Volume 11 Issue 12 | December 2023 | |
LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT | |
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The Holidays are here!! Many of you will have a break from hockey, some will have tournaments. Regardless of your schedule please take the time to enjoy your family and friends.
From all of us at AHAI, we wish you a Happy Hanukkah, a Merry Christmas and above all a Happy, Healthy and Peaceful New Year.
Thank you for your love of the game and all of your support.
Kevin Boldger
AHAI President
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Player Safety
By: Anita Lichterman, AHAI Player Safety Coordinator
We have all heard of the recent tragic events as well as those events that occur every season when player safety equipment is not worn properly, doesn’t fit properly, or maybe is not used at all because players don’t like the feel or are being ridiculed for using this type of equipment.
While no equipment can guarantee an injury will not result, the equipment, when properly worn, does assist in lessening the impact of severe trauma. As leaders, we need to educate our families and ALL players, regardless of the sport played, the necessity of safety equipment, its impact on the players, and the correct use.
From cuts to concussions, resources to injury management, the following guide was put together to help with the basics.
What YOU do to help yourself and others WILL make a difference.
A majority of the enclosed information is an educational tool on concussions but there is information on cardiac arrest, CPR, etc. and the steps to take to return to play safely. Think about obtaining a certification in CPR/AED administration.
We have created a Player Safety Packet, which includes the spreadsheet the Safety Coordinator & Committee will be using throughout the season to gather information on what types of injuries we are seeing, the age level, the length of time it takes for a player to come back to play safely, etc. Our hope is to use this information to create programs and other educational materials in our continuing efforts to keep players safe while playing a great sport. We encourage everyone to please report injuries to us. We do NOT collect personal information. Reporting of an injury and the follow-up (treatment/return to play/clearance, include what was done as part of rehab and the length of time, etc.) should be sent to Anita Lichterman, AHAI Safety Coordinator at girls@ahai2.org.
Thank you all for your ongoing commitment to our athletes!
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Ask AHAI
By: Jana Krausfeldt, AHAI Communications Manager
In an effort to improve the transparency of what AHAI does, or doesn't do, in regard to Illinois hockey, we are asking community members to submit any questions you might have so we can educate the hockey community and answer your questions. Please email questions to communications@ahai2.org. All questions will be kept anonymous when sharing.
QUESTION: Can a AA or AAA youth player double-roster and play on a high school team too?
ANSWER: Yes, according to AHAI Rule 11.2(a-c), a Tier I or Tier II player may only be rostered on one Tier I or Tier II youth team and may only be rostered with one High School Affiliate Organization. AHAI Rule 19.2.11 states that Tier I players may play for a High School Varsity team but cannot play for a High School Junior Varsity team.
It is up to the High School Affiliate Organization whether they allow players to double-roster.
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Three Illinois Players Selected for the U.S. Youth Olympic Men’s Hockey Team
The 2024 U.S. Youth Olympic Men's Team will compete at the 2024 Winter Youth Olympic Games from Jan. 19 - Feb. 1 in Gangwon, South Korea. The 17-man roster includes three Illinois players from the Chicago Mission U15 team.
Congratulations to defensemen Abe Barnett and forwards Aurelio Garcia and Shaeffer Gordon-Carroll. For the full roster and schedule details, visit here.
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Alex Drews: ‘the kid just loves the game of hockey’
Longtime member of the Chicago Storm Special Hockey Club has passion for Illinois referees, Chicago Blackhawks, Wolves & Steel
By: Ross Forman
Alex Drews has a passion for the game of hockey that skates from players to on-ice officials to the rink employees who push the snow left behind by the Zamboni. “Big Al,” as he is commonly called, isn’t driven by scoring goals, nor worried about how his celly will be received, or any glory from a game. The gabbing seems more important to Alex, who lives in Wheaton.
Sure, he scored 2 goals in a 3-day, 4-game tournament in Chicago in mid-November, but he was more excited to visit Hooters after the games. He has a standing tradition with his dad, Steve, to go to a restaurant after tournaments – and Hooters is one of Alex’s favorites.
Alex has a medal from the tournament and the championship banner is in their garage.
Hockey is Alex Drews’ drive. It isn’t the ESPN highlight reel plays that matter most; it’s simply being at the rink, his haven for decades. When his team skates at the United Center in mid-December before a Chicago Blackhawks game, Alex said he might skip the skate and simply sit in the stands and watch. READ MORE<<<
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Chicago Blackhawk Alumni Association Scholarship
Dear Illinois High School Hockey Player:
We wanted to make you aware of a unique opportunity for all graduating Illinois High School Players. This is an annual scholarship which is provided by the Chicago Blackhawk Alumni Association to three Illinois High School hockey players since 1989.
The Chicago Blackhawk Alumni Association( was formed in 1987 by a group of former Blackhawk players (Bobby Hull, Stan Mikita, Keith Magnuson, Cliff Koroll, among many others). One of the main goals of the Alumni has always been giving back to the Illinois youth hockey community, particularly at the high school level. As a part of this commitment, each year the Alumni awards three scholarships in the amount of $7,500.00 annually over four years($30,000.00 total) to “the most deserving Illinois high school hockey players”. The winners are selected not on hockey talent, but by the following five criteria: Academics, Financial Need, Character, Community Service, and Applicant Essay.
This year’s application deadline is Sunday, February 4, 2024. Please take a minute to visit the Chicago Blackhawk Alumni website at www.blackhawkalumni.com to read more about the scholarship, see past a list of past recipients, and to apply online.
If you have any questions regarding the scholarship, please direct them to Joe Moore at jmoore4@janelectric.com.
Thank you and good luck the remainder of the season!
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Sameer Chand Proves Hockey Is For Everyone, Captains OPRF – The Team He Long Idolized
By: Ross Forman
A young Sameer Chand attended OPRF Hockey games at Ridgeland Common Recreation Complex in Oak Park and those wearing the blue and orange representing Oak Park and River Forest High School were his idols.
Flash-forward a decade and it’s Chand in uniform No. 21 with the captain’s C emblazed on the upper-left side. Chand, 17, a senior right-handed shooting center who lives in Oak Park, is in his second season on the varsity team, where he skates with sophomore wings Sebastian Robinson and Liam Moroney.
Chand formerly played for the Oak Park Huskies, Franklin Park Panthers and Chicago Jets, and has been a Hustle and Flow Award-winner (Jets), Defensive MVP (Jets) and Illinois West Academic All Star (OPRF).
“Now that I have the opportunity to play for (OPRF), I never take it for granted and value every moment,” Chand said.
Chand brings a “grinder” approach to the ice. “I have never been the greatest goal scorer, but I am not afraid to go to the dirty areas to cause a turnover and win puck battles,” he said. “This year, I have been shooting weekly, lifting in season and really pushing myself to the limits.
He scored the favorite goal of his career earlier this month in game one of the best-of-three Hruby Cup against Fenwick at the Allstate Arena, a 5-2 loss. READ MORE<<<
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Grizzlies captain Ella Stamer leads her senior season drive for Founders Cup
By: Ross Forman
Ella Stamer played in her first-ever hockey game years ago in what was only her fifth time ever skating. She was playing house league on an outdoor rink and laughs that she had to “wiggle my butt to get across the ice.” Her teammates were mostly all boys, as were her opponents and she was pushed around the whole game and had just a few seconds with the puck.
Still, she was smiling ear to ear after the game.
“I was barely mobile on the ice but was cheered on the whole time by my teammates,” she said. “It showed me I had a real family on the ice. I had never had more fun; I had never wanted to work at something more. At that moment I was inevitable, unhurtable hockey turned into my love.”
The 17-year-old Stamer – who lives in LaGrange Park and is a senior at Lyons Township High School – started playing on a YMCA co-ed team, in an outdoor league in 2017 at age 11. She played there for one season and said it was “a great experience.”
She then moved to the Sabres, Bruins, Chiefs and ultimately, for the past three seasons, the co-op Burlington Central Grizzlies, a Metro Girls club filled with students from Hinsdale Central, Hinsdale South, Downers Grove North, Downers Grove South, Lyons Township and Willowbrook. READ MORE<<<
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Captain Trey Howicz Leads Marmion Academy In Milestone CCHL Season
By: Ross Forman
Trey Howicz, a junior right-handed shooting defenseman and captain, leads the Marmion Academy drive this fall to skate past the seven other Chicago Catholic Hockey League (CCHL) teams and capture the club’s first-ever Kennedy Cup championship in the league’s milestone 60th anniversary.
“Every game and every practice we get better as a team and continue to build closer as a group,” said Howicz, who noted that the team also is driven to push far in the annual Illinois High School Hockey State Tournament. “There are many good teams in the CCHL and everyone is beatable. There isn’t as much of a powerhouse team as there (has been) over the last few years.”
Marmion is in fifth-place with a 5-8 record (15 points), behind Providence Catholic (18), Benet Academy (25), Fenwick (32) and Saint Ignatius (39).
“My personal goals are to continue to grow into a better player and always be learning more about the game that can help me later in my career,” said Howicz, who has 2 goals, 1 assist in 13 CCHL games. READ MORE<<<
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COACHING & OFFICIATING INFORMATION | |
Ask the Official
By Dave Zednik
QUESTION: A Coach goes on the ice during the game to protest an Official’s decision. What penalty must be assessed?
ANSWER: A bench minor and game misconduct penalty. Rule Reference 629(d).
The Referee is given the option of imposing either or both penalties, depending on the severity of the incident. However, in all cases where a Team Official comes onto the ice during a period to protest a decision, both penalties must be assessed. Should the Coach continue the protest and refuse to leave the ice, they shall also be subject to a match penalty under Rule Reference 601(f.3)
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Wishing all the players, families and volunteers a wonderful holiday season. Whether you are taking a break from the great game of hockey, or are participating in tournaments, we hope you enjoy your time and come back to league play rested and ready as we officially enter the playoff season. The top eight teams ranked on points at the conclusion of the season will receive a playoff berth, with games being played February 8-11 at various locations. We see a lot of great possibilities across all divisions, so keep up the hard work. For more information and to track your favorite teams, please see our website www.csdhl.org.
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Learn to Play/Little Blackhawks is an NHL program created to make hockey more accessible and to inspire kids (ages 4-8) to get in the game! Our goal is to familiarize new players with their local hockey community and to teach them tools for success on and off the ice! Register for our Winter and Spring 2024 programming here: Chicago Blackhawks | Chicago Blackhawks (nhl.com)
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Tier I Youth and Girls
The 2024 Tier I Illinois State Hockey Championship Tournament Series will be conducted for all nine (9) youth levels and all four (4) girl’s levels. There is a round robin series followed by a championship series.
Round Robin Series
All teams at every age level must play one another. If any team does not play all the other teams in the age division, they are automatically disqualified from the State Tournament. This year all
round robin games must be played from January 29th to February 21st, 2024. Read the complete round robin rules here.
Championship Series
The two top teams by points from the round robin series will participate in the championship series held at Mt. Prospect Ice Arena, March 2 thru March 5, 2024. See the championship series ice schedule here and read the complete championship series rules here.
Tier II Youth
The 2024 Tier II Youth Illinois State Hockey Championship Tournament Series will be conducted for youth levels, Squirts - Midgets, with AA, A and B brackets. There is an elimination round followed by a 3-game round robin series with winning teams advancing to the championship game. See the complete timing of the Tier II state tournament here.
Round Robin Series
The Round Robin games will be played Thursday, February 22 - Sunday, February 25 at the following locations:
Squirt Division - Leafs Ice Center, West Dundee
PeeWee Division - Addison Ice Rink, Addison
Bantam Division - Canlan Ice Rink, Romeoville
Midget Division - Darien Sportsplex, Darien
Read the complete rules here.
Championship Games
Championship games will be played on Saturday, March 9th and Sunday, March 10th at the Nicholas Sportsplex in Mt. Prospect. The 3rd & 4th place games for Squirts - Bantams will be played on February 26th & 27th. See the super weekend of champions ice schedule here.
Tier II Girls
The 2024 Tier II Girls Illinois State Hockey Championship Tournament Series will include10U, 12U, 14U, 16U and 19U teams. There will be an elimination or "play-down" series followed by a by a 3-game round robin series with winning teams advancing to the championship game.
Round Robin Series
The Round Robin games will be played Thursday, February 22 - Sunday, February 25 at the Glenview Community Ice Center in Glenview. Read the complete rules here.
Championship Series
The two top teams by points from each division of the round robin series will participate in the championship games held at Nicholas Sportsplex in Mt. Prospect on Saturday, March 9th. There will be consolation games for the 10U and 12U divisions. See the super weekend of champions ice schedule here.
High School
The 2024 High School State Hockey Championship Tournament will consist of a Red Varsity, Combined Varsity, Girls Varsity, Junior Varsity and a Central Illinois Division. See all of the details on the high school tournament rules and format here.
Playoff Games
The quarterfinal and semifinal playoff games will be played at the Edge Ice Arena in Bensenville starting Thursday, February 28th.
Championship Games
The top two teams in the Red Varsity, Combined Varsity and Girls Varsity division will play in the championship game at the United Center on Wednesday, March 13th. The Junior Varsity division will play their championship game on Wednesday, March 6th at the Edge Ice Arena in Bensenville.
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