The health and well-being of our players is of the utmost importance to AHAI. As in the previous 3 years, AHAI has retained Athletico Physical Therapy to provide Certified Athletic Trainers at State Tournament games. You will see Athletico ATs on site at all Girls 14U through 19U State round robin and final games at West Meadows, Bantam, Midget and High School State round robin game sites, Tier I round robin game sites and the Leafs Ice Centre for the Tier I "best of 3". Finally, Athletico ATs will be in Bensenville for the State Finals for Tier II. (Due to their arbitrary, short notice nature, coverage cannot be provided for the few High School State "elimination games"). Athletic trainers will provide consultation, player evaluation and recommendations for all potential injury and head trauma incidents. It should be noted that any player removed from a game for a concussion or head trauma will be subject to standard concussion protocols. The player must be cleared for play by the Athletico staff on site, or have a written confirmation from a doctor or Certified Athletic Trainer before he can return to play. This is of course for the players own safety. Good luck to you and your team in State! - AHAI Board of Directors

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AHAI NEWS & INFORMATION

AHAI COACH OF THE YEAR AWARDS

AHAI recognizes that Illinois Hockey is comprised not only of incredible players, but also of great High School and Youth/Girls' Hockey Coaches that guide our teams both on and off the ice. Candidates for AHAI's High School and Youth/Girls' Hockey Coach of the Year Awards should embody good sportsmanship and respect toward teams, parents and officials while providing a positive High School or Youth/Girls' Hockey experience. Candidates should also teach positive life skills while demonstrating dedication, passion and commitment to community. Deadline to nominate is Saturday, February 20, 2016. NOMINATE NOW>>

BLACKHAWK ALUMNI SCHOALRSHIP

Scholarship application due date extended to February 15, 2016!

Graduating Illinois High School Players are encouraged to apply for the annual Chicago Blackhawk Alumni Association Scholarship. Each year the CBAA awards 3 $7,500 4-year scholarships to the most deserving high school hockey players in the state. READ MORE>>

PHOTOS BY SULLY AVAILABLE DURING TIER II "SUPER WEEKEND" AT THE EDGE

Tier II Teams, don't miss out on an exciting opportunity to take home an action photo disc of your championship game taken by official AHAI photographer, Photos by Sully. The action photo disc includes digital images from your game including photos of your players and team receiving awards as well as action shots of your championship game. Pre-orders are now being taken. Action photo disc will be available after your game. Please note that NO action shots will be taken during your game unless the action photo disc is purchased. Click HERE for more details regarding pricing and/or to download pre-order form. Questions? Email info@photosbysully.com.

2016 ILLINOIS STATE HOCKEY CHAMPIONSHIPS

Look for your special edition "Countdown to State" e-newsletter in your inbox on Friday, February 12, 2016!

High School Brackets

Tier II Brackets

Tier I Brackets

Girls Brackets

ILLINOIS HIGH SCHOOL HOCKEY STATE CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE

In conjunction with the Amateur Hockey Association of Illinois (AHAI), the Chicago Blackhawks are excited to announce the second annual Youth Hockey On-Ice Photo at the 2016 Illinois High School Hockey State Championships, presented by Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana Chevy Dealers. We need the support of the Illinois Youth Hockey Community. All players wearing a current youth hockey jersey will be allowed to go on ice around the Chicago Blackhawks Logo after the March 18th Red Division Championship game at 7:00 PM. Click HERE for Illinois High School Hockey State Championship Ticket Information and complete details on Youth Hockey Organization Awards for participation in the 2nd Annual Youth Hockey On-Ice Photo!

Friday, March 18th ~ United Center

Girls Division: 4:00 PM

Red Division: 7:00 PM (Broadcast at 11pm on CSN)

Combined Division: 9:15 PM

IT'S PLAYOFF TIME...

I AIN'T MISBEHAVING...THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A MISCONDUCT & A GAME MISCONDUCT

Have you seen a player or coach receive a Game Misconduct penalty? Do you know what that means? A misconduct penalty means the removal of a player (player only, not a coach) from the game for 10 Minutes. A game Misconduct penalty means the removal of a player or coach for the remainder of the game and at least one additional game. Let's talk about a Misconduct penalty first. Misconduct penalties usually come in one of two ways. First, an outright Misconduct (a player abuses an Official) or second, as an added penalty for various Rules infractions also popularly known as a 2 and 10. READ MORE>>

"MY HANDS WERE SHAKING": THE IMPACT ABUSE OF OFFICIALS HAS ON YOUTH REFEREES

By Lilly Bianchi ~ Picture this: a bitter Saturday morning draws families out of bed to get their little ones to the rink. They tie skates, sip coffee and chat as the kids take to the ice for a game. It happens every weekend in rinks all across America...so does the abuse of the officials toward those that work those games. AHAI Referee-In-Chief Michael Barrett estimates about 175-200 reports are received annually regarding abuse of officials. There is no doubt such instances take a toll on officials, but what about when the official is only a teenager? As a 17 year old referee, I can tell you it happens all too often. Very rarely does one work a game where not a single negative comment is made. Perhaps the worst experience I had involved the anger of a coach. My hands were shaking, my voice trembling. The coach knew me, he even coached me, but that didn't seem to stop him. READ MORE>>

JANUARY PHOTO OF THE MONTH TOP 5

Your votes have been counted and the Top 5 Photos for January have been selected! Congratulations to our winners! Click HERE to view our 17 Finalists and visit AHAI's Facebook Page to see all photos submitted in January!

Cooper Christensen

"Keeping an Eye on the Puck"

Canlan Rebels, Mite Blue

Send those photos in for February! Click HERE for complete photo contest details.

Aiden Crisp

"Amazing Focus"

Sabre Hockey, Squirt 6

Peter Thompson

"Breakaway Goal"

Northern Express, Squirt A

Mia Fiscelli & Maeve Ryan

"Synchronized Skating"

St. Jude, Girls 12U A3

Brayden Petro

"Dyno-Mite Goalie"

Hoffman Estates, Dyno-Mites

ILLINOIS HIGH SCHOOL HOCKEY NEWS

2016 BOYS & GIRLS HIGH SCHOOL ALL-STATE ROSTERS ANNOUNCED! WATCH THE GAMES LIVE ON THE CUBE!

The 27th Annual Boys' and Girls' High School All-State games will be played on Monday, February 8, 2015 at the Edge Ice Arena in Bensenville, Illinois. The Girls' game will start at 6:40pm and the Boys' game will begin at 8:35pm. Admission is FREE! AHAI salutes and congratulates each of these fine young student athletes on their accomplishment. Can't make the game, but don't want to miss a second of the action? Click HERE to watch the "best play the best" on The Cube.

PLAYERS INVITED TO ATTEND THE 2016 AMERICA'S SHOWCASE TEAM ILLINOIS TRYOUTS ANNOUNCED!

America's Showcase will take place from April 14-18, 2016 at the Robert Morris Island Sports Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The AHAI High School coaching community is honored to have the opportunity to be involved with the top High School players in Illinois. They feel that America's High School Showcase offers players a great opportunity to be exposed to Junior, College and Professional Scouts from throughout the USA and Canada and the honor to represent Illinois in the best High School Hockey event in North America. Twenty-four boys' teams from across the United States representing forty-three States will compete and showcase their talents to scouts from every major hockey institution in the country. READ MORE & VIEW TEAM TRYOUT ROSTERS

ROSS FORMAN'S 2016 ILLINOIS STATE HIGH SCHOOL HOCKEY CHAMPIONSHIP PREDICTIONS

It's always a fun time of the season when the annual Illinois State Championship brackets are released by AHAI, so as January came to an end, high school teams throughout Illinois were trying to figure out how much longer their season might, could, or will be alive. Win-or-go-home is the mantra come state tournament time. Let's start in the top-tiered Red Division, where the top four seeds in this field of 28 teams earned a bye into the sweet 16. So, No. 1 New Trier Green awaits the winner of No. 16 Neuqua Valley and No. 17 St. Ignatius. And No. 2 Benet Academy awaits the winner of No. 15 Fenwick and No. 18 Hinsdale Central. Providence Catholic is the No. 3 seed, so the Celtics will open state tournament play against either No. 14 Highland Park or No. 19 Naperville Central. Loyola Gold is the No. 4 seed, so the Ramblers will open state play against either No. 13 Glenbrook South or No. 20 St. Viator. READ MORE>>

METRO GIRLS LEAGUE

By Pam Flores ~ We are halfway through the regular season and the girls' teams are battling for a top spot and the chance to enter the Metro League playoffs. At the same time, play-in games are about the start for the annual Illinois State Girls High School State Championships! The top three teams in the Scholastic Cup are Loyola, Upper Fox Valley and Barrington and the top three in the Founders Cup are Lake Forest Academy, Glenbrook and the Rattlers.

SCHOLASTIC HOCKEY LEAGUE

By Evan Poulakidas ~ The Scholastic Hockey League congratulates New Trier Green Varsity and New Trier Grey JV for winning the regular season championship and Coaches Trophy. Playoff pairings for the Varsity SHL are New Trier Green (1) vs. Fenwick (8), Glenbrook North (2) vs. Stevenson (7), Loyola Gold (3) vs. Barrington (6) and Glenbrook South (4) vs. Rockford (5). All League Team Rosters have also been announced. READ MORE>>

IHSHL NORTH CENTRAL DIVISION

By Greg Mrofcza ~ With all but 2 regular season games left to play, the Champions Varsity League is at the end of a whirlwind week of intense and high stakes games that saw 5 teams entering the weekend's play tied for the league lead in points. The regular season crown was any of the five teams for the taking. When all the dust had settled 3 teams and 2 games remained to decide 1st through 3rd place in the Champions Varsity League. READ MORE>>

ILLINOIS HOCKEY HALL OF FAME

IHHF INDUCTS 10 NEW MEMBERS INTO CLASS OF 2015

Nearly 300 people were present as the Illinois Hockey Hall of Fame (IHHF) recently inducted its 11th class of inductees into its Hall of Fame. The honored inductees who were inducted on Sunday, January 24, 2016 at the Belvedere Banquet Hall in Elk Grove were Derek Martin, Pete Humann, Bob Saliba, Tim Mattila, Nikos Tselios, Chris Chelios, Tom Miller, Dennis Vaske, Matt Nilles. 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. READ MORE>>

2015 IHHF BIO SERIES: CHRIS CHELIOS, PLAYERS CATEGORY

Not THAT Chris Chelios, yet this Chris Chelios is still quite hockey accomplished. Playing the game early in life and as often as possible (many times playing on several teams simultaneously), Chris always found time to be on the ice, and that love for the rink continues to this day. Following a myriad of youth hockey teams, "Cheli" found himself playing Junior A for the Sioux City Muskateers in the USHL, followed by a collegiate career at the University of Wisconsin - Superior, where he earned a Physical Education degree with minors in Coaching and Health. READ MORE>>

COACHING & OFFICIATING NEWS

NATIONAL HOCKEY COACHES SYMPOSIUM

Registration is now open for the 2016 National Hockey Coaches Symposium, Aug. 11-14 in St. Louis, Missouri, at the Marriott St. Louis Grand Hotel. "This is a marquee event, offering coaches a valuable opportunity to learn from some of the world's very best," said Mark Tabrum, USA Hockey director of coaching education. "We encourage coaches to register early, as this event sells out quickly." MORE INFORMATION>>

GIRLS/WOMEN'S COACHING SYMPOSIUM

The High Performance Workshop Girls'/Women's Coaching Symposium, a specialized clinic for coaching the female player ages 8U-19U, will be held March 19-20, at the Grappone Conference Center in Concord, NH. MORE INFORMATION>>

IHOA SPOTLIGHT: CAMERON CONNOR & ROBBY SHINTANI

By Michael Barrett, Illinois Referee-in-Chief & Supervisor of Officials ~ One of the goals of IHOA is to provide officials with every opportunity to advance in their officiating career and move to the highest levels of the game. The IHOA members range in age and experience from the newest of the new to seasoned veterans with multiple hash marks on their sweaters and everyone in between.

The first official is a relatively new official to the officiating ranks and is showing great promise towards an officiating career. The official I am discussing is Cameron Conner. Cameron is currently 17 years old and a senior at Huntley High School. READ MORE>>

ASK THE OFFICIAL BY DAVE ZEDNIK

QUESTION: The Team A goalkeeper skates toward his players' bench during play. While he is approximately 30 feet away from the bench, a teammate enters the play as a substitute for the goalkeeper. While the opposing team has possession and control of the puck (the goalkeeper is still moving toward the bench and his replacement is now involved in the play) the goalkeeper turns and skates back toward his goal to defend against an opposing shot on goal. Does this infraction of the rules constitute "premature substitution" or "too many players on the ice?"

ANSWER: Too many players on the ice. Rule References 205 (a & b). Once the substituting player enters the ice, the goalkeeper is considered to be substituted for. If the goalkeeper participates in play while this condition exists, a penalty for "too many players on the ice" shall be assessed to the offending team. MORE FAQs>>

PLAYERS, LEADERS & CLUBS IN THE NEWS

CHICAGO MISSION'S PINK IN THE RINK RAISED OVER $25,000 FOR AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY

Chicago Mission Girls teams had another very successful Pink in the Rink fundraiser for the American Cancer Society. The fundraiser was held Saturday, January 23, 2016, at their home rink - Seven Bridges Ice Arena in Woodridge, Illinois. The final amount raised was $25,261.04. The day's events included a bake sale, a silent auction, pink jersey sales of U19 players, a raffle, and a nominal entrance fee that included a skate with the team after the game. All proceeds were donated to the American Cancer Society.

2016 HOBEY BAKER NOMINEES INCLUDE ILLINOIS' COMPHER, KUBIAK & LAPPIN!

Since 1981 the Hobey Baker Award has been bestowed up the year's best collegiate hockey player. "To earn this prestigious award the recipient must not only be an excellent hockey player, but an excellent person like Hobey Baker himself, honoring hockey's code of conduct both on and off the ice. Team play, character, integrity, academic achievement and sportsmanship are just as important as skill, and those who have been honored have been inspired by that high standard." We are proud to share that JT Compher (Northbrook), Nick Lappin (Geneva) and Jeff Kubiak (Tinley Park) are part of the distinguished list of nominees for the 2016 Hobey Baker Memorial Award. Support JT, Nick and Jeff and cast your vote today!

CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS NEWS

TICKETS NOW ON SALE FOR THE

2016 ILLINOIS HIGH SCHOOL HOCKEY STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS

2ND ANNUAL ON-ICE YOUTH HOCKEY ON-ICE PHOTO

All players wearing a current youth hockey jersey will be allowed to go on ice around the Chicago Blackhawks Logo after the March 18th Red Division Championship game at
7:00 PM.

1st Place: The Organization with the highest attendance at the Illinois High School Hockey Championships will receive one (1) full game-day scrimmage experience at the United Center during the 2016-17 season. 2nd Place: The Organization with the 2nd highest attendance will be invited down to the United Center to tour the brand new Chicago Blackhawks Locker Room on a non-game day. 3rd Place: The Organization with the 3rd highest attendance will be invited to the United Center to watch a Chicago Blackhawks Practice. Please contact the Chicago Blackhawks at 312-455-7000 with any additional questions. Youth Hockey Organization Awards determined solely through Ticketmaster on-line sales.


TOMMY'S CREW 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 Check out 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>>