Volume 2 Issue 4 | November 2019
It Is Thanksgiving Weekend Once Again
By Jack Weinberg, AHAI High School Committee Chairman
It is Thanksgiving weekend once again. A time for family and friends, sports on television and hockey tournaments in every rink. All of these should be enjoyable pastimes. Lately there have been an overabundance of bad penalties, injuries and Zero Tolerance complaints. We have the opportunity to turn the tide this weekend.

Remember, above all the games should be safe and fun. I know it can be a grind for the families. There are early games wedged between our families’ other activities and parents wondering why on their days off they seem to be busier than a regular work day. Playing hockey should not be considered a job. At most levels these tournaments are a chance to hopefully see a wider field of competitors and measure how individuals and teams are progressing. The outcome will not affect the entire season for any individual team and should not be "life or death" in any way, shape or form. Please, keep the games in perspective. 

Parents, cheer, encourage and comfort where necessary. Players, enjoy the fun of trying your best to play hockey the way the game was meant to be played; for the joy of the game, your teammates, the feeling of pride in having your family see you play your best; displaying your skills with integrity knowing that the other team is your competition not your enemy. 

You will be faced with countless decisions throughout the games. Pass, shoot, dump the puck; as well as make contact the proper way where you and your opposition are both safe. Where you are unsure that the contact you make may put your opponent in danger, choose to be safe. Remember that you don't want to be that player who ended someone else's season, or worse. Win and lose with class and dignity, treat the game and everyone in it with the respect that you would ask for yourself. Represent your family and your team and most importantly yourself as a great example of a quality player and person.

Happy Thanksgiving!
BLACKHAWK ALUMNI SCHOLARSHIP
The Chicago Blackhawk Alumni Association (CBAA) distributes college scholarships annually to the three most deserving high school hockey players. Awards are determined from a candidate's level of community service, volunteerism, good citizenship, academic performance as well as the hockey talent of the individual. Recipients will receive an annual $7,500.00 scholarship over four years for a total of $30,000. Fully completed applications including letter of recommendations, and scholar essays are due no later than February 1st of each year. Please take a minute to visit the  Blackhawk Alumni website to read more about the scholarship, view a list of past recipients and to download the application. If you have any questions regarding the scholarship, please direct them to Tom Dillon at  [email protected]. 
FORMAN'S NOVEMBER TOP 25 RANKINGS
Providence Catholic is on a roll: 5 consecutive wins and victories in 8 or their last 9 games. Plus, the Celtics have won 7 straight Catholic League games, and with 20 points in 12 games, they lead the league, ahead of Saint Ignatius, Benet Academy and St. Rita.

Forward Tom Davis is a shining Celtic with 11 goals, 13 assists in 12 league games – and his 24 points is the most in the league. Davis has failed to grab a point in only one league game and had a memorable 3-goal, 3-assist game against Fenwick in mid-October.
Forman's Top 25 Rankings As Of November 21, 2019
1. New Trier Green  
2. Glenbrook North  
3. Saint Viator  
4. Glenbrook South  
5. Barrington 
6. Providence Catholic  
7. Stevenson  
8. Benet Academy
9.Loyola Gold  
10. Saint Ignatius 
FORMAN'S VARSITY SPOTLIGHTS
Fox Valley Hawks ‘Are Having Fun’ in North-Central Gold Division
It has been an up and down season so far for the Fox Valley Hawks, a co-op of players from five schools: St. Charles East, St. Charles North, Geneva, Batavia and Kaneland.

“We play some good games, then don’t come ready to play in others,” said Fox Valley head coach Phil Gabrielsen. The Hawks have had two 4-game winning streaks, most recently with wins Nov. 10-17 over LZMW, the Kings, Libertyville and Lane Tech.
Saint Ignatius Rebuilds, Focused on Strong Late-Season Surge
The Wolfpack is coming off an amazing 2018-19 season with 13 seniors. Assistant captain Christian Klein, a forward, was the school’s valedictorian and co-captain Dom Fischer was the school’s Athlete of the Year. All-State goalie Charles Doherty is now at the U.S. Naval Academy where he plays club hockey and the team’s leading scorer, Patrick Doyle, is at Northwood Prep in Lake Placid, N.Y.
Naper Valley Pushes Toward Metro Girls Championship
Naper Valley defeated host Warren 6-1 at Gurnee Mills on Nov. 17, pushing their record to 6-1-1. They grabbed the W that Sunday night with only five skaters and a skater in net due to illnesses and scheduling conflicts. “This year, again, we barely had enough players to field a team, but it looks significantly different from last year. We lost most of our AAA players, (yet) are still pulling from 11 different schools,” said Naper Valley head coach Bill Mathey.
FORMAN'S JV SPOTLIGHT: BRENDAN QUINN
York is skating directly toward a state championship, with a mighty 23-2-2 overall record. And both setbacks have been 1-goal losses. The Dukes also have 6 shutouts. “The key so far has been our ability to get to the puck first and our aggressive forecheck that keeps constant pressure on the other team in their defensive zone,” said Brendan Quinn, 15, a right-handed shooting defenseman. “We really gel as a team; we pass well and have a lot of unselfish players. Our coaches are extremely motivational and bring out the best in us each and every time we step on the ice.”
IHSHL LEAGUE REPORTS
Illinois West Hockey League Report
By Brian Meek - As has become our tradition, Illinois West High School Hockey League will hold a full slate of outdoor games in December and January. The games will feature both Varsity and Junior Varsity teams at three outdoor rinks: the Bobby Hull Community Ice Rink in Cicero, the Elmhurst YMCA in Elmhurst, and Iceland Skate in Niles. In all, ten games will be held showcasing twenty Illinois West teams. Please come out and enjoy a true High School Hockey experience. There is no charge. Click button below for outdoor game schedule.
North Central Division Report
By Christopher Waters - Most teams are halfway done with their conference schedule in the North Central Division. We have close races in both varsity divisions and the top JV division. It should make for an exciting end to the regular season and playoffs! The great hockey is only topped by players, coaches, and parents giving back to their communities during this holiday season.
Metro Girls League Report
By Pam Flores - Action in the Metro Girls League is well underway! No teams remain undefeated at this point in the season, but 3 teams (playing at least 8 games) only have one loss: Loyola Academy, Barrington and Fenwick. New Trier Varsity sits atop the leaderboard with 20 points, followed by Loyola Academy with 17 points, and Barrington with 15 points. This is shaping up to be a highly competitive season!
Hayes-Suburban Division Report

By Rob Ince - As the season rolls forward, the Hayes-Suburban Division is excited to share how several of our clubs are giving back to the community through fundraising efforts and charitable service work. At a time when we hear so much negative, it is refreshing to give a shout out to our players that give back to the community. Hayes-Suburban is also excited to share a new monthly honor to recognize the standout skater and goalie from each tier within the division that work so hard on the ice to elevate their game.