IN THIS ISSUE

Volume 4 Issue 15 | December 7, 2016
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NCAA COLLEGE HOCKEY REPORT
Over 250 Illinois Men & Women Are Playing NCAA
Division I and Division III College Hockey


It's a testament to the players, coaches, and associations that so many of our young men and women from Illinois were able to realize their dream of playing NCAA College Hockey. Whether at Division 1 or 3, each player is continuing their hockey careers along with obtaining the ever important college degree. As we went through the numbers and compared them to two seasons ago, a few interesting things popped up. In 2014-15, Illinois had 59 men playing Division 1 and 29 women. This season those numbers jumped to 80 men and 35 women! The Division 3 ranks changed slightly, with 84 men this year compared to 92 two years ago; and 67 women this year as compared to 56 two years ago. Click buttons below to view lists of Illinois players. *

Congratulations to all our players for continuing their education and hockey careers!

We have not forgotten that we have hundreds of men and women playing ACHA Club hockey as well. We will tally those numbers up for our readers in an upcoming issue of Snapshot.

*Information obtained from rosters posted on USCHO.com
AHAI NEWS & INFORMATION
MEN'S & WOMEN'S ADULT STATE CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT
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 with all Championship Games taking place on Sunday, April 30, 2017 at Seven Bridges Ice Arena.

The Adult State Tournament is open to all Adult (21+) Men & Women who are USA Hockey registered players and teams who have played at least 8 games together during the 2015-2016 season, or non-USA league teams and players that wish to become USA members before the Tournament. Players may play on only 1 team in the Tournament. There will be a maximum of thirty-two (32) Women's and Men's teams.  For more information click HERE or contact Robert Fiorio, Tournament Director at rfiorio4@yahoo.com or call 630.750.1962.

RESERVE YOUR SEAT AT THE IHHF INDUCTION DINNER!
Please make plans on joining this year's  inductees  at the IHHF Induction Dinner that will be held in their honour on Sunday, January 24, 2017 at the Belvedere Banquet Hall in Elk Grove Village beginning at 5:00 pm. Tickets are available by contacting Norm Spiegel at  jacole@comcast.net .  For more information and a list of this year's inductees into the Illinois Hockey Hall of Fame, please click  HERE .
TOP 5 PHOTOS FOR NOVEMBER!
Your votes have been counted and the Top 5 Photos for November have been selected! Congratulations to our winners! Click HERE to view our 16 Finalists and visit AHAI's Facebook Page to see all photos submitted in November! Can't wait to see the photos submitted for December!

Matt McDonald ~ Chicago Bruins Bantam
"Leading the Way"
Tommy Murray ~ Huskies Hockey Club
"Welcome Mr. 81 to a New Season"
Zack Brown ~ Evanston Hockey
"Always Happy to Assist with a Goal"
Northwest Chargers Squirt CSDHL
"Giving Back with Survival Kits"

Admirals Girls Program
"Happy Hockeyween"

Time to send in those photos for December! Photos should include a brief caption along with player's name, their organization or club, and playing level. Submission deadline for the December Photo of the Month contest is Saturday, December 24. Send photos to gretchen@ahai2.org. Good luck!
IHOA NEWS & INFORMATION
IHOA TO CONDUCT SECOND LATE SEASON SEMINAR
IHOA is pleased to announce that they have added an additional officiating seminar date. IHOA added seminars at levels 1, 2 and 3 for  Monday, December 26, 2016, at the Fox Valley Ice Arena to accommodate additional officiating demands and make another date available for returning officials who may have missed a prior seminar.  The seats available for the December 26 seminar are limited in number and will fill on a first registered basis.  If you know anyone who is interested in attending a this, 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 OFFICIAL BY DAVE ZEDNIK
QUESTION: During a bantam game, in the process of playing the puck during a face-off, one center knocks over the other. Is it the correct call to give the center still standing a charging minor and misconduct? VIEW ANSWER>>

QUESTION: Can you tell me at what age level the goal pegs should be in place? VIEW ANSWER>
HIGH SCHOOL HOCKEY NEWS
24TH ANNUAL HIGH SCHOOL HOLIDAY HOCKEY CLASSIC
The 24th Annual Chicago Blackhawks Charities High School Holiday Hockey Classic, featuring 20 high school teams, will take place at the Edge Ice Arena in Bensenville on Monday, December 26 through Thursday, December 29, 2016.  Tickets are available for this four day tournament at the Edge, $5.00 for students and $7.00 for adults with all proceeds supporting Chicago Blackhawks Charities.  We invite you and your family to come out and watch some exciting high school hockey action! SCHEDULE & BRACKETS>>
HOCKEY TOURNAMENT BRINGS INTERNATIONAL FLAVOR
By Ross Forman ~  A new, exciting three-day high school hockey event comes to the Chicago area - with worldwide impact.  The inaugural High School Prep Invitational is Dec. 9-11 at the Darien Sportsplex, featuring six of Illinois' top teams, including defending state champion New Trier Green and the Trevians' arch-rival Loyola Gold, along with perennial powers Providence Catholic, Benet Academy and Glenbrook North, as well as rising Catholic League power Brother Rice. The event, eight months in the making and produced by 200x85 LLC and ProStock Hockey, features six other teams too, including a team from Austria, and domestic clubs from Colorado, Iowa, North Carolina and Minnesota. READ MORE>>
FORMAN'S TOP 20 RANKINGS AS OF
DECEMBER 2ND 
    1. New Trier Green
    2. Loyola Gold
    3. Glenbrook North
    4. Providence Catholic
    5. Benet Academy
    6. Neuqua Valley
    7. New Trier Blue
    8. Notre Dame
    9. St. Ignatius
    10. Stevenson
Click HERE to view Ross Forman's complete
Top 20 Rankings!
CHICAGO BLACKHAWK ALUMNI SCHOLARSHIP
Graduating Illinois High School Players are encouraged to apply for the annual Chicago Blackhawk Alumni Association Scholarship. The  Blackhawk Alumni Association  (BHAA) distributes college scholarships annually to the three most deserving high school hockey players. Awards are determined from a candidate's level of community service, volunteerism, good citizenship, academic performance as well as the hockey talent of the individual. Recipients will receive an annual $7,500.00 scholarship over four years for a total of $30,000. COMPLETE DETAILS>>
CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS NEWS & INFORMATION
CHICAGO PARK DISTRICT OUTDOOR CLINICS
The Chicago Blackhawks are giving kids the opportunity to participate a in  FREE Learn to Play ice hockey clinic ! Use of skates and equipment will be provided at no cost. Some prior ice skating experience is required. All participants will receive a jersey to keep. VIEW SCHEDULE>>


NOVEMBER CAPTAINS SPOTLIGHT
The Captain Spotlight is a youth hockey initiative that features four local high school hockey captains per month. These captains are invited to a Blackhawks game and are interviewed on the defining characteristics of what makes a good leader. Congratulations to Zack Meeker (Marist), Jack Connolly (St. Ignatius), Isabelle Sennett (New Trier) and Mark Young (St. Viator)! MEET THE CAPTAINS>>
NOVEMBER REFEREE SPOTLIGHT
The Youth Hockey Referee Spotlight highlights two amateur hockey referees from Illinois per month and gives them the opportunity to attend a Blackhawks game and meet the NHL refs prior to puck drop. The impact and contribution of youth referees in hockey is as important as the players, and this is a great opportunity to reward them for their contributions. AHAI congratulates Thomas Zschach and Tyler Mrozik!
BMO HARRIS BANK NOVEMBER PLAYER, COACH & VOLUNTEER OF THE MONTH

Volunteer of the Month
Becky Malone ~ St. Jude Knights

Coach of the Month
Christian Esposito ~ Fox Valley

Player of the Month
Patrick McGowan - Belvidere Fury H.S. & Leafs Hockey

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 left to right: Annie Camins - Chicago Blackhawks, Senior Director, Fan Development, Lucino Sotelo - Chief Marketing Officer, US P&C, BMO Harris Bank, Becky Malone - Volunteer of the Month, Christian Esposito - Coach of the Month, Patrick McGowan - Player of the Month
PLAYERS, LEADERS, OFFICIALS & CLUBS IN THE NEWS
ADMIRALS GIRLS HOLD COLLEGE HOCKEY SEMINAR
The Admirals Girls Program held a College Hockey Seminar on Tuesday, November 29 at the Center Ice of DuPage for their players and parents. Grant Kimball, who will lead Aurora University Women's NCAA Division III Hockey Program in their inaugural season in 2017, was the guest speaker. Kimball comes to AU after spending the previous seven seasons as the Associate Head Women's Ice Hockey Coach and Recruiting Coordinator at the University of Vermont, Division I.  FULL ARTICLE>>
CCM SELECTED AS SPONSOR FOR WORLD INVITE IN CHICAGO
Premier hockey tournament organizer, 200X85, has selected CCM as its new partner for The World Invite in Chicago. The elite tournament will be re-branded as the CCM World Invite, effective immediately. Additionally, CCM will be the new title sponsor for the Selects Elite Training Program, as well as the exclusive equipment partner for a number of the initiatives, including clinics and training events. FULL ARTICLE>>
REMEMBERING BROCK HANNA AND HIS LOVE FOR THE GAME
By Ross Forman ~ It was 10 or 15 years ago when I was officiating an adult league hockey game in Buffalo Grove for the top-tiered division. Brock Hanna was a right-handed defenseman - a strong, fearless player who would occasionally rush the puck up the ice, but usually was just rock-solid on D.  We clashed right away.  Brock, you see, was a physical player, never afraid to check a foe, though the league was, of course, no-check. Brock would check someone, my arm would go in the air and I'd signal the penalty. Usually, it was roughing. FULL ARTICLE>>
MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
  • Skate with the Greats! (Jan. 14) VIEW FLYER>>
  • Chicago Blackhawks Special Hockey vs. Northern Illinois University (Dec. 18)  VIEW FLYER>
  • Hornets vs. Hinsdale Central Sled Hockey Benefit Game (Dec. 21)  VIEW FLYER>>
  • Josh Strutz Hockey is Life Fund: Memorial Game & Silent Auction (Dec. 16) VIEW FLYER>>
  • 3rd Annual Bonnie V. Memorial All Girls Skate (Dec. 22)  VIEW FLYER>>
  • Hockey on Your Block Youth Hockey Clinics VIEW FLYER>>
Visit our "Events Tab" on ahaienews.com for a complete listing. Have an event you would like to promote? Contact AHAI Communications Manager, Gretchen Cockey at gretchen@ahai2.org.

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