Volume 4 Issue 25 | April 26, 2017
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ILLINOIS REPEATS AS CHAMPIONS IN AMERICA'S SHOWCASE TOURNAMENT
Come-from-behind win over host team is fourth Illinois title in past five years
By Ross Forman ~ Team Illinois just keeps skating through the annual America's Showcase hockey tournament, as the team won the championship on Monday, April 24, in Pittsburgh.  Team Illinois has won the prestigious 24-team national tournament four of the past five years, and back to back years.  They defeated Team Pittsburgh 6-3 in the championship game, despite falling behind 3-1 early in the second period. But Illinois scored five unanswered, including three in the third period to retain the title.

Jacob Rott and Jake Vennetti, the flashy forwards from Providence Catholic, each had 4 goals, 5 assists in the tournament, while Nicholas Feldman (Benet) led the team with a team-high 5 goals and 2 assists.  Rott was named the tournament MVP for the second year in a row. FULL ARTICLE>>
AHAI ANNUAL MEETING
AHAI ANNUAL MEETING INFORMATION
AHAI conducted an Annual Meeting survey of board members throughout the state and at all levels with 144 responses (25%). Thank you, your feedback was heard and invaluable in planning this year's Annual Meeting. We are excited for the changes we have made to provide all of the attendees a meaningful and informative day. 
 
The 2017 Annual Meeting of the Amateur Hockey Association of Illinois, Inc. (AHAI) will take place on Saturday, June 3, 2017, at 8:30 a.m. at the Woodfield Hyatt Hotel located in Schaumburg, Ill.  Any individual who wishes to submit their name as a candidate for the position as a Board of Director of AHAI must submit their name, in writing, to the Chairperson of the Nominating Committee, Gregg Chudacoff . A short biography stating the individual's background, hockey experience, etc. should be included.  The Nominating Committee will then send to each team a list of all the candidates and their biographies prior to the AHAI Annual Meeting in accordance with the By-Laws, Rules and Regulations.  Any individual who wishes to submit a new By-Law proposal or change to an existing By-Law must submit their proposal(s), in writing, to the President of AHAI, John Dunne,  no later than Thursday, May 4, 2017.  Thank you, in advance, for all of you help and cooperation in the furtherance of youth hockey in Illinois ~  AHAI Board of Directors

AHAI ANNUAL MEETING SESSION TOPICS
Click HERE to download/print
AHAI NEWS & INFORMATION
21ST ANNUAL AHAI FOUNDATION GOLF OUTING
The 21st Annual AHAI Foundation Golf Outing will be held at the Ruffled Feathers Golf Course located at 1 Pete Dye Drive in Lemont, Illinois, Friday, August 18, 2017. The course is just 22 minutes south of 7 Bridges Ice Arena.   The outing will be a shotgun tee off scramble at 1:30 p.m. followed by dinner at 7:45 p.m. Ruffled Feathers is a Pete Dye course and is one of the top 10 courses in Illinois.  All golfers will receive a starting package worth $700, donated by SMT Golf.  New this year - online registration beginning May 1.
The purpose of this event is twofold. First, it creates an opportunity for coaches, referees, administrators, parents and supporters of amateur hockey in Illinois to come together for a day of fun and relaxation to kick off the beginning of the new season. Secondly, and most importantly, the revenues generated from this event will be donated each season to specific charities as established annually by the AHAI Foundation. READ MORE>>
2017 TIER 1 TRYOUT SCHEDULE ANNOUNCED

Please click HERE for the 2017 Tier I Tryout Schedule. Good luck during tryouts!

5 TIPS TO GET RECRUITED: AN INSIDER'S LOOK INTO COLLEGE HOCKEY RECRUITING
By Bill Peters, Head Coach Carolina Hurricanes
The Coaches Site ~ Here is the number one question I was asked as an Assistant Coach at Cornell:  What are college coaches looking for when recruiting players?  Most people give the simple, easy answer.  It's the 5 S's:  Speed, Skill, Smarts, Size, and Spirit.

Although true, these components of your talent only tell half the story of the process coaches go through in their decision to recruit a player. What I'd like to do is take you inside that process through the lens of a college  hockey coach. Through this lens you will get a better understanding of what many coaches are looking for, and how to go about putting yourself in the best position to succeed and be recruited. FULL ARTICLE>>
2017 MEN'S & WOMEN'S AHAI ADULT STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS
The AHAI Adult Committee is proud to present the 2017 Adult Illinois State Championship Tournament hosted by the AHAI Adult Committee and Seven Bridges Ice Arena.  The Adult State Tournament will take place April 26 - April 30, 2017.  For more information click HERE or contact Robert Fiorio, Tournament Director at rfiorio4@yahoo.com. REGISTER NOW>>
2016 IHHF BIO SERIES: DAVE SIATTA
Dave Siatta considers himself very blessed to grow up in Chicago during the mid to late 1950's in a strong traditional neighborhood. Just across the street lived a family relative, Bill "Moose" Skowron, who played for the world famous New York Yankees. This was the era of Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris, Yogi Berra and many other Baseball Greats wearing the pinstripes. Naturally Dave set his sights and dreams on being a big league baseball player.  That was until the 12th of February in 1961, when David's Uncle Chester took him down to The Chicago Stadium to see his first hockey game between the Blackhawks and The Montreal Canadiens. FULL BIO>>
COACHING & OFFICIATING NEWS
2017 COACHES' CLINIC
Hyatt Regency Chicago
June 22, 2017 ~ 7:30am to 6:30pm

The NHL Coaches' Association Coaches' Clinic is held annually at the NHL Draft. It has been an amazing opportunity for NHL coaches to give back to the community by sharing their knowledge and expertise. The event provides education to more than 400 youth, amateur, junior, college and professional coaches through a variety of presentations and small-group sessions conducted by NHL coaches. DETAILS>>
NHL COACHES' ASSOCIATION
CELEBRITY GOLF CLASSIC
Beverly Country Club, Chicago
June 21, 2017
The First Annual NHL Coaches' Association Celebrity Golf Classic will assist the NHLCA in accomplishing one of its major initiatives - to develop future coaches from the youth level up to the highest levels of hockey. This is achieved through funding, supporting and hosting skills clinics and other programs that will help to educate all levels of hockey coaches within North America on the strategies and techniques used at the professional level. DETAILS>>
ASK THE OFFICIAL BY DAVE ZEDNIK
QUESTION: During a game, one of my players received a penalty which stretched between periods. At the intermission I called the player to the team bench for the team discussion. The referee warned me that the individual had to remain in the penalty box for the duration of the intermission while serving the penalty. A week later I attended my son's game and observed a similar situation.  In that instance the player was allowed to skate over to the bench for the intermission talk. What is the rule on this issue?  ANSWER>>

QUESTION: Why do players get thrown out of the face-off?  ANSWER>>
PLAYERS, LEADERS & CLUBS IN THE NEWS
LINDMARK, ROWE & VLASIC ROSTERED TO U.S. NATIONAL U17 TEAM
Thirteen forwards, eight defensemen and two goaltenders have been selected to join USA Hockey's National Team Development Program located in Plymouth, Michigan, it was announced today. The 23 players, all from the 2001 birth year, will compete for the U.S. National Under-17 Team during the 2017-18 season. The roster includes Illinois' Owen Lindmark (Naperville), Cameron Rowe (Wilmette) and Alex Vlasic (Wilmette). READ MORE>>
GBS77 FOUNDATION HELPING HOCKEY FAMILIES: BRANDON OTTE UPDATE
The Give Bonnie Strong 77 Foundation was established in honor of Bonnie Vonder Haar, a 12 yr. old girls' hockey player for the Crystal Lake YellowJackets, who succumbed to leukemia in July 2014. The Foundation helps provide financial assistance to the families of a child fighting pediatric cancer. Thanks to the ongoing generous support from our donors and sponsors, the Foundation was recently able to provide assistance to the family of 9 yr. old Brandon Otte, a Joliet Jaguar Pee Wee hockey player diagnosed with cancer in December 2015. READ MORE>>
2017 GIRLS' ILLINOIS AMERICA'S SHOWCASE TEAM
By Anita Lichterman  ~ By the end of the America's Showcase weekend in Pittsburgh, all 3 seniors on the  Girls' Illinois Showcase  team had been approached by scouts and several juniors who had previously made contact with colleges sent scouts to watch them play. America's Showcase is not about winning or losing the games; it's about the players showcasing their talents and how they react to whatever might happen during the game.  READ MORE>>
CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS NEWS & INFORMATION
2017 BLACKHAWKS YOUTH 3v3 HOCKEY TOURNAMENT
Registration Now Open!
The Chicago Blackhawks are excited to host the 3v3 Hockey Series for the fifth year in a row at Rocket Ice Arena (Bolingbrook) June 17-18, 2017. The tournaments will take over a local hockey rink for one weekend in the summer for a fun, friendly ice hockey tournament.  The 3v3 Tournament Series is geared toward all levels of hockey players and provides everyone a chance to play hockey with some friends. Grab your teammates, schoolmates or friends from your neighborhood and enter today!
USA HOCKEY NEWS
CISHA RECEIVES ONE OF SIX SLED HOCKEY GRANTS
USA Hockey unveiled the six sled hockey programs that will equally share $150,000 in grants from The USA Hockey Foundation provided by Labatt USA through its Pass it Forward initiative.  The funding will assist three newly created programs this year and three other previously established USA Hockey sled programs.  "We're most appreciative to Labatt for their efforts in joining with us in furthering the development of sled hockey," said  Dave Ogrean , executive director of USA Hockey. "The substantial number of applications we received shows the desire all across the country to continue to grow sled hockey." READ MORE>>

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