Topics and key points that were discussed in each webinar are listed below, as well as direct links to webinar videos and any presentation materials.  We encourage you to view these recordings and reach out with any questions you may have. Thank you to all that spent their time this past weekend joining these sessions and participating. AHAI appreciates your time and dedication. - AHAI Board & Staff

2020 AHAI Affiliate Leadership Conference Webinars

Session 1 - Return to Play Webinar:  This webinar included the latest update on Phase 4 Restore Illinois, rostering, CEP Clinic updates and temporary coaching card information. Katie Holmgren, Director of Program Services at USA Hockey also provided information regarding USA Hockey's Return to Rinks Toolkit to help Affiliates grow and retain members.

Session 2 - Hockey Directors Roundtable: 40+ hockey directors and coaches discussed what makes a great youth hockey experience, development and what to focus on in practice.

Session 3 - Club Administration: Topics for this webinar included the processes for Rules & Ethics and Suspension & Review and what clubs need to do in these areas.

Session 4 - Officiating: A key discussion was held around the retention and education of officials as well as important actions clubs can take to help bring new officials into the game.

Session 5 - Youth Hockey Discussion: Topics for this session included the timing of tryouts for the 2020-21 season, an update on Two-Choice applications and team commitment rules.

Session 6 - Building Girls Hockey: Creating new all-girls affiliates, critical rules changes for this season and ideas to build the game were all discussed in this session.

Session 7 - Screening | SafeSport: Key points discussed were the new screening process this season and important updates to the SafeSport program.

Session 8 - High School Hockey: This session featured updates to the movement of players, the JV State Tournament, and how High School hockey will be handled this season during COVID-19.

Please click here to watch the recorded webinars or view power point presentations from the 2020 AHAI Affiliate Leadership Conference.

The Tier II substitute choice application process, 10U through 16U/18U will begin on July 17, 2020. All applications will be submitted online. The Tier II Committee will have (3) three appeal hearings for those denied a substitute choice. The dates for the appeals are August 13, August 27, and September 9, 2020 at 6:30 p.m. Location will be announced at a later date.  If denied, please email Gregg Chudacoff, AHAI Tier II Chairman, at  gregg.chudacoff@ahai2.org with your preferred appeal hearing date. The deadline for applying for a substitute choice will be September 13, 2020.

By Jim Clare, AHAI Coach-In-Chief - As has been mentioned many times, we are dealing with some new and challenging scenarios in our lives and in the hockey world. To help our coaches navigate the CEP process, USA Hockey has restructured their coaching certification requirements for the 2020-2021 season.

As of today, USA Hockey will not allow us to post onsite clinics, all clinics are being held virtually. For Illinois, this does not pose a huge issue as we typically start our CEP clinic season in early September. We have secured dates for those clinics. Depending on the Restore Illinois Plan, as it stands right now, we should be able to conduct some clinics in-person. However, this should not stop any coach from achieving their next level of certification by attending a virtual clinic. Districts are running most of these clinics with the help of USA Hockey. Please click here to register. You can attend any clinic across the country that has space.

In regards to the temporary coaching cards, which will extend your current certification for the 2020-21 season without having to attend a clinic, we are pleased to announce that USA Hockey is extending the deadline until July 31, 2020. READ MORE>>

By Carter Baum | Blackhawks.com - Receiving a call from the Hockey Hall of Fame is perhaps the ultimate achievement for a hockey player. It takes a lot to win a Stanley Cup, but it takes even more to be cemented among the game's all-time best. A distinct few don't wait long, just three years after their playing careers are over. Others wait, year after year, perhaps wondering if a call will ever come from the Toronto area as Spring turns to Summer.  A pair of former Blackhawks were on each end of the spectrum Wednesday as the Hall elected its 2020 Inductees. READ MORE>>

QUESTION:  Here is the situation. During a 14U House game, a player was hit behind the goal and fell to the ice laying on his back. Noticing the player is injured, play was stopped immediately. We brought the medic onto the ice who deemed it to be a neck and back injury. We cleared the ice and sent players to the bench, the mother of the player called an ambulance who told them not to move the player and wait for them. There was 20 seconds left in the game with a tied game at 1 to 1. Being the last game of the night the coach of the injured player asked what the call was on the game. The opposing teams coach wanted us to wait until the player was cleared to finish the game and the coach of the injured player wanted to call it. The call we made was, without both coaches making a joint decision we had to wait and finish. What is the appropriate call? Do we call the game and end it or do we wait and then continue? ANSWER>>

QUESTION:  A goalie made a butterfly save with his leg pad and in doing so the puck came to rest under his left pad, some of the puck was visible under the pad, but the puck was not moving or loose. My question is when does the referee blow his/her whistle and consider the play dead?

By Chicago Steel - Chicago Steel President Dan Lehv has been named the 2019-2020 Dave Tyler United States Hockey League Executive of the Year, the League announced on Monday.  Lehv becomes the only two-time recipient of the Dave Tyler Executive of the Year Award, following his 2012-2013 honor as President of the Dubuque Fighting Saints.

Lehv was named President of the Steel in August 2015 and has overseen the resurgence of the organization since Larry Robbins purchased the team prior to the 2015-2016 season. READ MORE>>