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Volume 4 Issue 3
June 8, 2016
2016 AHAI ANNUAL MEETING
The 2016 Annual Meeting of the Amateur Hockey Association of Illinois, Inc. (AHAI) will take place on Saturday, June 25, 2016, at 8:30 a.m. at the Woodfield Hyatt Hotel located in Shaumburg, Illinois.

These seminar sessions will be geared toward the education of Presidents, Association Board of Directors, Youth & Girls Hockey Directors, Registrars, and Coaches as well as Chairmen of R&E, SafeSport and Communication Committees. Instructors will be from AHAI and USA Hockey, and each session will be approximately one hour in length.

***IMPORTANT REGISTRATION INFORMATION FOR THE 
2016 AHAI ANNUAL MEETING***

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 SEMINAR(S) they wish to attend.

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 2016-2017 along with any voting needed for proposed AHAI Bylaw changes.
2016 AHAI ANNUAL REGISTRATION & MEETING SEMINARS
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE
2016 AHAI ANNUAL MEETING SEMINAR SCHEDULE

TIME
SEMINAR TITLE
SEMINAR TOPIC
8:30am - 9:30amOpening SessionUSA Hockey's Club Excellence
9:40am - 10:45amMembership CommunicationsNewsletters, Social Media & Websites
9:40am - 10:45amClub R&E ResponsibilitiesSetting up R&E Committee; Running an Investigation/Hearing
9:40am - 10:45amPlayer SafetyScreening/SafeSport: Locker Rooms &Supervision
11:00am - 12:00pmAssociation By-Laws/Rules & RegulationsThe Importance of Having & Following By-Laws
11:00am - 12:00pmClub Excellence Follow-Up & Growing the GameUSA Hockey's Club Excellence Discussion &
Q&A Session
11:00am - 12:00pmClubs' Player DevelopmentDeveloping a Club Player Advancement Program
12:00pm -12:45pm
LUNCH
LUNCH
12:45pm - 1:45pmTier II & Tier IIINew Tier II & Tier III Information; Q&A Session
12:45pm - 1:45pmHigh SchoolNew High School Information; Q&A Session
12:45pm - 1:45pmGirlsGrowing Girls Hockey
2:00pm - 3:00pmGeneral MeetingGeneral Meeting
AHAI NEWS & INFORMATION
A STEP aHEAD REGISTRATION OPENS JULY 1ST
AHAI, the Chicago Blackhawks, Athletico and NorthShore University HealthSystem are proud to announce the 6th year of the "A Step aHead" program, which provides free baseline neurocognitive testing and education on concussions to the youth hockey community. The program will run from July 1 through November 30, 2016. All AHAI players aged 11-18 years old are eligible for free baseline testing. Beginning July 1 you may register online by clicking HERE.

Additionally, the "A Step aHead" program will again provide concussion education to AHAI coaches, parents and players. Further information about the testing programs and educational opportunities will be available in the AHAI newsletter, AHAI emails and through your clubs. We look forward to another year of working with the hockey community to improve safety in the sport we all love!
TIER I MIDGET TRYOUTS & NATIONAL FESTIVAL CAMPS
The Midget Tier I tryout dates are listed below. Please note that this year there will be a U15 age division. The exact times and locations of tryouts will be released shortly by the Tier I clubs. For your convenience, the dates of the National Festival Camps (invitation only) have also been included below, confirming conflict avoidance with Midget tryouts. Should you have any questions please direct them to Mike Mullally, Tier I Chair, at mike@ahai2.org.

MIDGET TIER I TRYOUT DATES
15 - July 24 - 30, 2016
16U - July 17 - 23, 2016
18U - July 10 - 16, 2016
FESTIVAL CAMP DATES
15 Festival Camp - July 16-20 (2001)
16 Festival Camp - July 8-14 (2000)
17 Festival Camp - June 24-30 (1999)
AHAI FOUNDATION GOLF OUTING IS CELEBRATING 20 YEARS!
The 20th Annual AHAI Foundation Golf Outing will be held at the Hilton Chicago Indian Lakes Resort, Friday, August 12, 2016. The purpose of this event is twofold. First, it creates an opportunity for coaches, referees, administrators, parents and supporters of amateur hockey in Illinois to come together for a day of fun and relaxation to kick off the beginning of the new season. Secondly, and most importantly, the revenues generated from this event will be donated each season to specific charities as established annually by the AHAI Foundation. READ MORE>>
COACHING NEWS & INFORMATION
ASK THE COACH
QUESTION: I'm looking for a Level 4 Coaching Clinic to sign up for around the Illinois area; any information you could provide would be helpful.

ANSWER: Level 4 Clinics are only conducted by USA Hockey. In our district, Central, they are done by the USA Hockey Central District Coach-in-Chief. While we understand that Illinois will host a Level 4 clinic in 2016, a date has not yet been selected. As soon as a date has been chosen, notice will be posted on the AHAI website and in the AHAI newsletter, SNAPSHOT. The clinic will also be listed for registration on the USA Hockey website. Click HERE to use USA Hockey's search engine to find all Level 4 Clinics listed in the country.
2016 NATIONAL HOCKEY
COACHES SYMPOSIUM
NHL head coaches Peter Laviolette (Nashville Predators) and Jeff Blashill (Detroit Red Wings) will headline an impressive roster of high level coaches speaking at the 2016 National Hockey Coaches Symposium in St. Louis, Aug. 11-14. The bi-annual event is for coaches looking to attain their Level 5 coaching certification, the highest offered by USA Hockey. In addition to general sessions, coaches will explore innovative approaches to coaching through intensive breakout sessions dedicated to age-specific teaching and techniques. LINKS & INFO>>
IHOA NEWS & INFORMATION
ASK THE OFFICIAL BY DAVE ZEDNIK
QUESTION: A player who is "friends" with a referee on Facebook posts an insult on the referee's personal page. The referee expects the player to be suspended. What should the league do to the offending player?

ANSWER: Unfortunately we cannot answer your question at this forum since it does not regard any playing rule. Since suspensions and other forms of discipline are handled by the local Disciplinary Body of the team we recommend contacting them. As digital media becomes more widely used there are constantly new ways for players, officials, coaches, and other members of the game to be questioned, insulted, and bullied. READ MORE>>
IHOA ANNOUNCES 2016 SEMINAR DATES
The Illinois Hockey Officials' Association (IHOA) is pleased to announce the release of its officiating seminars for the coming season. If you are unsure of the requirements, please read Register with IHOA. Registration opens on Monday, August 1, 2016 at 8:00 a.m. Questions? Contact Jameson Gronert, IHOA Registrar or any of the IHOA Board members.

PLAYERS, CLUBS, LEADERS & OFFICIALS IN THE NEWS
DR. ELIZABETH PIEROTH TO BE HONORED AT USA HOCKEY'S PRESIDENT'S AWARD DINNER
USA Hockey will host its 2016 Annual Congress from June 8-11 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The four-day event provides USA Hockey's various councils, committees and affiliates the opportunity to conduct the business of the national governing body and celebrate accomplishment. USA Hockey will honor its service award recipients and various other players of the year on June 8 at its annual Night of Tribute Awards Dinner. Dr. Elizabeth Pieroth will receive the Excellence in Safety Award during the President's Awards Dinner on June 10. READ MORE>>
CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS NEWS & INFORMATION
BLIND HOCKEY G.O.A.L. CLINIC


The Chicago Blackhawks recently held their first Blind Hockey G.O.A.L. clinic for Pathways in Education students. 

What is Blind Hockey? Check out this great video!
DON'T MISS OUT! REGISTER TODAY! SPOTS ARE FILLING UP FAST!
Hurry! Spots are filling up quickly at all age levels for the Chicago Blackhawks 3v3 Youth Hockey Tournament. This year's tournament (Mites, Squirts and Pee Wees) will be held August 5-6 at Seven Bridges Ice Arena in Woodridge, IL. Please call 312-455-7046 or email Laura Jordan at with any questions regarding registration.
LIMITED OPENINGS AVAILABLE FOR CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS YOUTH HOCKEY SUMMER CAMPS
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!

There are a limited number of camp spots available for the Crestwood Camp (ages 5-8), McFetridge Camp (ages 5-8) and Seven Bridges Girls Camp (ages 9-14). If interested in registering for these camps, please contact Laura Jordan at ljordan@chicagoblackhawks.com or call 312.455.7046.
UPCOMING EVENTS
JOHN JALOWAY MEMORIAL CLASSIC
The Inaugural "John Jaloway Memorial Classic" will be held on Saturday, June 18, and will feature an open skate and an autograph session with a Chicago Blackhawks and Chicago Wolves Alumni prior to their charity hockey game. VIEW FLYER>>
ROSS K. MacNEILL 3V3 MEMORIAL TOURNEY
Register today for the Ross K. MacNeill Memorial "Tough" 3v3 Hockey Tournament taking place on June 11, 2016, at Center Ice of DuPage in Glen Ellyn, IL. All proceeds go to pediatric brain cancer research. VIEW FLYER>>
A ROUND FOR
MATT OLSON
Register today for "A Round for Matt"! This event will take place on Thursday, July 21 at the Carillon Links in Plainfield, IL. All proceeds will be donated to the Matt Olson fund. VIEW FLYER>>
FACE OFF FOR MDA
Mark your calendars for July 23-24 for the Fire Fighter Face Off Adult Hockey Tournament, presented by Bolingbrook Fire Fighters Local 3005, at Rocket Ice Arena in Bolingbrook. Proceeds will benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Association. VIEW FLYER>>
COUGARS HOCKEY NIGHT
Lace up your skates and pull on your breezers for a night of hockey fun at Fifth Third Bank Ballpark! Join the Cougars for Hockey Night on Friday, July 29th as they celebrate Winter's greatest game in the Summer! VIEW FLYER>>

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