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Volume 4 Issue 12
October 26, 2016
IHHF 2008 INDUCTEE, JEFF NELSON, SPEAKS OUT ON ImPACT BASELINE TESTING
"I cannot understand why any parent would not have one done...and it's free!" ~ Jeff Nelson
AHAI sat down with Jeff Nelson, member of the 2008 Inaugural Class of Inductees to the Illinois Hockey Hall of Fame and former Division I Hockey Player at University of Illinois - Chicago, to talk about the importance of ImPACT Baseline Testing through the A Step aHead Program. Nelson told us that "as a former High School and Bantam Central States Coach, I have seen far too often, kids returning to play before they are ready. Kids and parents just don't think a concussion will happen to their skater...until it does, and then they are not highly educated on it. My own son, who played for Naperville Central and who now plays NCAA Division III College Hockey at Lake Forest, sustained a concussion a few years ago. Luckily I had taken advantage of the A Step aHead Program with my entire team prior to his concussion. The baseline testing became an invaluable tool to ensure that he returned to the ice at the right time. The baseline test in my view should be mandatory for all bantams and above."

HURRY! REGISTRATION CLOSES NOVEMBER 30TH!


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!

AHAI NEWS & INFORMATION
14 ILLINOIS ASSOCIATIONS/RINKS TO HOST TRY HOCKEY FOR FREE EVENTS ON NOVEMBER 12TH
On Saturday, November 12th, fourteen Illinois associations, rinks and/or park districts will play host to Try Hockey For Free Day events: Firewagon (Yellow Jackets), Leafs, Glacier Ice Arena, Hoffman Estates Park District, Franklin Park District Hockey, Admirals, Northbrook, Evantston, Mt. Prospect Park District, Rolling Meadows Renegades, Cyclones, Sabre Girls Hockey, Decatur and Pekin. Help grow the game and spread the word about Try Hockey For Free Day! Click HERE for complete details on each location hosting a Try Hockey For Free event.
WANTED: HOCKEY HELMETS & GLOVES FROM THE EARLY 1990s!
If you have any adult hockey helmets or gloves from the early '90's, please consider donating them! An independent new TV show will be filming several scenes that will require adult hockey helmets and/or gloves from the early '90's to authenticate these period on-ice clips. Please bring equipment that fits these requirements to the AHAI Center at the Edge Ice Arena in Bensenville before November 15th! Questions? Contact Paul Jakubowski at pjakubowski@ahai2.org.
STATE, DISTRICT & NATIONAL TOURNAMENT INFORMATION
TIER II ILLINOIS STATE TOURNAMENT DATES, LOCATIONS & INFORMATION
This season the State Tournament Committee will NOT have all the clubs come in for an information night, but rather we will set up a conference call with clubs on Tuesday, January 17, 2017, to discuss the rules, dates and any other information necessary for the 2017 Tier II State Tournament. Rankings will be announced no later than Saturday, January 21, 2017. The exemption process will begin on Saturday, December 3, 2016. Tier II State Tournament registration will open on Friday, December 11, 2016 and close on Saturday, January 7, 2017. Please click HERE for Elimination Rounds, Round Robin and Championship dates. See below for the 2017 Host Sites:

SQUIRTS
Darien Sportsplex
PEE WEE
Mt. Prospect Ice Arena
BANTAM
Addison Ice Arena
16U/18U
Leafs Ice Centre
OCTOBER PHOTO OF THE MONTH ~ TOP 5!
Your votes have been counted and the Top 5 Photos for October have been selected! Congratulations to our winners! Click HERE to view our 10 Finalists and visit AHAI's Facebook Page to see all photos submitted in October! 

Seamus Moran
Joliet Jr. Jaguars - Mite 1

Sam Burcal
Hawks - Squirt Major

Benjamin Brash
Sabre "Ghosts" Silver Mite

Start sending in those pictures for November's contest! We can't wait to see all the great Halloween "hockey-themed" costumes! Deadline to submit photos for November is Saturday, November 26th. Voting will be conducted November 28 - December 3 and winner will be announced in the December 7th issue of SNAPSHOT!


GOOD LUCK!

Admirals Hockey Club
Pee Wee A2

Ryan Giancaterino
Leafs - Squirt A1
IHOA NEWS & INFORMATION
LATE SEASON SEMINAR ADDED FOR LEVEL 1 & LEVEL 2
Michael Barrett, Illinois Referee-in-Chief and Supervisor of Officials, has announced that IHOA will add officiating seminars at both Level 1 and Level 2 on Wednesday, November 23, 2016, at the Leafs Center in West Dundee. These seminars were added to accommodate additional demand for Level 1 spots as well as make another date available for returning officials who may have missed a prior seminar. The seats available for the November 23 seminar are limited in number and will fill on a first registered basis. If you know anyone who is interested in attending a Level 1 seminar, or anyone who may be a returning official who missed his/her seminar prior to today, please let them know about this added seminar. To register, please click HERE and follow the links for seminar registration.
ASK THE OFFICAL BY DAVE ZEDNIK
QUESTION: I need clarification on penalty minutes on the clock; non-coincidental situation. If a player receives a double minor, do you put 4 minutes on the clock, or 2 minutes and then upon termination of that penalty does the timekeeper put up the 2nd minor penalty? Also a similar situation - if there is a non-coincidental situation and a player receives a 5 minute major plus a 2 minute minor, do you put 5 minutes on the clock and upon termination of that penalty does the scorekeeper immediately put up the 2 minutes? Or do you put 7 minutes up? I've seen both. The argument to put 7 minutes up is to make sure the player does not leave the penalty box early. The other argument is that it is the timekeeper's responsibility to communicate that. Any help would be great. VIEW ANSWER>>

QUESTION: Can tournaments using USA Hockey rules modify penalties, discipline and game misconducts as spelled out by USA Hockey rules? VIEW ANSWER>>
NIHL NEWS
DID YOU MISS THE FIRST ISSUE OF THE NIHL NEWSLETTER?!
Did you miss the first issue? If so, you missed out on who is topping the seeding round standings, dates of the upcoming NIHL Game of the Week and more! We also encourage you to like NIHL on Facebook and follow them on Twitter! Don't miss another issue, text "NIHL" to 22828 to subscribe today. READ MORE to find out what one lucky subscriber will win! Winner will be announced in the November NIHL Newsletter published on Tuesday, November 22nd. Click HERE to read the inaugural NIHL Newsletter.
HIGH SCHOOL NEWS
GLENBROOK GIRLS GUNNING
FOR GOLD
By Ross Forman ~ The co-op Glenbrook Girls Hockey Team is making a bold, strong statement to all opponents, starting with defending state champion Loyola. Glenbrook has depth, speed and strong goaltending - and wants to skate for gold next March when the United Center plays host to the state championship game. Glenbrook is off to a 4-0 start in Metro Girls play, with 21 goals for and only 4 against. The team defeated Fenwick 7-4, and its three other victories to date (over Barrington, Lake Forest and Latin School of Chicago) have each been shutouts. READ MORE>>
ROSS FORMAN'S METRO GIRLS HIGH SCHOOL TOP 10 RANKINGS
    1. Glenbrook
    2. Loyola
    3. New Trier
    4. Latin School of Chicago
    5. Lake Forest
    6. Evanston
    7. Barrington
    8. Fenwick
    9. Lake Forest Academy
    10. Maine
Others: Warren, New Trier Silver
METRO GIRLS SEASON SHAPING UP NICELY; GIRLS' TEAMS CONTINUE DEDICATION TO COMMUNITY
By Pam Flores ~ The tiering round in the Metro Girls High School season is well underway. So far two teams, Loyola Academy and Glenbrook, remain undefeated in the season with 4 games under their belt. Evanston, Fenwick and New Trier Varsity round out the current top five in the young season.

Our girls' teams are very active in the community spreading love of the sport and supporting local charities. On October 15, during Homecoming Weekend, the New Trier Girls teams joined forces with the boys' program to support New Trier Hockey's annual fundraiser, Bear Necessities. The joint charity collection supports the Bear Necessities Pediatric Cancer Foundation. As in prior years, the girls and boys collected donations at various locations throughout the local township. READ MORE>>
CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS NEWS & INFORMATION
BMO HARRIS BANK OCTOBER PLAYER, COACH & VOLUNTEER OF THE MONTH

Volunteer of the Month
Tim Gabel - Chicago Blackhawks Special Hockey

Coach of the Month
Vince Esposito - Chicago Hawks

Player of the Month
Austin Morris - Falcons
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. Criteria is based on hockey accomplishments, volunteer activities in the nominee's community and a demonstrated passion, dedication and spirit through commitment to community. In determining the Youth Hockey Player of the Month, the judges will also consider the nominee's academic accomplishments and involvement with his/her school. Click HERE for Nomination Form.

Pictured from Left: Steve Taylor - Executive Vice President & CFO U.S. Operations, BMO Harris Bank, Tim Gabel - Volunteer of the Month, Vince Esposito - Coach of the Month, Austin Morris - Player of the Month, Spencer Montgomery - Chicago Blackhawks Coordinator, Fan Development, Annie Camins, Chicago Blackhawks, Senior Director, Fan Development
A CELEBRATION OF AMATEUR HOCKEY
The Chicago Blackhawks celebrated amateur hockey in Illinois, the 30th Anniversary of the Illinois High School Hockey Championships, the 2017 NCAA Frozen Four Tournament and the 2017 NHL Draft in Chicago by inviting 20 youth hockey players to represent their teams on the ice for the home opener. Players submitted letters describing what they have done off the ice, either in the community, at school, or with their friends, that shows why they would be a great representation of their club at the 2016-17 season opening ceremonies. WATCH VIDEO>>
PLAYERS, LEADERS & CLUBS IN THE NEWS
ILLINI'S FABBRINI TAPPED AS U.S. MEN'S NATIONAL UNIVERSITY TEAM ASSISTANT COACH
Nick Fabbrini will assist the U.S. Men's National University team's Head Coach, Sean Hogan as they compete in the Winter World University Games from January 28 - February 8 in Almaty, Kazakhstan. Fabbrini is currently in his fifth season as head coach of the men's hockey team at the University of Illinois. He led the Illini to the 2013 CSCHL regular-season championship and was a finalist for the 2013 ACHA Coach of the Year Award. He is making his Team USA coaching debut. READ MORE>>
26 ILLINOIS PLAYERS ROSTERED TO USHL TEAMS FOR 2016-17 SEASON

47 ILLINOIS PLAYERS ROSTERED TO NAHL TEAMS FOR 2016-17 SEASON

CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS BLIND HOCKEY TEAM HOSTS BLIND HOCKEY SUMMIT
On October 22 and 23, 2016, the Chicago Blackhawks, with support from USA Hockey and AHAI, hosted a Blind Hockey Summit at Center Ice of DuPage. The Blind Hockey Summit attracted 28 players from Chicago, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Washington D.C. and Canada, as well as representatives from New York and Colorado where the USA Hockey American Development Model (ADM) Practice concepts were introduced. The weekend included ADM practices, cross-ice small area games and a competitive game was played among the advanced players. READ MORE>>
TWIN BRIDGES STREAKING TOWARD BRIGHT FUTURE

MAGGIE STRONG
BY ANNE BLOOMER

JETS 2003 CSDHL TEAM SERVES THE HOMELESS

TI 14U ANNUAL BAKE SALE
HUGE SUCCESS!

OUR GOAL: SHOOT DOWN ALZHEIMERS!

PIVONKA TO COMPETE IN 2016 WORLD U-17 HOCKEY CHALLENGE
UPCOMING EVENTS
BAUER WORLD INVITE OPENING NIGHT IS NOVEMBER 3RD!
492 Teams, 9,348 Players, 1,095 Games...1 City
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. Click HERE for a full list of the evenings activities!