IN THIS ISSUE
 Like us on Facebook  Follow us on Twitter   
Volume 4 Issue 11
October 12, 2016
DECATUR FLAMES EXCITED FOR SEASON
WITH NEW RENOVATIONS
By Anthony Wilder, Now Decatur ~ Decatur Youth Hockey Director Shane Brilley says the upgrades bought in the offseason through donated money could bring a tear to the eyes of the young aspiring players.
 
Brilley says the program is currently finishing up completion of the new renovations and upgrades thanks to the Hockeyville contest. Through the contest and an anonymous donor, the program was awarded $150,000 between the Civic Center and the Decatur Flames.
 
Brilley says the money was used towards a sound system upgrade, clocks, decals for the locker-rooms and doors, upgraded locker-rooms from the flooring and benches to a new coat of paint on the walls and a trophy case that sits in the lobby.
 
Brilley says it's been a major plus for the program.
 
"Hockeyville has created a huge increase in popularity of hockey in the area," says Brilley. "With Hockeyville overall we've definitely had an increase in the last year and a half and two years of kids trying to play hockey." FULL ARTICLE>>
2017 STATE, DISTRICT & NATIONAL TOURNAMENT DATES
AHAI NEWS & INFORMATION
FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK OR TWITTER AND YOU COULD WIN!
Follow AHAI on Facebook and/or Twitter and you could win tickets to see the Chicago Blackhawks take on the Calgary Flames at the United Center on Monday, October 24 at 7:30pm. Winner will be randomly selected and notified via email on Friday, October 14. Good luck!
AHAI ANNOUNCES NEW ADVERTISING PROGRAM
AHAI is now offering several marketing and advertising opportunities on the following communication vehicles within AHAI. They include the AHAI website, AHAI E-News site, our bi-monthly newsletter, SNAPSHOT, which is distributed to over 33,000 individual email contacts, Facebook, Twitter and printed materials such as the AHAI Annual Guidebook and the State Tournament Programs. Click the button below for complete Ad/Sponsorship details. Questions? Contact AHAI Communications Manager, Gretchen Cockey at gretchen@ahai2.org.
THE PHOTO OF THE MONTH CONTEST IS BACK!
HURRY! DEADLINE TO SUBMIT PHOTOS IS MONDAY, OCTOBER 17TH!
Submit photos of your AHAI players' wicked slapshots, dekes, dangles and great saves...or of your kids just plain having fun playing hockey to AHAI's Photo of the Month contest.
 
Please send photos to Gretchen Cockey at gretchen@ahai2.org. Photos should include a brief caption along with player's name, their organization or club, and playing level. ALL photos will be posted on AHAI's Facebook Page, but 5 lucky photos will be featured in AHAI's e-newsletter, SNAPSHOT and receive an awesome AHAI Baseball Cap, Winter Hat or AHAI/Howies Hockey Tape T-shirt.
 
Photo submission deadline for the October Photo of the Month contest is Monday, October 17. AHAI will select the finalists; YOUR votes will select the Top 5! Voting will be conducted October 19-22; winners will be contacted via email and announced in the October 26th issue of SNAPSHOT!
BE A STEP aHEAD! REGISTER TODAY!
Registration is now open through November 30, 2016. All AHAI players aged 11-18 years old are eligible for free baseline testing. The Association/Team that completes the most baseline tests will receive on on-ice clinic with a Chicago Blackhawks Alumni. Additionally, every athlete who completes a FREE baseline test this year will receive a baseball hat featuring the Blackhawks logo while supplies last. Please note that registration will be online ONLY, do not call Athletico directly.

Make sure to tweet a picture of your skater wearing their A Step aHead baseball hat to @AHAI_1 with the hashtag #AStepAHead! You could win a signed Jonathan Toews photo! Not on twitter? No problem, just email your photo to AHAI Communications Manager, Gretchen Cockey at gretchen@ahai2.org and we will tweet for you!
NIHL NEWS
NIHL LAUNCHES MONTHLY NEWSLETTER!
NIHL is proud to announce we will be launching a monthly newsletter on Tuesday, October 18th. SUBSCRIBE TODAY! You won't want to miss the monthly Managers' Corner, team standings, important dates, Games of the Week, updates on girls and mites and of course the latest news and offers from the Chicago Wolves! We also encourage you to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter! Don't wait, text "NIHL" to 22828 to subscribe. READ MORE to find out what one lucky subscriber will win!
HIGH SCHOOL NEWS
GREEN COULD BE GOLDEN ONCE AGAIN AT NEW TRIER
Looking to repeat, New Trier Green is the No. 1-ranked Illinois High School Hockey Team

By Ross Forman ~ A pair of coaching milestones for Bob Melton could mean a very memorable season for his New Trier Green Trevians. Melton is in his 25th season coaching and his 20th in charge of the Trevians - with 11 state championships under his reign, including three of the past four seasons. Green is the defending state champion and opens the 2016-17 season right back on top as the No. 1-ranked team in Illinois High School Hockey. Providence Catholic skates in at No. 2, followed by Loyola Gold, Glenbrook North and Benet Academy. "Clearly, the strength of this team is its offense. We return our five leading scores from last year's state championship team," Melton said. FULL ARTICLE>>
ROSS FORMAN'S TOP 20
    1. New Trier Green
    2. Providence Catholic
    3. Loyola Gold
    4. Glenbrook North
    5. Benet Academy
    6. Neuqua Valley
    7. New Trier Blue
    8. Stevenson
    9. Edwardsville
    10. Wheaton West
    11. BG/H/W
    12. Brother Rice
    13. Glenbard
    14. Notre Dame
    15. Fenwick
    16. St. Rita
    17. Lake Forest
    18. Kings
    19. Naperville Central
    20. St. Viator
METRO GIRLS HOCKEY ACTION UNDERWAY
By Pam Flores ~ The Metro Girls High School season kicked off the weekend of September 24 and we are off and running with lots of hockey action! All of the games so far have been very competitive as the teams come together for the new season. Check out the photos from two recent games: Lake Forest High School versus New Trier and Fenwick versus Glenbrook! Our girls' teams are already highly active in the community supporting local charities and helping bolster the growth of our of girls programs in the Chicagoland area. On Sunday, October 9th, the Glenbrook Girls High School team helped the Northbrook Bluehawks and Wilmette Braves celebrate World Girls' Ice Hockey weekend. READ MORE>>
CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS NEWS & INFORMATION
BLACKHAWKS INTERMISSION & PRE-GAME SKATES
The registration process is open for the 2016-17 JuniorHawks and Intermission Skates. In order to participate in either event, your youth hockey team must be competing at the Mite or Squirt level.  Due to the limited quantity of on-ice dates at the United Center, the Chicago Blackhawks select all hockey teams at random for each home game. If you would like to enter your upcoming youth hockey team into the lottery process for either event, please click HERE for JuniorHawks and/or HERE for Intermission Skates.
PLAYERS, LEADERS & CLUBS IN THE NEWS
ILLINOIS GIRLS CELEBRATE 2016 IIHF WORLD GIRLS ICE HOCKEY WEEKEND
Nearly 130 locations across the United States celebrated the sixth annual International Ice Hockey Federation World Girls' Ice Hockey Weekend this past Saturday and Sunday (Oct. 8-9). The IIHF World Girls' Ice Hockey Weekend is an opportunity to celebrate female participation in the sport. The goal of the event is to grow the game through a variety of events that aim to introduce beginners to basic skills in a positive, fun and safe environment; provide more opportunities to play ice hockey; teach fair play, sportsmanship and teamwork; create new friendships; and develop a lifelong love of the sport. Events hosted included youth hockey clinics featuring the American Development Model, jamborees, Try Hockey for Free opportunities, female-only tournaments, introductory informational sessions about the sport and other hockey-themed gatherings.

Decatur Youth Hockey, Central Illinois Girls Hockey, Northbrook Bluehawks, Wilmette Braves, Admirals, Franklin Park, Glenbrook Girls High School and Sabre Girls Hockey all hosted successful events this weekend. Click HERE for a wrap-up of some of the events that took place in Illinois.
COYNE & BOZEK TAPPED FOR 2016 WOMEN'S FOUR NATIONS CUP ROSTER
USA Hockey today announced the 23-player roster for the U.S. Women's National Team that will compete in the 2016 Four Nations Cup from November 1-5 in Vierumaki, Finland. The 2016 Four Nation's Cup Roster includes Illinois' Kendall Coyne (Palos Heights) and Megan Bozek (Buffalo Grove). Games will take place at the Jarvenpaa Arena, Kerava Arena and Vierumaki Arena. FULL ARTICLE>>
UPCOMING EVENTS
BAUER WORLD HOCKEY INVITE OPENING NIGHT KICKS OFF ON NOVEMBER 3RD!
The 200 X 85 Opening Night for the Bauer World Hockey Invite kicks off on Thursday, November 3, 2016 from 3:00-9:00pm. Seven Bridges Ice Arena will be the epicenter for Opening Night with something exciting for everyone. The free festival will feature a diverse mix of offerings designed for tournament players, parents, coaches and hockey fans. The family-friendly festival will occupy every inch of Seven Bridges including the Big Top Tent located directly in front of the building. Activities include:
  • World Famous Chicago Blackhawks Gala Reception/Check In for Coaches & Managers (VIP Guests, Open Bar, Great Food)
  • Six amazing youth Feature Games on the NHL rink
  • Bauer Experience (demo) on the Olympic rink
  • Celebrity Appearances including the Hanson Brothers from Slapshot
  • Art Below Zero Ice Sculpting
  • Test your Skills at Top Shot's Interactive Experience featuring Electronic Hockey Nets, Radar Slap Shots, Goalie Challenge, Skee Puck, Perfect Pass and Bubble Hockey
  • Opportunity to view the Hockey Hall of Fame NHL Exhibit Trophies and the Stanley Cup up close.  Additional Team Trophies (Prince of Wales, Clarence Campbell Bowl, Presidents Trophy) and Individual Trophies (Conn Smythe, Hart, Art Ross, Calder, Lady Byng, Vezina and many more)
  • Big-ticket prizes and giveaways all evening long at the 200 x 85 Feature Booth
TEAM ILLINOIS 14U 2ND ANNUAL BAKE SALE!
Come out and support the Team Illinois 14U Girls' Bake Sale on Sunday, October 16 from 8:00am to 12:00pm at John Street Ice Arena (Bensenville). All proceeds will benefit Girls in the Game which provides and promotes sports and fitness opportunities, nutrition and health education, and leadership development to enhance the overall health and well-being of girls. VIEW FLYER>>

Copyright © 2016. All Rights Reserved.