Volume 10 Issue 9 | September 2022 |
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MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT |
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The season has begun! Hope everyone has survived tryouts and is moving forward with the season. We had some technical difficulties in which I apologize for the inconvenience. USA Hockey had their problems as well. We are doing everything to overcome these challenges. Laura Johnson, AHAI's registrar, has been working day and night.
I am happy to announce that we met with Danny Wirtz, Jamie Faulkner, Jamie Spencer, and Andrea Hahn of the Chicago Blackhawks. They are continuing their support of youth hockey in Illinois and are working with us to develop several great programs as the season develops. We will keep you posted as things progress. Andrea has been appointed as our contact, she has years of youth hockey experience and we are excited to work with her.
Our partnership has never been stronger. Good things are coming.
Enjoy your season, work hard, and most of all have fun.
Kevin Bolger
President
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Welcome Back Week!
By USA Hockey
Whether you’re taking your first strides or digging decades-old gear out of the rafters for another season of adult hockey, it’s an exciting time of year and an opportunity to write your hockey story on a fresh sheet of ice. For the coaches, it’s an opportunity to begin anew down the skill development path with an eager group of players. Imagine where they’ll be in March, after you’ve helped unlock their potential. And for the parents and volunteers, it’s time for the hockey family reunion, when we’re all together again at the rink, helping make memories that will last a lifetime.
Here's to a great season.
#BACKTOHOCKEY
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Information on Coaching Certifications
By Jim Clare, Illinois Coach-in-Chief
USA Hockey has posted dozens of CEP Clinics for Level 1-4 on the USA Hockey site at
As with the past few seasons, most clinics are being held virtually. This means coaches can attend any virtual clinic posted, anywhere in the country. There are some in-person clinics on the site so be careful to avoid those. AHAI will run a few in-person clinics later in the year and we will announce those once scheduled. Don't wait, get your certification done early so you are not scrambling at year's end. Any question, reach out to Coach-In-Chief, Jim Clare at jim.clare@ahai2.org.
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State of Illinois High School Hockey, 2022-23
Goals are being scored; goals are being set as thousands start the 6-month Illinois High School Hockey grind
By Ross Forman
Mark your calendars now, in bold red ink:
The Illinois High School Hockey State Championships for the Red, Combined and Girls Divisions will be played on Sunday, March 19, 2023.
At the United Center.
“It’s a great thrill for the kids (playing), a great showcase for the sport and for Illinois high school hockey,” to have the championship games at the United Center, said Jack Weinberg Chairman of the AHAI High School Committee. “We’re very happy.”
As play begins this month for the 2022-2023 Illinois High School Hockey season, AHAI High School Hockey Writer Ross Forman sits down with Weinberg for a lengthy conversation on multiple topics.
“I think there has been some attrition in players and teams. It’s more obvious in tuition schools as opposed to public schools,” Weinberg said, when asked about the state of Illinois high school hockey. “Plus, we have some demographic changes, where houses haven’t turned over to younger people and there are just not as many high school kids in certain areas. Such as, Naperville.”
Long-standing teams such as Naperville North and Naperville Central might soon have to merge due to the lack of high school-aged players at those schools.
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“Also, I think people are testing out this Central States’ Prospects League at the ages that are mostly JV players,” Weinberg said. “I think some people don’t truly understand the importance of playing with the kids who you go to high school with.”
Stevenson is the defending Illinois High School Hockey S tate Champion, marking the first state title for the Lincolnshire-based school. Waubonsie Valley captured the Combined Division State Championship, while co-op CCHS is the defending Girls State Champion. READ MORE<<<
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Stevenson High School Varsity Red Division
2022 State Champions
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METRO GIRLS HIGH SCHOOL LEAGUE |
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The Metro Girls High School League Kicks Off the 2022-2023 Season
By Pam Flores
The Metro Girls High School league regular season is underway! This year we have 13 teams in the Metro Girls league, including Barrington, Chicago Romans, Evanston, Fenwick, Glenbrook, Grizzlies, Lake Forest Academy, Lake Forest High School, Loyola Academy, Maine Township, Naper Valley, New Trier and Warren.
The tiering round is currently underway and upon completion, the league will be divided into two divisions, Scholastic and Founders. It is sure to be a very tight contest again this year to determine where the teams will end up.
The tiers will be decided just after Halloween and the second half of the season kicks will kick-off in early November. The teams then enter the Metro playoffs and championship series. In addition, all eligible teams will compete in the Blackhawk Cup in March. READ MORE<<<
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High School Rankings - The Start of a New Season
By Ross Forman
First-year head coach Adam Cheris has New Trier Green rolling, already.
The Trevians needed overtime, but defeated Glenbrook South 3-2 on Sunday, Sept. 11th to repeat as champions of the Wheaton West Pre-Season Invitational, played in Glen Ellyn.
Landon Douthit scored the rebound game-winning goal, leading to a center-ice celebration of the blue jersey-wearing Green squad.
The Trevians ran roughshod in the annual, multi-day tournament, outscoring their first four foes (Notre Dame, Carmel Catholic, Neuqua Valley and Maine Township) 28-1.
New Trier Green opens the 2022-2023 Illinois High School Hockey season as the No. 1-ranked team. Here is the season-opening Top 20 Rankings:
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- New Trier Green
- Glenbrook South
- Stevenson
- Glenbrook North
- Saint Viator
- Loyola Gold
- York
- Saint Ignatius
- Carmel Catholic
- Providence
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11. PREP
12. Lake Forest
13. BG/H/W
14. New Trier Blue
15. Maine Township
16. Benet Academy
17. Evanston Township
18. Hinsdale Central
19. Fenwick
20. OPRF
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Others to Watch: Glenbard, Highland Park, D155 Predators, Libertyville, Loyola Maroon and LZMW. |
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The Illinois Hockey Officials Association is looking for players, coaches, and parents who want to put on the stripes! |
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Spaces are still available for the few remaining IHOA seminars this fall. Sign up, put on the stripes, and see the game from a new perspective as an on-ice official! Officiating games gives you more time on the ice, and gets you more exposure to game situations, which can help to improve anticipation and sense of
game flow. And with pay rates starting at around $30 per game and the ability to set your own schedule, it makes for great part-time work.
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Upcoming seminars will be held in Orland Park, Pekin, Vernon Hills, Joliet, Hoffman Estates, Chicago (Fifth Third Arena), and Geneva. All seminars will be a mixture of a Zoom seminar followed by in-person class and on-ice training. Start your journey by
registering as an official on the USA Hockey website, then reserving your seminar spot at IHOA.com.
Instructions are available on our website, and any questions can be directed to our registrar by emailing registrar@ihoa.com.
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Shooting Star in Stripes
Referee Max Lieberman set to work in the NAHL, NA3HL – and will do local mite games, too
By Ross Forman
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Max Lieberman officiated his first-ever game at the start of the 2019-2020 season: a squirt NIHL game at Oakton Ice Arena in Park Ridge. He took advantage of the IHOA Mentor Program and mentee Ted Barnhart walked him through officiating a hockey game that day.
“I was extremely nervous, but got me through it,” Lieberman said.
He was immediately hooked.
Flash-forward a few seasons and Lieberman, now 19, is a Level 4 official – and he’s been back on the ice officiating with Barnhart, now as equals.
“In my first season (as an official), I got the chance to work a peewee major AAA game between CYA and Victory Honda at Centennial Ice in Highland Park,” Lieberman said. “A first-year official would never normally get that experience, but (due to) the referee shortage, I was able to pick up that game. My partner was my age but had more experience than I did. He walked me through the differences between officiating NIHL, CSDHL and AAA. We got out on the ice, and I worked hard. I did my best to ‘fit in’ and made it look like I belonged (at) that level. As a newer official, one who had never worked higher levels, the thoughts of ‘Do I really belong here?’ was flowing through my mind. READ MORE<<<
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Ask the Official
By Dave Zednik
QUESTION: During a game, one of the coaches feels that his players might get injured or does not like the officiating and does not want to continue the game, is this allowed?
ANSWER: NO. Rule 633 A & B
(a) With both teams on the ice, after the game has started, a team for any reason refuses to play after being ordered to do so by the Referee, the Referee shall warn the Captain and allow the team 15 seconds to resume play. A bench minor penalty for delay of game shall be assessed to the offending team who still refuses to start play and if the same team refuses to continue play, the Referee shall suspend the game and assess a match penalty to the responsible Team Official(s).
(b) A bench minor penalty for delay of game shall be assessed to the offending team if prior to the start of the game or start of a period, one team fails to go onto the ice promptly when ordered to do so by the Referee. A match penalty shall be assessed to the responsible Team Official(s), and the game suspended, if the same team fails to go onto the ice and start play within five minutes.
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HOST A TRY HOCKEY FOR FREE EVENT |
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Affiliates, Register to Host a Try Hockey For Free Day
USA Hockey's Try Hockey For Free Days are designed to provide youth hockey associations with a national platform to introduce new kids to the sport. It's not too late to register to host a Try Hockey For Free Day on November 5th, 2022 and February 25, 2023! Traditionally this opportunity has been offered to children between the ages of 4 and 9, but you are welcome to customize your event for various disciplines and age categories. November offers associations the opportunity to invite players to try hockey early in the hockey season while they still might have an opportunity to join a team or learn to play program. Click here for more information and host site registration! |
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Northwest Chargers Goalie Antell Battling Cancer, Shooting for November Return to The Ice
By Ross Forman
Austin Antell was ready for his first squirt season, as a goalie for the Northwest Chargers’ Central States Squirt Minor club.
But before he faced his first wrist shot of the season, or any opponent on a breakaway, Antell faced a much harder shot: on August 3rd, the 9-year-old Antell was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin Burkitt B Cell Lymphoma, ironically referred to as NHL cancer.
“Hearing your child has cancer is a parent’s worst nightmare,” said Adam Antell, who has coached multiple levels locally, including high school (formerly at Warren Township) and now, mites. “As with most people who hear the C-word, our minds went to the worst possible place. We were beyond terrified. Austin is our first born, the one who made us a family, and the thought of him being taken away from us was absolutely paralyzing.”
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A golf ball-sized lump appeared in his neck overnight, Antell said – but they caught it quickly. “The cancer is limited to his neck and did not have time to travel to any other lymph nodes, his nervous system or his bone marrow,” the nervous dad said. “There are no words to describe the relief we felt when the doctor confirmed the cancer (was) isolated. He assured us Austin will be fine and will be back on the ice in no time.” READ MORE<<<
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Through the A Step aHead program, we offer baseline concussion testing, as well as educational programs to youth hockey players and members of Amateur Hockey Association of Illinois - AHAI. To find an Athletico location near you to schedule your athlete's baseline test, visit - http://ow.ly/wPit50K6kpK
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U.S. Earns Silver Medal at Women's Worlds
Coyne Schofield breaks American Women's Worlds assists record
Congratulations to the U.S. Women's National Team on earning a silver medal at the 2022 IIHF Women's World Championship in Denmark, falling 2-1 to Canada. Three Illinois' players competed for Team USA, Jesse Compher (Northbrook), Savannah Harmon (Downers Grove), and Kendall Coyne Schofield (Palos Heights).
Team USA finished the tournament with an impressive 5-0-0-1 (W-OTW-OTL-L) overall record and team captain Kendall Coyne Schofield recorded her 41st assist to break the American Women’s World Championship record for most assists.
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CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS EVENTS |
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The Chicago Blackhawks will host the 2022 Tom Kurvers Prospect Showcase at Fifth Third Arena (1801 W. Jackson Blvd.) from Wednesday, September 14 to Sunday, September 18. The Blackhawks will face the Minnesota Wild in two games (Friday, Sept. 16 and Sunday, Sept. 18) featuring top prospects from each team. In addition, the two teams will practice three times. The two games and three practices are free and open to the public at Fifth Third Arena each day. Fans are asked to enter Fifth Third Arena through the main doors on the east end of the facility off Jackson Blvd.
Friday’s and Sunday’s scrimmages will be streamed live on Blackhawks.com.
Below is the day-by-day schedule (subject to change):
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Wednesday, Sept. 14
12 – 2pm: Practice
Thursday, Sept. 15
10am – 12pm: Practice
Friday, Sept. 16
10 – 11am: Morning skate
7pm: Game vs. Minnesota Wild
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Saturday, Sept. 17
10am – 12pm: Practice
Sunday, Sept. 18
1pm: Game vs. Minnesota Wild
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The Tom Kurvers Prospect Showcase will be followed by the Blackhawk’s main camp Sept 22nd – 30th. Watch all the action free of charge at Fifth Third Arena. All spectators seating will be filled on a first come first serve basis, to reserve your spot free of charge, register here. For the Training Camp Schedule, click here.
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