IN THIS ISSUE

New Rules for the 2017-18 Season You Need to Know

A Step aHead Registration is NOW OPEN!

2017-18 THFF Days Confirmed...Make it a Girls' Day!

Goalies Chobak & Kedziora Invited to USAH's National Player Development Camps

Women's NCAA Division III College Hockey in Chicago

Aurora University Women's Hockey is Seeking Part-Time Asst. Coach

NHL/NHLPA Initiative to Support More Women & Men's Division I Hockey Teams

Volume 1 Issue 12
July 11, 2017
FRIENDS OF WOMEN'S HOCKEY FUND
OFF TO A GREAT START

The USA Hockey Friends of Women's Hockey Fund, which was recently launched by The USA Hockey Foundation in an effort to raise $500,000 annually from corporate and individual donors to support the U.S. Women's National Team program and the overall furtherance of girls' and women's ice hockey in America, is off to a terrific start.

"We're excited about this effort and it's been great to see the enthusiasm out of the gate from our Trustee level donors and Board to help fuel our goal," said Pat Kelleher, executive director of USA Hockey and The USA Hockey Foundation.   FULL ARTICLE>>
AHAI NEWS & INFORMATION
NEW RULES FOR THE 2017-18 SEASON YOU NEED TO KNOW
NEW FOR THE 2017-18 SEASON:  Coaches will not be able to be added to a Youth/Girls/HS Roster until the required Age-Specific Coaching Module has been completed. Coaches will not be allowed to participate with their teams until this requirement is met and processed through the USAH Registry. It can take a few days for USAH to process the information and the member will be able to be added to the team roster. We encourage you to plan accordingly.

NEW FOR THE 2017/18 SEASON: Coaches and Managers will not be able to be added to a Youth/Girls/HS Roster until their SafeSport training has been completed. USA Hockey has an extensive SafeSport program that provides resources to ensure the safety of all involved in the game both on and off the ice.  READ FULL RULE>>

NEW FOR THE 2017-18 SEASON: The Consent to Treat form is no longer a required form. Managers will no longer have each team participant complete a Consent to Treat form.

For information or clarification of these rules please contact Laura Johnson, AHAI Registrar at  [email protected] or  224.636.3233.
A STEP aHEAD REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN!
The Chicago Blackhawks, AHAI, Athletico Physical Therapy and NorthShore University HealthSystem are proud to announce the 7th year of our "A Step aHead" program!  The goal of our program is to educate the youth hockey community on concussion awareness, prevention and treatment as well as to provide  FREE  baseline neurocognitive testing to AHAI members.
  • A Step aHead testing is available for AHAI members from Pee Wee to Midget/High School (ages 11-18).
  • Additional information is available on the AHAIAHAIeNewsand Athletico Physical Therapy websites.
  • Registration is NOW OPEN; testing is available now through November 30, 2017.
  • This year's program will also offer new educational opportunities for both Moms and Dads, Coaches and Players. Stay tuned for additional information.
ILLINOIS GIRLS' HOCKEY NEWS
2017-18 THFF DAYS CONFIRMED...MAKE IT A GIRLS' DAY!
The season's first nationwide Try Hockey For Free Day will be Saturday, Nov. 4, 2017, as part of Come Play Hockey Month. The second opportunity will occur Saturday, March 3, 2018, the weekend following the XXIII Olympic Winter Games closing ceremony. Local youth hockey associations and rinks can register to host on either of those dates.  Associations and rinks interested in hosting one of the designated Try Hockey For Free Days can  HERE  to learn more and register.
GOALIES CHOBAK & KEDZIORA INVITED TO USA HOCKEY NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT CAMPS
AHAI congratulates Jo Jo Chobak for being invited to take part in the USA Hockey Under-18 National Player Development Camp to be held at St. Cloud State University in St. Cloud, Minnesota on July 15 - 21 and Grace Kedziora who was invited to USA Hockey's 15 Player Development Camp currently being held at St. Cloud State University in St. Cloud, Minnesota. Click HERE for a full list of invitees to USA Hockey's Girls National Player Development Camps.
COLLEGE HOCKEY NEWS


WOMEN'S NCAA DIVISION III COLLEGE HOCKEY IN CHICAGO
AHAI welcomes Aurora University Women's Hockey to the Chicagoland area. Led by Grant Kimball, their first home games in program history will be the weekend of November 11-12 vs. Lake Forest College at Fox Valley Ice Arena.

Kimball recently announced an addition to his coaching staff in preparation for the upcoming season. Gracen Hirschy will join the AU women's hockey program as a graduate assistant. Hirschy becomes a Spartan after a four-year playing career at the University of North Dakota.  READ MORE>>
AURORA UNIVERSITY: PART-TIME ASSISTANT COACH WANTED
Aurora University, a NCAA Division III institution and member of the Northern Collegiate Hockey Association (NCHA), is seeking applications for a part-time assistant coach with the women's hockey program. Coaching responsibilities will be assigned by the head coach and include but may not be limited to: coaching and instruction at practices and games, game operations management, video breakdown. This is a part-time, stipend paid position. Appointment date: October to March.  For additional information please call or email: Grant Kimball, Head Coach for Women's Hockey, at 802-578-2214 or [email protected]. FULL DETAILS>>
NHL/NHLPA INITIATIVE TO SUPPORT ADDITION OF MORE WOMEN'S & MEN'S DIVISION I HOCKEY TEAMS: ILLINOIS IS A KEY TARGET
The National Hockey League and NHL Players' Association last week announced a significant commitment to the growth of NCAA Division I hockey programs for women and men. The National Women's Hockey League, entering its third season in 2017-18 with rosters filled with women from Division I programs in the U.S., heartily applauds the action by the NHL and NHLPA to help spur the growth of women's and men's hockey.

"We all rise together," said NWHL Commissioner Dani Rylan, who played at Northeastern. "The more opportunities for women to compete at the highest level, the better for our game. Support at every level - from grassroots programs to the pros - is essential. We salute the executives at the NHL and NHLPA for their support of Division I women's and men's hockey."

The NHL and NHLPA will utilize their Industry Growth Fund to begin funding feasibility studies for potential women's and men's Division I college hockey programs.  The University of Illinois will be the first school to conduct a feasibility study under the new initiative. READ MORE>>