In This Issue
The Cube will be live streaming the Red Varsity and Combined Varsity High School Semi-Final games and the White Varsity Championship game. Click HERE  for AHAI's Cube. 
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Volume 3 Issue 22
March 2, 2016
CHICAGO COUGARS' MATT OLSON SUFFERS SEVERE SPINAL CORD INJURY
Junior Chicago Cougars' Defenseman, Matt Olson suffered a severe spinal cord injury on Sunday, February 21, during the Cougars vs. Illiana Blackbirgds game. Cougars Co-Captain Olson caught an edge racing for a puck behind the net,  went down and ran into the boards head first, causing severe and permanent spinal cord damage. Olson's family went out of their way to emphasize that it was not contact with another player that caused his injury. The family issued a statement to the media, which reads: "Anyone who has spent any amount of time with our son, Matt, knows that he always gives 110% and leads by example. On Sunday, Matt was injured participating in the sport he loves. We are confident Matt will continue to bring the same work ethic to his recovery that has made him successful on and off the ice. Our family is grateful for the prayers and support we have received from the hockey community and beyond. We know it will be a long road and hope to provide an update in a few weeks. In the meantime, we hope you will respect our privacy in this difficult time. Again, thank you for keeping us in your thoughts. We so appreciate your well wishes and support and hope they will continue."

The Junior Chicago Cougars organization stated that "Olson has had a profound impact on the Cougars organization by being a fearless and vocal leader, a compassionate mentor to younger players, an advocate for community involvement and service, and exhibiting a passionate work ethic. Olson's impact will always be a part of our organization and our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family during this most difficult time. We ask that you show your support for Matt Olson and his family by raising awareness of his story, sending thoughts, prayers, and well wishes his way, and contributing to the family's GoFundMe account which has raised over $75,000 in just 5 days." The Olson family is sharing updates on Matt on their Caring Bridge site.

2016 ILLINOIS STATE HOCKEY CHAMPIONSHIPS
ILLINOIS NATIONAL CHAMPIONS & RUNNERS-UP
With the Illinois State Hockey Championships right around the corner, we thought it would be fun to take a look at all the past National Champions and Runners-Up from Illinois. Since 1976 Illinois has won 32 national championship titles and claims 33 runners-up finishes. Overall Illinois ranks 4th in national championship titles after Michigan (121), Massachusetts (87) and Minnesota (34). Click HERE to view list.
TIER I & GIRLS CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES SET

SQUIRT AAA
CYA vs. Mission

PW MINOR AAA
CYA vs. Fury

PW MAJOR AAA
Mission vs. CYA

BANTAM MINOR AAA
Mission vs. CYA
BANTAM MAJOR AAA
Team Illinois vs. Mission

MIDGET U16 AAA
Mission vs. CYA

MIDGET U18AAA
Team Illinois vs. Fury

GIRLS 10U A
Glenview vs. Winnetka
GIRLS 12U AA
Mission vs. CYA

GIRLS 12U A
Glenview vs. Winnetka

GIRLS 14U AA
CYA vs. Mission

GIRLS 14U A
Falcons vs. Bruins
GIRLS 16U AA
CYA vs. Mission

GIRLS 16U A
Vikings vs. Hawks

GIRLS 19U AA
Mission vs. CYA

GIRLS 19U A
Sabres vs. Admirals
TIER II ROUND ROBIN SET TO BEGIN THIS WEEK
Congratulations to our Tier II teams advancing to their respective division round robins! AHAI wishes good luck to all our teams on their road to the State Championship title! Click HERE to view a list of all teams advancing to their division's round robin.
AHAI NEWS & INFORMATION
Separate yourself with the NAHL experience! 2016 Future Prospects Combine
A limited number of spots are available at the Future Prospect Combines and are for players with birth years from 2000-03 only. The NAFP is coming to Canlan Ice Arena (Romeoville) April 1-3, 2016. To register your player and to find out more information, please click HERE.
ASK AHAI
QUESTION: Why does AAA not get to play its State games at Bensenville with all the other teams? - A Curious AAA Parent

ANSWER: The AAA clubs opted to change the event, thus moving it out of Bensenville. Tier 1 is our premier player level, and as such, the AAA State format is chosen by AAA clubs. It is a round robin event, followed by a "best of 3 games". Thus it is virtually impossible to put "best of 3" at Bensenville. There is nothing AHAI would like better than to put the Tier 1 Championship game at Bensenville. AHAI will try again in 2017 to do so. For 2016, the host club is Team Illinois of the Leafs Ice Center in West Dundee, with Championship games there March 5th and 6th.
ADULT STATE TOURNAMENT
AHAI is proud to present the 2016 Adult Illinois State Championship Tournament hosted by the AHAI Adult Committee and Seven Bridges Ice Arena. The Adult State Tournament will take place April 28 - May 1, 2016. READ MORE>>


ILLINOIS INTRODUCES OVER 600 BOYS & GIRLS TO HOCKEY FOR FIRST TIME AS PART OF HWAA!
The ninth annual Hockey Weekend Across America concluded Sunday (Feb. 21) and was a success by all accounts. The nationwide event, which took place Feb. 19-21, was a three-day celebration of hockey that included hundreds of thousands of fans wearing their favorite hockey jerseys, 12,000 boys and girls trying hockey for the first time all across the nation, millions of viewers watching NBC's Hockey Day in America broadcast, and the celebration of local hockey heroes in communities throughout the country. READ MORE>>
YOUTH TIER-I 15-YEAR-OLD NATIONAL TOURNAMENT
USA Hockey recently announced an addition to its slate of 2017 and 2018 Youth Tier I National Championship Tournaments. The new event - a single birth-year USA Hockey National Championship for 15-year-olds was recommended by USA Hockey's Youth Council and will be conducted as a two-year pilot tournament with potential to become a permanent part of the Youth Tier I Nationals in 2019. Each of Illinois' Tier I programs, Chicago Young Americans, Chicago Fury, Mission and Team Illinois will offer a U15 team for the next two years. READ MORE>>
FEBRUARY PHOTO OF THE MONTH TOP 5
Your votes have been counted and the Top 5 Photos for February have been selected! Congratulations to our winners! Click HERE to view our 15 Finalists and visit AHAI's Facebook Page to see all photos submitted in February! 

Jimmy
"Racing Daddy"

Send those photos in for March! Click HERE for complete photo contest details.
Quinn Rowley
"Pond Hockey on Tower Lake"
Yellow Jackets, PW AA


Landon Ritchie & Shane McGuine
"Board Battle"
Rockford Squirt AA Elite
Zach
"Big Goal, Big Grin"
Northern Express PW Majors

Jack Brown
"Unbelievable Save"
Chiefs Hockey Club - Mite
ILLINOIS HIGH SCHOOL HOCKEY NEWS
2016 ILLINOIS HIGH SCHOOL STATE TOURNAMENT BRACKETS
Where is your favorite team in the standings? Click division title for updated brackets.
ILLINOIS HIGH SCHOOL HOCKEY CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE

Friday, March 18, 2016
Girls Division: 4:00 PM
Red Division: 7:00 PM (Broadcast at 11pm on CSN)
Combined Division: 9:15 PM

Members of local youth hockey organizations who purchase tickets online through a special offer will also have the opportunity to partake in a group photo on the United Center ice following the Red Division Championship game. Click HERE for complete details and youth hockey awards for organizations with the highest attendance.
ROAD TO THE UNITED CENTER
Notre Dame looks to overcome injury-filled season with stellar post-season
By Ross FormanHockey's version of March Madness, at least at the high school level, is the grind for the gold that is crowned at the United Center on Friday night, March 18. The top-tiered Red Division was at the Sweet 16 level as of Leap Day, but that once-every-four-year day was the last day of the season for four teams. And four other teams skate their final game of the season on March 1. Elite Eight action in the Red Division is March 9 and March 11, and the semifinals will be held March 14. This is, without question the best, most exciting part of the season. And the most heartbreaking. Win or go home. READ MORE>>
2016 TEAM ILLINOIS AMERICA'S SHOWCASE ROSTER
AHAI congratulates the young men chosen to represent Illinois at the 2016 America's Showcase April 14-18, 2016 at the Robert Morris Island Sports Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. VIEW ROSTER>>
CHICAGO BLACKHAWK ALUMNI SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS
The Chicago Blackhawk Alumni have announced the recipients of this year's annual Blackhawk Alumni Scholarship Award. The recipients are Justin Cruz from St. Viator High School, Jacob Rose from Glenbrook North High School and Lucas Trojanowski from Montini Catholic High School. The entire Illinois hockey family salutes all of those individuals who applied for these scholarships and congratulates these three fine young people on their accomplishments and wish them the best as they move on to college life in the Fall. READ MORE>>
Justin Cruz

Jacob Rose

Lucas Trojanowski
HIGH SCHOOL LEAGUE UPDATES
Metro Girls League
Don't miss the latest Metro Girls League news, including All Star Honors, Fenwick Senior Night and more! READ MORE>>
Scholastic Division
New Trier Green claims SHL Championship title over Loyola Gold in 3 games. READ MORE>>
North Central Division
Maine takes IHSHL North Central Varsity Champions Title. Don't miss the full wrap-up. READ MORE>>
ILLINOIS HOCKEY HALL OF FAME BIO SERIES: DENNIS VASKE
Dennis Vaske is a native of Rockford, Illinois, raised in Plymouth, Minnesota. Growing up, most days he could be found at a hockey rink. He is a graduate of the University of Minnesota-Duluth where he majored in Communications, but his future was in hockey. He was drafted in the second round (38th overall) by the New York Islanders, and began his professional career in 1990. After finishing school and a brief stint in the minors, Vaske became a solid defenseman for the New York Islanders in 1993. READ MORE>>

PLAYERS, LEADERS & CLUBS IN THE NEWS
ZACH DULLA NOW SKATING IN REAL WORLD; REFLECTING ON A SCARY SENIOR NIGHT
By Ross FormanZach Dulla has a two-inch long scar on the left side of his chest, a lifelong reminder of his last high school hockey game, played in early-February, 2011. It was Senior Night for Barrington High School, and Dulla was a senior all-state left wing. He left the rink that night and went by ambulance directly to Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital. He was diagnosed with a collapsed left lung and ultimately spent eight days in the hospital. READ MORE>>
KRISTIN CHIVERS
Rookie blueliner, Kristin Chivers was selected to the ECAC West First Team & the ECAC West All-Rookie Team. READ MORE>>
DYHA
Decatur Youth Hockey Association donated over $15,000 to the American Cancer Society. READ MORE>>
KENDALL COYNE
Palos Heights' Kendall Coyne has been named as one of the Top-10 Finalists for the 2016 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award. READ MORE>>
BOZEK & COYNE NAMED TO 2016 WOMEN'S WORLDS ROSTER
USA Hockey recently announced the roster for the U.S. Women's National Team that will compete in the 2016 International Ice Hockey Federation Women's World Championship. Silver medal-winning Illinois natives, Megan Bozek (Buffalo Grove) and Kendall Coyne (Palos Heights) will be part of the team to compete March 28 to April 4, at Sandman Centre in Kamloops, British, Columbia. READ MORE>>
CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS NEWS & INFORMATION
BLACKHAWKS YOUTH HOCKEY REFEREE SPOTLIGHT
The Youth Hockey Referee Spotlight highlights two amateur hockey referees from Illinois per month and gives them the opportunity to attend a Blackhawks game and meet the NHL refs prior to puck drop. Featured in the fourth spotlight are Joseph Ciske and Ryan WaltersThe impact and contribution of youth referees in hockey is as important as the players, and this is a great opportunity to reward them for their contributions.
BMO HARRIS BANK PLAYER, COACH & VOLUNTEER 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. Congratulations to John McDonnell, Providence Catholic (Coach), Trevor Scianna, St. Rita (Player) and Rich Jecmen, Hornets & Blackhawks Warriors (Volunteer).