Volume 3 Issue 12 | August 2019
HOCKEY IS DIFFERENT HERE
Minnesota’s community-based model is one of the primary reasons it’s truly the State of Hockey
By Josh Levine - The centrality of hockey to our state can be seen as one flies into Minneapolis in January and sees a landscape littered with ponds, backyard hockey rinks, and local arenas. The media attention, social media posts, and coffee shop gossip over hockey show the special connection Minnesotans have with the game. Hockey is different here. Minnesota’s community model allows players from the same schools, neighborhoods, and cities to play with each other and for their communities. It enables high levels of competition at our youth and high school levels, unlike many other parts of the country where the top players play for corporate logos and programs with no community affiliation. On a yearly basis, many of these players will switch teams based on the best situation available to them.
THE 24-HOUR RULE
It applies to all of us (and not just in youth sports)!
Tryouts are underway. Tryouts mean kids will be placed on the wrong team. We as coaches are poor judges of talent. Your child is better than (name inserted here_________).

Games will begin in two weeks. Referees will blow calls. You will yell something from the stands. Guess what? The referee can’t hear you.

Coaches will undoubtedly "short" a child ice time, normally after the ref blew a call and made your team shorthanded in the first place. You will not like the coach’s power play structure, although 95% of people (me included) don’t know what a power play offense should look like. You want to tell him what you think…better yet, why not send him a text during the game so he can read it and change the power play? 

Coaches will get mad at kids, sometimes for not showing up, or even worse, showing up and not trying or paying attention. You want to call the parents and tell them what you think.

And then we go to work and don’t like what a boss or co-worker does. You want to tell them what you think. Then you come home and your spouse does something you don't like. 

So the solution to all of these situations? The 24-hour rule. Take a step back. Breath. Re-focus. 

I ask that you click the button below and read the article, “Lax Lingo: The ‘24-Hour’ Rule”, because it is exceptional. There are many others you can read by just doing a google search of 24-hour rule youth sports. If we all do this, parents will have more fun, coaches will have more fun, and your child will have more fun….and that’s why we do this!
YOUR CHANCE TO OWN A HOCKEY TEAM
We are officially kicking off our search for House League sponsors for the 2019/20 season.
The Jr. Warriors (ages 5-8) and Winnetka (ages 9-14) Hockey Clubs serves boys and girls ages 5-14 on over 50 teams from Winnetka, Glencoe, Kenilworth, and Northfield. Simply put, we couldn’t make our hockey program happen without amazing sponsors. Sponsoring a team is a terrific way to support a local, community-based, not-for-profit sporting organization, while providing your business with valuable exposure. Our community history is long-standing and we have seen many second and third generation players and volunteer in our program, Through the years there have been many traditions but the most important to be carried on is to offer a fun and rewarding hockey experience where friendships are made and the important lessons of teamwork, sportsmanship and hard work are learned by all participants.
  • Name on a House League team’s jersey for the season (October 2019-March 2020)
  • Sponsor’s logo and web link on winnetkahockey.com (full Year) on winnetkahockey.com sponsors page
  • Name and logo on sponsor board Ice Arena (full year)
As in the past, the sponsorship fee is $500. Your contribution will help defray some of the expenses of the house league program and help us achieve our mission of providing quality recreation to our community. Please click HERE to submit your information for sponsorship and to pay online.  
 
Questions? Please contact Tom Gullen at tom@winnetkahockey.com or the WHC Hockey Office at 847-446-9004. We thank you for your consideration.
AROUND THE BOARDS
Ella Huber Tapped for Women's U.S. Under-18 Team
Former Winnetka Warrior Ella Huber was selected to the United States Under-18 National Team. She will represent the USA in the IIHF World Championships next January. Congratulations Ella! 
FALL HOCKEY & SKATING CLASSES
Fall Hockey & Skating Classes at the Winnetka Ice Arena
Classes for ages 3+ start September 9 and October 7. Click buttons below for more information. Register online today!
AHAI NEWS & INFORMATION
2019 College Night: Opportunities for Hockey After High School Seminar
AHAI is proud to present the 30th annual series of Seminars on the opportunities in ice hockey on Monday, September 30, 2019, at the Woodfield Hyatt in Schaumburg. We'll talk about Men's and Women's NCAA DI and DIII hockey, ACHA club hockey, Junior College, Prep Schools and Junior Programs.
 
A wide array of topics will be discussed that will include: Making a College Hockey Team, Financial Aid, How to Pick the Right School for You, Making the Grade and much more! Additionally, there will be an Open House with more than 20 colleges and Junior teams present. Attendance is a must for all players (male and female) born in 2003 through 2006. Parents are invited and encouraged to attend. Registration opens on Monday, September 17th.
Announcing the 9th Year of the A Step aHead Program! 
The Chicago Blackhawks, AHAI and Athletico Physical Therapy are proud to announce the 9th year of the A Step aHead Program. The goal of the A Step aHead 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 ages 11-18 (12U through 18U/High School) from July 1 through November 1, 2019.