Community pride and the love of hockey are alive and well across the country and now 10 communities, including Fox Valley Ice Arena in Geneva, Illinois, are one step closer to being named Kraft Hockeyville™ USA 2016. The Kraft Heinz search for America's most passionate hockey community, in partnership with the National Hockey League (NHLŽ) and National Hockey League Players' Association (NHLPA), led to more than a thousand local rink nominations across the United States. Now that the nominations have been narrowed down to 10 finalists, the first round of public voting began on April 12 and will continue through Thursday, April 14. Kraft Heinz will award funds to each of the finalists for arena upgrades and the grand prize winner will be awarded $150,000 and the opportunity to host an NHLŽ Pre-Season game televised live on NBCSN. READ MORE>>

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AHAI NEWS & INFORMATION

ASK THE REGISTRAR

By Laura Johnson, AHAI Registrar

QUESTION: May a player appear on only one (1) Junior Varsity roster filed with AHAI even though an Association fields two (2) more more Junior Varsity teams?

ANSWER: Any high school that has three (3) teams may field a Varsity and two (2) Junior Varsity teams, or two Varsity and one Junior Varsity team. READ MORE>>

QUESTION: What is the Seven Up-Seven Down Rule for High School Organizations with more than two (2) teams?

ANSWER:

Organizations with two (2) Varsity and one (1) Junior Varsity Teams - the number one Varsity team is frozen for movement, however, there may be movement between the number two Varsity team and the Junior Varsity team. READ MORE>>

If you have questions or need clarification of this or any other rostering rule contact the AHAI Registrar, Laura Johnson at registrar@ahai2.org or 224-636-3233.

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, with all Championship Games taking place on Sunday May 3, 2016.

USA HOCKEY NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS WRAP UP

ILLINOIS BOASTS 2 FINALISTS, 2 SEMI-FINALISTS & 5 QUARTER-FINALISTS!

Congratulations to the Chicago Mission Girls 14U team and the Chicago Bruins Girls 14U team on their 2nd place finishes at USA Hockey's 2016 National Championships!

Chicago Mission Girls 14U

Chicago Bruins Girls 14U

SEMI-FINALISTS

Chicago Mission 14U

Chicago Mission Girls 19U

QUARTER-FINALISTS

Team Illinois 14U

Falcons 14U

Cyclones Midget Major

QUARTER-FINALISTS

CYA Girls 19U

Sabre Girls 19U

Out of the seventeen (17) teams competing in this year's Toyota/USA Hockey National Championships, two (2) teams brought home 2nd place finishes, two (2) teams advanced to the semi-final round and five (5) to the quarter-finals! AHAI salutes the Chicago Mission, Chicago Young Americans, Chicago Fury, Team Illinois, Falcons, Blues, Cyclones, Sabres, Vikings, Bruins and OPRF High School on their outstanding seasons! Click HERE for a complete wrap-up by USA Hockey.

IHOA NEWS & INFORMATION

ASK THE OFFICIAL BY DAVE ZEDNIK

QUESTION: A team enters a tournament with 10 players (9 skaters and a goalie). During the course of the game, 5 skaters receive game misconducts which require them to sit their next scheduled game. That would leave the team with only 5 players for their next scheduled tournament game (also the next game on their schedule). Does the tournament have any latitude to have 3 players sit the next game and 2 different players the following game so that the team does not have to forfeit the second tournament game (reference Rule 201a)?

ANSWER: Unfortunately we cannot answer this question at this forum since it does not regard any playing rule. However, USA Hockey Playing Rule 404(b) states that any player who receives a Game Misconduct must be suspended for the next game appearing on that team's schedule at the time of the infraction. Therefore, the team would likely have to forfeit their next game due to their roster restrictions and "lack of control" by players. ASK THE OFFICIAL>>

ANDY McELMAN RETIRES AS NHL LINESMAN

By Michael Barrett, Illinois Referee-in-Chief & Supervisor of Officials ~ The 2015-2016 season is now complete and we are moving into the next phase of ice hockey - Spring! While the youth level fall season is now complete, the NHL season continues on towards the playoffs. And while I could write all day long about the Chicago Blackhawks and their winning ways, I would like to take some time to write about someone who is planning on a retirement of sorts. The person to whom I am referring is Andy McElman. READ MORE>>

AC SPRAINS & CLAVICLE FRACTURES IN ICE HOCKEY:

BIO-MECHANICAL PERSPECTIVE

Research in the past has identified that approximately 70% of upper extremity injuries in ice hockey occur during games and that approximately 50% of them can be defined as a sprain, strain, or a fracture. The most common diagnosed injury of the shoulder in hockey today is a sprain of the Acromioclavicular (AC) joint. Click HERE to learn more from Athletico Physical Therapy's Steve Chmielewski, PT, DPT.

HIGH SCHOOL HOCKEY NEWS & INFORMATION

METRO GIRLS HOCKEY LEAGUE...CONGRATS ALL AROUND!

By Pam Flores ~ Congratulations to all players in the league for a wonderful season - there were lots of truly competitive games and hard fought victories. A special shout out to Loyola Academy - Illinois State Girls High School State Champions for 2015-2016 and Anne Bloomer, State Championship game MVP. The third time was the charm for this team that seemed to love every minute playing together this year. Congrats are also in order for Barrington for taking second place in state, Loyola coach Conor Sedam for being named Girls' High School Coach of the Year, Loyola Manager Grace Wright for being named volunteer of the month for all her dedication to the team, and Katelynn Russ, Upper Fox Valley High School for being named the Cammie Granato Girls' High School Player of the Year. READ MORE>>

IHSHL NORTH CENTRAL DIVISION SEASON WRAP-UP

By Greg Mrofcza ~ As a final note to the 2015-2016 season, the IHSHL North Central Division is proud to acknowledge the accomplishments of its teams throughout the Illinois State High School Hockey Championships. The presence of the IHSHL North Central Division was strongly evident in several high school divisions and congratulations are due to all 4 of the IHSHL North Central Division teams that made it to state final games. BGHW won the Varsity Combined State Championship with a gutsy performance at the United Center that saw the Stampede with the contest in overtime on a goal by Will Busby by a final score of 3-2. READ MORE>>

IHSHL HAYES DIVISION 2015 - 2016 SEASON WRAP-UP

By Ron Abels ~ The IHSHL Hayes Division would like to congratulate all our league Champions, Runners-up, Award Winners and Academic All-Conference Recipients on their accomplishments this season. We wish our member clubs and players an enjoyable off-season! READ MORE for a complete list (and pictures) of league division champions and runners-up, division award recipients and All-Conference Academic recipients.

DuPage Stars

Varsity Cougar Cup

AWFM Renegades

Varsity Burton Cup

Fox Valley Hawks

JV Hayes Cup

Notre Dame White

JV Blue Division

LEAGUE CHAMPIONS

Fenwick White

JV Green Division

NORTHERN ILLINOIS HOCKEY LEAGUE (NIHL) NEWS

Congratulations to the 2016 NIHL Wolves Cup Champions! Tier II Illinois teams from Mite to Midget competed in 21 different divisions to vie for the Wolves Cup Championship Title. VIEW LIST OF CHAMPIONS>>

The Presidents Cup is the award given to recognize the team that finishes with the best overall regular season record in each age and competitive division of the League. In competitive divisions that have multiple tiers, the Presidents Cup is given to the team that finishes with the best overall regular season record in the highest tier of that competitive division. VIEW LIST OF PRESIDENTS' CUP RECIPIENTS>>

Congratulations to the all the players that received NIHL's Academic Excellence Award during the 2015-2016 season! VIEW LIST OF SCHOLARS>>

PLAYERS, CLUBS & LEADERS IN THE NEWS

CHUCK FATTORE RECEIVES AHAI SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARD

AHAI President, John Dunne, attended Neuqua Valley High School Hockey Club's annual year-end banquet on Tuesday, April 7, 2016, to present long-time AHAI volunteer, Chuck Fattore with an AHAI Special Recognition Award for his continued commitment and unending dedication to the growth and development of amateur hockey players in the state of Illinois. Fattore has been an invaluable AHAI volunteer over the past decade. He was the chair of the Chicago Blackhawks Holiday High School Classic, fondly known and the "Ho Ho Tournament", the head of the High School Goalie Reassignment Program and President of the Neuqua Valley High School Hockey Club for over 6 years. AHAI congratulates Chuck Fattore on this well-deserved honor.

MISSIONS' PIVONKA, STASTNEY & WILDE JOIN U.S. NATIONAL U17 TEAM

Twelve forwards, eight defensemen and two goaltenders were recently selected to join USA Hockey's National Team Development Program for the 2016-17 season. The players, all from the 2000 birth year, will compete as members of the U.S. National Under-17 Team. The Chicago Mission boasts three players on the Under-17 Team Roster: Jake Pivonka, Spencer Stastney and Bode Wilde. READ MORE>>

ILLINOIS' KELLER & SANCHEZ INCLUDED ON U.S. MENS U18 ROSTER

USA Hockey announced the 22-player roster, which includes Illinois' Clayton Keller (Swansea) and James Sanchez (Northbrook), for the U.S. Men's National Under-18 Team that will compete at the 2016 International Ice Hockey Federation Under-18 Men's World Championship from April 14-24, in Grand Forks, North Dakota. READ MORE>>

CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS NEWS & INFORMATION

IT'S SUMMER CAMP TIME!

Registration for the 2016 Youth Hockey Summer Camps is NOW OPEN! Camp highlights include 2 on-ice sessions per day which will focus on individual skill development, positional and team play through combination drills, stations and controlled scrimmages, daily off-ice training sessions, high staff-to-player ratio which include Blackhawks Alumni and staff and a jersey for every camper! Click HERE for more information. Still have questions? Please email youthhockey@chicagoblackhawks.com or call 312-455-7620.