Volume 13 Issue 12 | December 2025 | | LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT | | |
Hope your holidays were great. Have a Happy and Healthy New Year!
Before you know it the playoffs will be here. Players and coaches be smart, don’t get suspended and jeopardize your ability to finish the season.
Stay safe!
Kevin Bolger
President
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State Tournament Registration Information
By: Keri Zschach, State Tournament Chairperson
The 2026 State Tournament registration will remain open for Tier II Youth and High School Boys until January 5th. Tier I registration will remain open until January 15th. Tier II Girls and High School Girls registrations are closed. Please visit ahai.org to register.
The Tier II State Tournament exemption form can be found here and should be completed by teams requesting an exemption before registering for the State Tournament. Exemption requests will be taken until January1st. Any questions regarding the exemption form please email keri.zschach@ahai.org.
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Holiday Time, Family Time, Decision Time
By: Jack Weinberg, Suspension Committee Chairman
It is the time of year when we should be enjoying our friends and family in a safe and loving environment. However, it seems that the world we live in has other plans. We live in a dangerous and divisive time of violence and intolerance. It has permeated our lives and threatened our well-being. It is during these times in history that athletics was a place where we could count on fun and fair play to help lift us above the chaos of the outside world.
No more. Not only have we let the negative forces of the troubled world invade our space, but we have invited them in and reinforced their destructive powers. The behavior on and off the ice has threatened our game and the safety of all the participants. Parents, officials, players and fans alike have failed to respect each other and the game. The number of serious incidences of racial and homophobic slurs are increasing exponentially. The uncivilized behavior, physical confrontations that include assaults by parents, players coaches and officials is unconscionable.
When did we allow blatant self-interest and savagery into our great game? What do we think the impact is going to be on generations of players who have no respect for authority because those in authority have no respect for anyone else.
Hockey is a game, but it can teach us a lot about life and how to live it IF, we decide to embrace the positive lessons that we could bring into our life and our society. Perhaps if we play the game according to the rules, we might be able to apply them to the outside world. You may not physically, orally or emotionally attack another human being. The other people in the game are not enemies. They are opponents, referees, coaches and teammates. If parents and coaches scream and chastise refs, what lesson does it teach to the players. If refs are unprofessional and swear and disrespect others at the rink what example do they set? Humans make mistakes. Why do we demand perfection from everyone else but ourselves?
We can only control our own behavior. Ask yourself, is what I am doing good for my team, the game? Do I want to be a good example and a positive force in making the game better, safer, more enjoyable for everyone involved? Are anger and violence ever the answer to frustration?
This is our game, each of us has the responsibility to raise the bar. We must start with our individual behavior and wherever possible lead others to a higher standard of respect and responsibility.
The world we live in is in chaos and uncertainty. Let’s work together to clean up our portion of it by respecting each other through our game and perhaps we can build the kind of leaders that will carry that message beyond the rink. Decide what you want to be remembered for.
Have a safe and peaceful New Year.
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The Illinois Hockey Hall of Fame Induction Dinner Tickets Now Available
The IHHF Induction Dinner will be held to honour this year's inductees on Sunday, February 1, 2026 at the Belvedere Banquet Hall located at 1170 West Devon Avenue in Elk Grove Village beginning at 5:00 pm. Tickets are available online here or by contacting John Dunne at (224)636-3215 or e-mail John at executive.director@ahai2.org.
For more information, including information on this year's inductees please visit here.
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Overcoming Obstacles: Bruises Slowed, But Didn’t Stop Reapers Defenseman Emmett Simbrowsky
By: Ross Forman
Emmett Simbrowsky just wants to wear his No. 24 jersey on right defense for the 2016 Chicago Reapers. He is a 9-year-old fourth grader who lives in Chicago and attends Hawthorne Scholastic Academy.
Hockey is Simbrowsky’s fun space, which included an appearance last season in a state championship game while skating for the Jr. Reapers.
He is a physical and smart defenseman who treasures the memories of scoring a shootout game-winning goal against the Florida Surf in this season’s CCM World Invite quarter-finals, held locally in November.
However, Simbrowsky’s season has been slowed by medical news that he, well, doesn’t truly understand or comprehend based on his age. But it’s led to plenty of tears and sleepless nights for his parents. READ MORE<<<
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Kai Faga: A Multi-Sport Athlete For Mammoth 14UAA Who Also Speaks Japanese
By: Ross Forman
Kai Faga, a center for the Mammoth 14UAA team, remembers the season-opener, which certainly set the tone for a successful run. They played the Blues on September 21, an early morning game in Bensenville.
Faga scored four goals and Mammoth won, 5-4. “We were so relieved to start the season with a win,” he said.
Mammoth won 11 of its first 12 games this season and went into the holiday break carrying a 19-5-2 record and wins in their last four games, including road shutouts against Rockford and Winnetka.
Faga, 14, who lives in Evanston, is an eighth grader at Haven Middle School and will attend Evanston Township High School next fall. A right-handed shooter, Faga has played wing and defense and played for Mammoth 14UAA last season, too.
On the ice, Faga is adaptive, calm, smart and tenacious. READ MORE<<<
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Scott Gaffney: Lead Official In Illinois, On and Off The Ice
By: Ross Forman
Scott Gaffney has been officiating for 10 years and worked about 250 games last season.
“I officiate regularly at Fifth Third Arena, Johnny’s Icehouse and Heartland Ice Arena, and frequently travel for NCAA and SPHL assignments. At the high school level, I primarily work on the North Shore, in Glenview, Winnetka and the surrounding areas,” he said. “I try to keep active by doing anywhere from four to 10 games a week, but my focus is at home and building MCHO from the ground up.”
Ah yes, Mid-Coast Hockey Officials, a new player on the local scene this season.
MCHO is centralizing all Illinois and regional game assignments for officials on a single platform to improve efficiency, streamlining the assignment process for associations, leagues and officials. MCHO also eliminated registration costs for officials on the assignment platform and is paying officials at the beginning of each month (5th–10th) for the prior month’s games, moving up from the previous 15th-of-the-month pay date. MCHO is continuing mentorship, evaluation and supervision programs in a more focused and efficient manner. Plus, MCHO is developing a structured training and education program to enhance retention and quality of grassroots officials. READ MORE>>>
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Scoring Sensation: Dennis Nikolaev Leads Hinsdale Central’s Push in IHSHL West
By: Ross Forman
Halfway through the game between rivals Lyons Township and Hinsdale Central on November 2 in Willowbrook, the Lions led 1-0 on a first period goal by John Hepokoski.
Eddie Yu scored at 8:40 of the second to tie the game and Dennis Nikolaev tallied the game-winner :15 into the third period.
The Red Devils celebrated a 5-1 victory – in Nikolaev’s favorite moment so far this season. And it’s been a 2025 slate of the 2025-26 season filled with happy moments for Hinsdale Central, which sits at 13-5 in IHSHL West play and their 39 points at the holiday break put them in third-place only behind Maine Township (45) and the Warriors (44). READ MORE>>>
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Re-United: Brothers Connor & Duncan Rowley Are Again Teammates For Co-Op Glenbard
By: Ross Forman
Glenbard head coach Jason Hawkins made a selection for the 2024-25 season that was, he said without hesitation, “the hardest decision” he has had to make in 25-years coaching.
He selected Connor Rowley for the co-op varsity, yet his twin brother, Duncan, was left for the JV team.
“We thought Connor's build would help him be an effective varsity player as a sophomore,” Hawkins said. “While Duncan’s skill was there, we thought a year of developing and growing more at JV would benefit his all-around game. Duncan (was) able to double-roster on varsity and he ended up playing over 15 varsity games throughout the season.” READ MORE>>>
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Sisters Serena & Jenna Gilani Represent Pakistan In International Tournament
By: Ross Forman
Before the season started for sisters Serena and Jenna Gilani – a defenseman and center, respectively, for the 19U Northshore Warhawks and Lake Forest Academy girls’ varsity hockey teams – they traveled to Florida for an historic, cultural hockey experience.
They played for Team Pakistan in the Amerigol Latam Cup, an international tournament that breaks barriers and unites non-traditional hockey markets in a display of skill, passion and camaraderie. The event stands on the spirit of inclusivity, as teams from diverse corners of the world showcase their dedication to the sport, challenging preconceptions and proving that the love for ice hockey knows no bounds.
The Amerigol Latam Cup is a testament to the growth and global appeal of the sport, fostering a sense of community and shared enthusiasm among nations not traditionally associated with hockey.
Pakistan, for instance.
“It is a powerful feeling (wearing the Pakistan uniform), representing my culture and making my grandparents proud. That was one of the best experiences,” Serena said. “Being on (media coverage) in Pakistan, I wanted to inspire women in Pakistan who are told they aren’t allowed to play a sport.” READ MORE>>>
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