Volume 13 Issue 11 | November 2025 | | LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT | | |
I wish each of you a very Happy Thanksgiving. Enjoy the long weekend whether it be at annual tournaments or a weekend off. These are great times in your lives. Enjoy them and savor them!
To the parents: Thank you for allowing your children to participate in the greatest sport in the world.
Kevin Bolger
President
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State Tournament Registration Information
By: Keri Zschach, State Tournament Chairperson
The 2026 State Tournament registration will open on December 1st for the High School and Tier II Youth and Girls Divisions and on December 15th for Tier I Youth and Girls Divisions at ahai.org.
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 from December 1st through January1st. Any questions regarding the exemption form please email keri.zschach@ahai.org.
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USA Hockey "Game On: Leadership Summit"
USA Hockey held its 5th Annual “Game On: Leadership Summit” in Buffalo, NY, November 7–9. The purpose of the Summit is to provide information and leadership training to Affiliate representatives from across the country who support girls’ and women’s hockey. Speakers covered a wide range of topics, including confidence building, networking, mentorship, and the importance of community connection.
Anita Lichterman, AHAI Girls Director & Player Safety Coordinator, was invited to speak and showcase the growth and success of Girls’ Hockey in Illinois. She highlighted the steps the Girls Committee has taken to help Illinois reach 16 Tier II and 3 Tier I dedicated girls’ programs, representing 60+ teams. For example, in 2021, the Committee shifted from a model where Organizations fielded only a few girls’ teams within their existing youth program to the current model where the Girls’ program operates as its own Organization, separate from a Youth program. This change helped eliminate communication problems that arose when girls’ teams were just a small part of a larger Organization and built trust among families by showing the Organization’s commitment to fielding girls’ teams year after year. The stability and sustainability proved to be an asset to the continuing success of growth in Girls Hockey with more participation in additional girl’s specific events. The results are clear: from 2021 through 2025, Illinois sent four Tier II teams to Nationals each year, and in 2023 those four teams came from four different Girls’ Organizations.
During the Summit, USA Hockey invited participants to attend the USA vs. Canada Women’s Rivalry Series game to see firsthand the impact that strong girls’ hockey programs can have on the sport. Team USA did not disappoint, winning 6–1. Illinois was well represented on the US team by several women who began their hockey journey in our area. Kendall Coyne Schofield (Palos Heights), Jesse Compher (Northbrook), Savannah Harmon (Downers Grove), and Abbey Murphy (Evergreen Park) all demonstrate the strength of girls hockey in Illinois and the opportunities they provide for girls to reach the highest levels of the game.
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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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Chicago Wolves’ Wendell Young To Be Inducted Into The AHL Hall of Fame
By: Ross Forman
Wendell Young played parts of four seasons for the Frederickton Express in the American Hockey League, starting with 11 games in the 1983-84 season – and so started his illustrious AHL run.
During the 1987-88 season, while in goal for the Hersey Bears, Young and the club zipped through the AHL playoffs, sweeping all three best-of-seven playoff rounds to capture the Calder Cup over the Express.
Young received the 1988 Aldege “Baz” Bastien Memorial Award as the AHL’s best goaltender, as chosen by AHL media and players. He said it was, “my best year as a pro.” READ MORE<<<
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Always A Viking: Finnegan Samas Anchors Defense For Orland Park 18U
By: Ross Forman
Finnegan Samas, an offensive defenseman, skates for the Orland Park Vikings 18U team – continuing his run with the same hockey home since he was a mite.
Playing his whole career for the Vikings was worth it, he said, “because I have made many friends and some of those kids I have known for six or seven years and still play with them.” He added, “It also taught me how to adapt to playing with new kids and situations. During all my years playing for the same club, teammates come and go, you just have to roll with it and adjust.” READ MORE<<<
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Record-Setting Freshman Phenom Nick Coveny Carries Providence Catholic In His Second Season
By: Ross Forman
Nick Coveny had a freshman season to remember a year ago, leading Providence Catholic in scoring and he finished in the top 10 in the Chicago Catholic Hockey League (CCHL). He set multiple school records, including:
• Most points by a freshman (48), surpassing the previous record (41) set in 2012. Coveny had 24 goals and 25 assists in 48 games played.
• Most goals by a freshman (24), breaking the previous record of 14.
“Nick embodies every quality a coach values: exceptional work ethic, highly coachable, fiercely competitive, a team-first mentality and consistently productive,” said Providence Catholic head coach Nick Iaciancio READ MORE>>>
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High-Flying Forward: Nikolai Vahmistrovs Is A Two-Sport Athlete
By: Ross Forman
As a bantam minor a few years ago, Nikolai Vahmistrovs and his Chicago Phantoms team fell behind 1-0 in the state championship game, but ultimately fought back for the 2-1 victory.
The memory is still strong today, especially spraying “fake champagne” on the team’s coach.
It was one of his favorite seasons, without question.
“I’ve never been around a group of guys who just wanted to win everything they could,” said Vahmistrovs, who treasured the locker room celebration, spraying the team’s head coach who, well, also is his dad. READ MORE>>>
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Defenseman Lyric Bessey: A Key Newcomer For The Co-Op Fenwick Girls Hockey Team
By: Ross Forman
Lyric Bessey, a sophomore defenseman, brings a championship resume to the co-op Fenwick High School girls hockey team which is looking to leave its mark in the expanded 14-team Metro Girls league.
Just consider some of Bessey’s on-ice championship celebrations:
• 2021 President’s Cup;
• 2021 Boys Tier II state;
• 2022 Girls Tier I state;
• 2023 Girls Tier 1 state;
• 2023 Girls Tier 1 national; and
• 2024 Girls Tier 1 state.
Still, she admittedly was nervous heading into the first Fenwick practice this season. But she soon realized the Friars are focused on fun. READ MORE>>>
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The Major and Minor teams are at the halfway point and the regular season for the Prospects teams has begun following a very productive declaration round. You can find game scores, team standings, and the end of the season playoff formats and locations on our website: csdhl.org.
First semester report cards are right around the corner and once again CSDHL recognizes students with 'straight As' or a school's 'highest honor roll'. Submit report card proof to csdhlscholars@gmail.com to be included in the CSDHL academic recognition program.
We are wishing all CSDHL teams and families a very Happy Thanksgiving.
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It’s a hockey Double Header at Allstate Arena on December 6th!
Two great games – one great price! In the first game, Northern Illinois and rival Iowa State face off in an ACHA M1 College Hockey showdown starting at 1:00PM at Allstate Arena. This game will feature over 20 kids that have played their youth hockey right here in the Chicago area!
The second game that evening, as the Chicago Wolves host the Milwaukee Admirals at 7:00PM at Allstate Arena. Not only is it an Adopt A Dog Night, but also the annual Chicago Wolves Wall Calendar Giveaway presented by Rose Pest Solutions!
For more information and special ticket packages visit ChicagoWolves.com/collegehockey.
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