AHAI Affiliate Organizations and leagues are accountable to governmental authorities and AHAI expects all its members to strictly adhere to federal, state, and local government and departments of health policies, including local rink rules, for best practices on COVID-19 health and prevention. These policies include, but are not limited to, the All Sports Policy, Youth Sports Guidance, and Indoor/Outdoor Recreation Facilities Guidance from the State of Illinois. AHAI realizes that the policies can (and may very well) change at some point in the future.
Each AHAI organization is responsible for awareness of the most current policies. As players and ice hockey participants return to the ice, and in hopeful anticipation that scrimmages and/or games will occur soon, AHAI released the 2020/2021 Hockey Registry to all AHAI Affiliate organizations. Similar to prior years, rosters that comply with the AHAI/USAH Rules and Regulations will be certified.
The issuance of a team roster does NOT permit an AHAI/USA Hockey rostered team to participate in any games or scrimmages (in state or out of state) nor does it permit an AHAI sanctioned league to conduct games or scrimmages. AHAI will not sanction any in-state tournaments at this time.
A violation of AHAI rules, including all in state Illinois Game play, regulations, bylaws, policies, or procedures may be referred to the appropriate disciplinary AHAI committee for further action. A determination by the AHAI committee that an organization, team or league violated any AHAI rule, regulation, bylaw, policy or procedure may result in disciplinary measures including, but not limited to, coaching suspension, team staff suspension, decertification of a team or league, and elimination of eligibility to participate in the AHAI State Tournament.
AHAI is not recommending Associations/Clubs or teams travel outside the state of Illinois.
However, AHAI is suspending the travel permit rule 7.0 until further notice.
If teams or participants travel out of Illinois, they would be subject to any applicable State of Illinois quarantine requirements and may be subject to penalties by the State of Illinois if it determines that such travel violated the current health regulations. Currently, AHAI does not intend to take disciplinary action for participating in sanctioned activities in another Affiliate unless the State of Illinois issues a clearer directive on the subject.
Each Affiliate/Club bears the sole responsibility for any consequences of out of state play, including but not limited to any legal action that may be taken by any governmental body, league, affiliate, or any individual.
Each AHAI Affiliate/Club should prepare its own plan, in conjunction with its local rinks, for returning players to the ice. AHAI does not operate ice rinks or affiliates nor does it determine when, and how, it is appropriate to return to the rinks. AHAI has no role in determining such actions.
Working collaboratively, and in compliance with the policies discussed above, may increase the opportunity to reevaluate the current classification of ice hockey. Conversely, creating an environment which could lead to further exposure and incidence of COVID-19 infection may move the community further back from its intended goals. We are all in this together!
AHAI will release additional information as it becomes available.
Stay well.
