Volume 14 Issue 5 | May 2026 | | LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT | | |
I am writing this letter with mixed emotions. After six years of serving as your president, it is time for me to step down and turn over the reins. Although I will miss leading Illinois, I feel it is time for new blood and new ideas. On May 30th the AHAI Board will select my replacement.
I will continue on the board in an advisory role and will have a more active role with USA Hockey. This will allow me to serve as AHAI’s liaison to USA Hockey.
It has been an absolute pleasure to have represented you, and I thank you all for your support.
See you at the rink,
Kevin Bolger
AHAI President
|
Interstate Transfer Waivers are Coming
An Interstate Transfer Waiver is an approval that allows a player who resides in one state Affiliate to play in another state/Affiliate. Example: A player who resides in Illinois wishes to play for a team in Wisconsin during the regular season. In January 2026, USA Hockey passed a rule that requires players to request a waiver to play in a different state than the player’s residency, unless a written agreement exists between neighboring states. This only affects Tier II Youth, Tier II Girls and Tier III (Recreational) divisions. AHAI has a longstanding agreement already in place with southeastern Wisconsin clubs which will continue. Illinois residents wishing to play in other areas of Wisconsin, Iowa, Missouri or Indiana may need to complete a simple form and submit to AHAI. Be on the lookout - information will be sent to Affiliate Presidents and posted to
AHAI’s website soon.
For more information, see USA Hockey Rules & Regulations / Article III. TEAM
MEMBERSHIP AND REGISTRATION, (pages 170-173, USA Hockey Rules and Regulations). Any questions in the meantime, contact John Dunne at john.dunne@ahai.org.
| |
Tier II Substitute Choice Application
Tier II player substitute choice applications will open on July 1, 2026. The application and description of the process will be available on AHAI.org.
| |
Congratulations to the players selected to advance from the Central District Camp to the USA Hockey National Development Camps this summer.
| |
Overcoming Obstacles: Drew Hubbard Ready For Senior Season At Saint Ignatius
Knee Surgery Before Junior Season Slowed Hubbard, Who Switched To Forward
By Ross Forman
Drew Hubbard, a forward this past season for the Saint Ignatius Varsity Maroon team, endured hardships before his first slapshot for the school’s Academic Hockey League team.
He had surgery last June on his left knee to repair a fracture in his femur from osteochondritis dissecans that was treated by putting two metals screws in his knee.
Hubbard was on crutches for about a month and originally told that he couldn’t go back to hockey for four to six months. “The recovery process of healing and getting stronger was longer and slower than I would’ve liked, especially after the season started; I couldn’t stand not being able to be on the ice with the team,” said Hubbard, who lives in Chicago. READ MORE<<<
| |  |
Winning Ways: Benet Academy Defenseman Ethan Zerth Drives For Kennedy Cup
By Ross Forman
Ethan Zerth has quite a winning hockey resume and is ready to add more championships in the fall when he starts his junior season for Benet Academy in what will be his second season on the school’s varsity. The 15-year-old Zerth:
- Won two state championships playing for the Chicago Reapers and three times has been a state runner-up;
- Went to the USA Hockey nationals in 2024 as a bantam;
- Has won such tournaments as the Chitown Shuffle, Dallas CCM World Invite and Chicago CCM World Invite;
- Scoring the game-winning goal in the state championship as a bantam minor – his personal hockey highlight to date; and
- Scoring a shootout goal in the all-star game at the Hockey World Championship in Innsbruck, Austria in 2022. READ MORE<<<
| |
The Piano Man: Chicago Reapers Forward Joseph Tenjiku Brings The Sweet Sound On, Off The Ice
By Ross Forman
Joseph Tenjiku will have an interesting story to share with his teammates at the Chicago Reapers and this upcoming fall in sixth grade at Clarendon Hills Middle School when he’s bound to be asked, ‘What did you do over the summer?’
His answer: play piano at Carnegie Hall in New York City, which he is doing in August.
“My brother started (playing piano and) I was always there with his lessons, so, I followed him,” said Tenjiku, a pianist for eight years who enjoys “learning new songs, playing Christmas songs during the holiday season and making music with my brother.” READ MORE<<<
| | |
Wilmette Wing Kellan Payne Driven For Hockey, Soccer Success
By Ross Forman
Kellan Payne, a left wing for the Wilmette Jr. Trevians, has a direct approach to the game: “to be better today than I was yesterday,” he said.
Payne, 12, who lives in Wilmette and is in sixth grade at Highcrest Middle School, played for the Jr. Trevians peewee 1 team this past season and is looking to skate for the club’s peewee major team in the fall.
He formerly skated for the Hudson Valley Riverhawks and the West Point Junior Black Knights, both in New York. He wears jersey No. 28 and was a CSDHL squirt major champion during the 2024-25 season. That season, he also scored a key game-tying goal en route to the championship. READ MORE<<<
| |
Split Loyalty: Evanston Goalie Aston Roitto Savors Ties To Sweden, Finland
By Ross Forman
Aston Roitto brings an international love for hockey to the ice as he prepares for his junior season in the fall, his second in goal on the Evanston Township High School varsity team.
Roitto, 16, saw action in 26 games this past season, starting 25 of them. He allowed 55 goals on 606 shots and had two shutouts.
“I lean more towards a butterfly (style) goalie, but I consider myself a more hybrid goalie because I try not to go down when I don’t have to,” said Roitto, who notched a 3-0 road win over New Trier Blue in January – a personal highlight. READ MORE<<<
| |
Save the Date for the AHAI Annual Golf Outing
Visit here for more information and to register for the AHAI Golf Outing on Friday, August 14, 2026.
| | |
The Chicago Wolves have advanced to the Western Conference Finals as they seek the sixth league championship in franchise history and you can join in on the excitement!
Youth hockey players and their families can get up to 20 percent off playoff tickets throughout the 2026 Calder Cup Playoffs by using this link.
CLICK HERE to buy your tickets today and cheer the Wolves to victory in the Western Conference Finals!
| | SUBSCRIBE TO OUR MONTHLY NEWSLETTER TODAY! | | |
Subscribe Today to Our Monthly Newsletters: Coaches, Girls & IHSHL Snapshot
Can't get enough Illinois hockey news? Check out our monthly Coaches, Girls or High School newsletters! Simply click the button below to subscribe to any or all of our monthly newsletters.
| | | | |
