IN THIS ISSUE

Grant Kimball to Lead AU Spartans

Girls Growing in Trenton

Capitals Build a Respectful Winner in New Hampshire

Skills-Focused Falmouth Girls Thriving on Cape

The Female Athlete Perspective on Coaching

Clinics Elevate Coaching for All

Athletic Passion is Gender Neutral

For Riveters' Figueroa, Hockey is More than a Game

You Have to Shoot the Puck!

Volume 1 Issue 1
July 6, 2016
WELCOME TO THE INAUGURAL 'GIRLS SNAPSHOT' NEWSLETTER!
AHAI would like to welcome you to the inaugural Girls Snapshot Newsletter. This monthly publication is designed to highlight all things girls' hockey in Illinois and around the country. Regular features will focus on girls' hockey in Illinois, both on and off the ice; girls' hockey across the country; and any key articles of interest to the female athlete as well as news from USA Hockey. We will spotlight successes of our female hockey players as they move on to higher achievements and we will shine a light on the things our girls do here in Illinois. We hope you enjoy learning about girls' hockey, create a better understanding of what it is all about, and help us celebrate the successes these young ladies enjoy. We welcome any newsworthy stories you have from your girls' programs, so please share and we will publish as many as we can. Thank you.
ILLINOIS GIRLS' NEWS
COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE TO GIRLS' HOCKEY IN ILLINOIS
The growth of girls' hockey nationwide is undeniable. The opportunities that have opened up for girls to play beyond their youth years is ever expanding. USA Hockey girls' registrations have grown by 36% over the last 10 years and 8U girls' numbers have grown by 57%. The recently formed National Women's Hockey League (NWHL) has given young ladies a chance to play professionally. The Junior Women's Hockey League (JWHL) is a league that mirrors some men's junior leagues in showcasing the girls for college scouts (CYA Girls are participating in this league). Finally, on a national level there are 35 NCAA Division I, 56 NCAA Division III, and 46 ACHA Club college hockey programs available to girls who wish to play hockey after high school.
 
Some may say, "Well that's nice, but what is happening in Illinois?" Let's take a look at our state and the state of girls' hockey right here in our own backyard. READ MORE>>
GRANT KIMBALL TO LEAD AURORA UNIVERSITY'S NEW NCAA DIVISION III WOMEN'S PROGRAM
Aurora announced Wednesday the addition of Grant Kimball as head coach of the new women's hockey program that will begin play in the 2017-18 season. Kimball comes to AU after spending the previous seven seasons as the associate coach and recruiting coordinator at Vermont. "Having a coach with Grant's resume lead the women's hockey program at AU is exciting," said Aurora director of athletics Jim Hamad in a statement. "We are confident that he will be able to build a competitive program." "The ability to give our student-athletes a first-class NCAA Division III experience and build a program from the ground up is extremely exciting," added Kimball. "I can't wait to get started and build a tradition of academic and athletic success here at AU." READ MORE>>
GIRLS' HOCKEY ACROSS AMERICA
By Mike Scandura - Special to USA Hockey
GIRLS GROWING IN TRENTON
Prior to last season, the Trenton Hockey Association lacked an all-girls program. It took a grassroots effort - and the knowhow of coach Tom Bates - for the southeastern Michigan association to get one off the ground. READ MORE>>
CAPITALS BUILD A RESPECTFUL WINNER
Championships are fun to celebrate, and the Concord Capitals 16U girls did plenty of that following their New England regional title. But Concord Women's Hockey Director Scot Joscelyn is quick to remind people about the keys to maintaining that success. READ MORE>>
FALMOUTH GIRLS THRIVING ON CAPE
Since the implementation of its 8U/10U girls house program four years ago, the Falmouth Youth Hockey League has given Cape Cod-area girls a place to learn, grow and have fun in the game. READ MORE>>

USA HOCKEY GIRLS' NEWS
THE FEMALE ATHLETE PERSPECTIVE ON COACHING
ADM & LTD (Long Term Athlete Development) focuses on the physical, cognitive, mental and emotional development of our players. Women are not men and children are not small adults. One size does not fit all. When coaching females a coach may need a slightly different approach compared to the male athlete. All coaches should consider the psychological and sensitive needs of their players.

Michele Amidon, former Female USA Hockey ADM Regional Manager, spoke to 2010 Olympian Karen Thatcher regarding some of the best coaching strategies for communicating with and motivating female athletes. READ INTERVIEW>>
CLINICS ELEVATE
COACHING FOR ALL
By Jayson Hron ~ With more girls playing hockey than ever before, the need for qualified coaches has never been greater. And while there are more similarities than differences in how girls and boys should be coached at the youth level, nuanced leadership can be especially inspiring for girls. READ MORE>>
ATHLETIC PASSION IS
GENDER NEUTRAL
"Gender does not define you as an athlete: your grit, determination, hard work, and passion for the game do." This great quote from a collegiate lacrosse player, Annie Spewak, in a recent essay on perceptions and gender bias in American sports really hits home. READ ESSAY>>
NATIONAL WOMEN'S HOCKEY LEAGUE
FOR RIVETERS' GABIE FIGUEROA, HOCKEY IS MORE THAN A GAME
BPriya Desai ~ Gabie Figueroa wrapped up her first season with the New York Riveters of the National Women's Hockey League in early March and, like a good majority of professional female hockey players, she headed back to the office. There's no off-season for an NWHL player, not completely. The creation of the four-team league in 2015 marked the first time that female hockey players were given a salary to play the sport, but the amount rivals that of a minor league baseball player with each NHWL team given a salary cap of $270,000. READ MORE>>
BY THE NUMBERS: YOU HAVE
TO SHOOT THE PUCK
By Adam Gavriela ~ As you dive into finding new ways to understand which hockey players are good, and why certain teams win more than other, the conversation tends to lead to shot based metrics. If you're shooting the puck, you have the puck; if you have the puck, your opponent can't score. You have to shoot the puck. So, yes, shots are important, but the majority of shots have an action that takes place before them; a pass.  READ MORE>>