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Volume 3 Issue 16
December 9, 2015
MEGAN BOZEK TO PARTICIPATE IN GIRLS CROSS-ICE TOURNAMENT
On January 2nd, USA Hockey and AHAI will take over the United Center for the Mid-Season Classic Girls Cross-Ice Tournament. AHAI Girls teams will participate in a cross-ice tournament which will include a minimum of 3 games, a championship, lots of giveaways, and awards for the winners. The United Center ice will be transformed into three ice surfaces with teams competing in two divisions; 10U, and 12U. The concourse will be hopping - the concession stands will be open and their will be a photobooth, two gaming trucks, face-painting, a craft-making table and more! The younger girls will also have the chance to watch the Sabre Girls 19U team take on the Admirals 19U team.

We are also excited to announced that Illinois native, Megan Bozek, will be in attendance to drop the opening puck and sign autographs during the Girls Cross-Ice Tournament. Megan was a member of the 2014 U.S. Women's Olympic Team that captured Silver at the Sochi games and has played in two IIHF Women's World Championships (gold-2013; silver 2012) and four Four Nations Cups.

PARTICIPATING TEAMS
(As of December 8, 2015)

10U GIRLS
Admirals * Sabres * St Jude * Hawks * Franklin Park * Decatur Wilmette * Skokie #1 * Skokie #2 * Saddle & Cycle * Bloomington, Glenview/Northbrook * Maulers * Chicago Misfits

12U GIRLS
Admirals * Sabres * St Jude * Hawks * Franklin Park * Wilmette Wolves * Glenview/Northbrook
AHAI NEWS & INFORMATION
ASK THE COACH
QUESTION: I just received a courtesy reminder email from AHAI stating that my CEP certification will expire on December 31st. I just took the next Level clinic last week. Why is the AHAI CEP database wrong?

ANSWER: The AHAI CEP database is only as good as the latest updates made. If your most recent attendance at a CEP Clinic (Online Level 3 Recertification or Age Specific Module) is not reflected in the email you received, please ask your Club's Registrar to do an update/sync with USA Hockey to capture the most recent data. This will update the AHAI database and will show your most recent certifications. Also, please understand that it takes a week to 10 days after your CEP clinic for that data to be entered into the system.
HAWKS TICKET GIVEAWAY
Enter to win two (2) tickets to the Chicago Blackhawks vs. Nashville Predators on Tuesday, January 12, 2016 at 7:30 p.m. (Section 311, Row 12, Seats 4 & 5). Winner will also receive two (2) AHAI T-shirts and two (2) AHAI Winter Hats! Deadline to enter is Thursday, December 31, 2015 at 7:00 p.m. Winners will be contacted via email and announced in the January 6 edition of AHAI's e-newsletter, SNAPSHOT. ENTER TO WIN NOW>>
SUBMIT YOUR PICS TODAY
Submit photos of your AHAI players' wicked slapshots, dekes, dangles and great saves...or of your kids just plain having fun playing hockey! Send photos to Gretchen Cockey at gretchen@ahai2.org with a brief caption along with player's name, their organization, and playing level. ALL photos will be posted on AHAI's Facebook Page, but 5 lucky photos will be featured in SNAPSHOT and receive an awesome AHAI Winter Hat. Deadline to submit photos is December 15. FULL DETAILS>>
ONE-TIMERS
2016 ILLINOIS STATE HOCKEY CHAMPIONSHIPS
Attention Tier II Presidents: 
You should have received an email the weekend of December 5 advising you of the Tier II Exemption Process. The deadline to submit an exemption is Saturday, December 12 2015. Questions? Contact Gregg Chudacoff at
.
ADULT STATE TOURNAMENT DATE & LOCATION ANNOUNCED
AHAI is proud to present the 2016 Adult Illinois State Championship Tournament hosted by the AHAI Adult Committee and the Seven Bridges Ice Arena. The Adult State Tournament will take place April 28 - May 1, 2016 with all Championship Games taking place on Sunday May 3, 2016 at the Seven Bridges Ice Arena in Woodridge, IL. READ MORE & VIEW OFFICIAL FLYER>>
ILLINOIS HOCKEY HALL OF FAME BIO SERIES: PETER HUMANN
Peter Humann was born in Chicago and raised in Skokie. He was active in sports throughout his youth playing baseball and basketball. After graduating from Niles North High School and attending Junior College, Pete started his career as a mechanic. For the last 21 years he has worked as shop foreman for a plumbing contractor.

Pete met his future wife, Linda, while in school and they married in September 1979. In 1983 they welcomed a son, Michael, and moved back to Skokie in 1985. Pete and Linda, looking to get Michael involved in sports at the age of 4, were turned away by the little league organization as he was too young. After a conversation with a neighbor who was coaching youth hockey, he suggested they take Michael to the Skokie Skatium to sign up for the Learn to Skate program and introduction to hockey. READ MORE>>

IHHF Induction Dinner that will be held on Sunday, January 24, 2016 at 5pm at the Belvedere Banquet Hall in Elk Grove Village. Tickets are available by contacting Norm Spiegel at jacole@comcast.net. For more information and a list of past inductees into the Illinois Hockey Hall of Fame, please click HERE.
ILLINOIS HIGH SCHOOL HOCKEY NEWS
SECOND SIMKOWSKI AT SANDBURG ENDING 4-YEAR VARSITY CAREER
By Ross Forman ~ In an elite-eight round of the 2013 Illinois High School Hockey State Tournament, a Sandburg rookie named Eric Simkowski assisted on the first goal of a game against Naperville North. "It was a mazing to me, (then just) a freshman making an impact in a big game on our way to the Final Four," said Simkowski, now a senior, and certainly a leader for the same Sandburg Eagles. Simkowski - known to his teammates as Sims or Simkow - is an 18-year-old in Eagles' uniform No. 42, the same number his older brother, Greg, wore for the school. Simkowski celebrated his 18th birthday on Wednesday (Dec. 2) and lives in Orland Park. READ MORE>>
ROSS FORMAN'S TOP 20
Published December 1, 2015

1. Benet Academy
2. New Trier Green
3. Glenbrook North
4. Providence Catholic
5. Loyola Gold
6. St. Rita
7. Rockford
8. Brother Rice
9. Stevenson
10. Barrington

Click HERE to view full Top 20
METRO GIRLS
By Pam Flores ~ The Metro Girls League's season is well underway with lots of exciting games yet to be played in the first half of the season! The teams in the Metro Girls league include: Barrington, Evanston, Fenwick, Glenbrook, Lake Forest Academy, Lake Forest H.S., Latin School of Chicago, Loyola Academy, Maine Township, Naper Valley, New Trier Gold, New Trier Silver, Rattlers, Upper Fox Valley and Warren. READ MORE>>
ILLINOIS WEST
By Brian Meek ~ Illinois West High School Hockey League is in full swing as our Christmas break approaches. We are past the half way point in games played and as always the league is very competitive. This year Illinois West is fielding 27 teams between Varsity and Junior Varsity. Illinois West will again be sponsoring outdoor games on December 31st and January 1st for our teams. READ MORE>>
NORTH CENTRAL
By Greg Mrofcza ~ When we last left off it was recommended to mark your calendars for BGHW at Evanston on December 2. The game did not disappoint as BGHW handed Evanston their first league loss of the season by a score of 2-1. Despite the loss the Evanston Wildkits seem to be the team to follow early on as they quickly rebounded for back-to-back wins over the Kings and New Trier Blue this past weekend. READ MORE>>
CHICAGO BLACKHAWK ALUMNI SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION
We wanted to make you aware of a unique opportunity for all graduating Illinois High School Players. This is an annual scholarship which is provided by the Chicago Blackhawk Alumni Association to three Illinois High School hockey players. The Alumni awards three annual $7,500 scholarships (for 4 years) to "the most deserving high school hockey players" in the state. The selection process is determined not by talent, but by the following five criteria: Academics, Financial Need, Character, Community Service and Applicant Essay. READ MORE>> 
22ND ANNUAL HIGH SCHOOL HOLIDAY HOCKEY CLASSIC
The best high school teams throughout the Midwest will compete in the 22nd Annual Chicago Blackhawks Charities High School Hockey Classic at the Edge Ice Arena December 26-28, 2015. All Tournament proceeds benefit Chicago Blackhawks Charities which supports amateur hockey as well as underprivileged and abused children. We invite you to bring the family out to watch some exciting high school hockey action during this holiday season. Click HERE to view participating teams, ticket information and tournament schedule and brackets.
ASK THE OFFICIAL BY DAVE ZEDNIK
QUESTION: During a stoppage of play, a coach calls the referee over to the bench and attempts to question the ruling of the officials by utilizing an electronic device. The team is assessed a bench minor for an equipment violation according to the rule and the device has been removed. While the bench minor penalty is still being served, a team official now starts verbally abusing the referee. What penalty should be assessed to the coach?
 
ANSWER: A Game Misconduct Penalty is assessed to the team official verbally abusing the referee. Rule References 308(b), 308(c) and 601(e.1).  READ MORE>>
PLAYERS, LEADERS & CLUBS IN THE NEWS
GLENVIEW COACHES ENJOY DECADES ON THE BENCH
Sylvain Turcotte and Norm Janis change with the times, treasure their run as coaches
By Ross Forman ~ Sylvain Turcotte started coaching in 1984, at his high school alma mater in Montreal. Turcotte was 22 years-old at the time, leading a team of 16-, 17-, and 18-year-olds. "It was quite the experience," Turcotte said. "Practices were at 6 a.m. three times a week and just like when I was playing, kids had to leave school early on game days because all the English schools finished before us and games could not start past a certain time. We made it to the Quebec championship game that year, yet lost." Still, "it was (an) unbelievable (season)." READ MORE>>
COMPHER & GULSTENE ROSTERED TO 2016 U18 WOMEN'S WORLD TEAM
USA Hockey announced the 22-player roster for its U.S. Women's National Under-18 Team, which will compete at the 2016 International Ice Hockey Federation Under-18 Women's World Championship. READ MORE>>
PIVONKA NAMED TO U.S. YOUTH OLYMPIC ICE HOCKEY ROSTER
USA Hockey has announced the 17-player roster for the U.S. Youth Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team that will compete in the 2016 Winter Youth Olympic Games in Lillehammer, Norway. READ MORE>>
DVORAK, KELLER & BELPEDIO NAMED TO 2016 U.S. NATIONAL JUNIOR TEAM PRELIMINARY ROSTER
USA Hockey unveiled today the 29 players selected to the preliminary roster for the 2016 U.S. National Junior Team. The players will attend training camp Dec. 14-18 at Boston University in Boston followed by an additional camp in Vierumaki, Finland, from Dec. 19-24. The final 23-man roster is expected to be named by Dec. 24. Team USA will compete in the 2016 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship, Dec.26-Jan.5, in Helsinki, Finland. READ MORE>>
 CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS NEWS & INFORMATION
EDDIE OLCZYK YOUTH HOCKEY AWARD
Since its inception in 2011, the Eddie Olczyk Award has distributed over $105,000 in grants, raised through Blackhawks Youth Hockey Summer Camps, to 46 individuals and two organizations. As the head instructor at the Blackhawks Hockey Camps, Olczyk is dedicated to the development and growth of youth hockey in Illinois. Applications are now available. Click HERE for more information. Questions? Email Annie Camins at acamins@chicagoblackhawks.com. The Eddie Olczyk Award will grant:
  • individuals/families in need of assistance for participation in an Illinois sanctioned team or organization
  • sanctioned teams in need of assistance for tournament expenses
  • AHAI (Amateur Hockey Association of Illinois) organizations in need of assistance to run programs which increase the participation in and quality of youth hockey.
Don't miss the 'Girls Rule' Holiday Hockey Clinic on Monday, December 21 and Tuesday, December 22 at McFetridge Sports Complex in Chicago! Click HERE for more information.
Register today for the Women's Holiday Hockey Clinic on Tuesday, December 22 and Wednesday, December 24 at McFetridge Sports Complex. Click HERE for more information.
TOMMY'S CREW & CLUB BLACKHAWKS
Chicago hockey fans are invited to join Tommy's Crew. Tommy's Crewmembers will receive a monthly E-Newsletter, a birthday card from Tommy, a gift bag, have the chance to attend exclusive events and much more! Don't miss out on this all-access pass featuring Tommy Hawk and the Chicago Blackhawks! SIGN UP TODAY>>


CLUB BLACKHAWKS MOBILE APP
Check out our new mobile app, Club Blackhawks, made just for you! This app allows young Blackhawks fans to get exclusive access and features, connect with the Blackhawks, fellow fans and Tommy Hawk! You can earn badges by completing challenges, play trivia games and share photos with your friends. The app is free so be sure to ask your parents! SIGN UP TODAY>>
 UPCOMING EVENTS
ELITE ATHLETES & THE COLD WAR
Illinois native, Gabe Polsky, is headlining at the Elite Athletes & the Cold War symposium presented by the Nanovic Institute for European Studies at the University of Notre Dame December 10-11, 2015. On December 10 there will be a RED ARMY screening followed by a Q&A. December 11 will feature a panel discussion with Mr. Polsky and some of Europe's greatest former hockey players  at 2pm and an exhibition hockey game with the Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Blackhawks Alumni at 7:30pm. Click HERE for complete details.
JOSH STRUTZ MEMORIAL EVENT
Mark your calendar for the 6th Annual Josh Strutz "Hockey is Life Fund" Memorial Event on Friday, December 18 from 7-10pm at West Meadows Ice Arena. A $5 donation entry fee will be collected at the door. All proceeds support Illinois Youth Hockey. Please click HERE for event flyer.

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