to the head is a common mechanism of concussion in hockey, but brain injury can also result from a blow to the face or a blow to the body with resultant force transmission to the head. READ MORE>>
Brendan Burke Internship Applications Being Accepted

USA Hockey is accepting applications through May 15 for the 2015-16 Brendan Burke Internship. The 10-month opportunity runs from Aug. 15, 2015 - June 15, 2016, and is designed for a recent college graduate interested in pursuing a career in hockey operations.

 

Established in April 2010, the internship was founded in memory of the late Brendan Burke, who served as a student assistant for the Miami University men's ice hockey team and is the son of Brian Burke, director of player personnel for the 2014 U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team and currently the president of hockey operations for the National Hockey League's Calgary Flames. Brendan passed away in an automobile accident on Feb. 5, 2010. READ MORE>>

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