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Volume 4 Issue 13 | November 9, 2016
ILLINOIS HOCKEY HALL OF FAME ANNOUNCES CLASS OF 2016 INDUCTEES!
The Illinois Hockey Hall of Fame recently announced the 12th class of inductees into its Hall of Fame. The honored inductees this year are:

PLAYERS' CATEGORY
Megan Bozek
Steve Konroyd

BUILDERS' CATEGORY
Linda Becker
Myles Gottainer
Dave Loughnane
Mike Mullally
Mike Rohdenburg

OFFICIALS' CATEGORY
Dick Sharp
Dave Siatta

Illinois hockey has a very long and rich hockey history, due in large part, to the foundation laid down by these inductees. Their tireless dedication in making sure every individual who had a desire to participate in this great sport has had the opportunity to do so.  The IHHF Induction Dinner will be held in their honour on Sunday, January 29, 2017 at the Belvedere Banquet Hall located at 1170 West Devon Avenue in Elk Grove Village beginning at 5:00 pm. Tickets are available by contacting Norm Spiegel at  847/269-2922  or e-mail Norm at  [email protected] Please Click HERE for a list of past inductees into the Illinois Hockey Hall of Fame. FULL ARTICLE>>

"To honor the excellence of those individuals who, through their exceptional endeavors both on and off the ice, have contributed in an extraordinary way to enhance the sport and image of hockey in Illinois."
AHAI NEWS & INFORMATION
TRY HOCKEY FOR FREE SATURDAY!
On Saturday, November 12th, f ourteen Illinois associations, rinks and/or park districts will play host to Try Hockey For Free Day events: Firewagon (Yellow Jackets), Leafs, Glacier Ice Arena, Hoffman Estates Park District, Franklin Park District Hockey, Admirals, Northbrook, Evantston, Mt. Prospect Park District, Rolling Meadows Renegades, Cyclones, Sabre Girls Hockey, Decatur and Pekin . Help grow the game and spread the word about Try Hockey For Free Day! Click  HERE  for complete details on each location hosting a Try Hockey For Free event.
WANTED! HELMETS & GLOVES
If you have any adult hockey helmets or gloves from the early '90's, please consider donating them! An independent new TV show will be filming several scenes that will require adult hockey helmets and/or gloves from the early '90's to authenticate these period on-ice clips. Please bring equipment that fits these requirements to the AHAI Center at the Edge Ice Arena in Bensenville before November 15th! Contact Paul Jakubowski at  [email protected] if you have any questions or need more information.

TIER II ILLINOIS STATE TOURNAMENT  INFORMATION
This season the State Tournament Committee will  NOT have all the clubs come in for an information night, but rather we will set up a conference call with clubs on Tuesday, January 17, 2017, to discuss the rules, dates and any other information necessary for the 2017 Tier II State Tournament. Rankings will be announced no later than Saturday, January 21, 2017. The exemption process will begin on Saturday, December 3, 2016. Tier II State Tournament registration will open on Friday, December 11, 2016 and close on Saturday, January 7, 2017. Please click HERE for Elimination Rounds, Round Robin and Championship dates.
HURRY! REGISTER TODAY ~ DEADLINE IS NOVEMBER 30TH!
All AHAI players aged 11-18 years old are eligible for FREE baseline neurocognitive testing now through November 30, 2016.


The  Association/Team that completes the most baseline tests will receive on on-ice clinic with a Chicago Blackhawks Alumni. Additionally, every athlete who completes a FREE baseline test this year will receive a baseball hat featuring the Blackhawks logo while supplies last.  Please note that registration will be online ONLY, do not call Athletico directly.  Make sure to tweet a picture of your skater wearing their A Step aHead baseball hat to  @AHAI_1  with the hashtag  #AStepAHead ! You could win a signed Jonathan Toews photo! Not on twitter? No problem, just email your photo to AHAI Communications Manager, Gretchen Cockey at  [email protected]  and we will tweet for you!
IHOA NEWS & INFORMATION
By Michael Barrett, Illinois Referee-in-Chief & Supervisor of Officials
LATE SEASON SEMINAR ADDED FOR
LEVEL 1 & LEVEL 2
IHOA has added officiating seminars at both Level 1 and Level 2 on Wednesday, November 23, 2016 , at the Leafs Center in West Dundee.  These seminars were added to accommodate additional demand for Level 1 spots as well as make another date available for returning officials who may have missed a prior seminar. The seats available for the November 23 seminar are limited in number and will fill on a first registered basis. If you know anyone who is interested in attending a Level 1 seminar, or anyone who may be a returning official who missed his/her seminar prior to today, please let them know about this added seminar.  To register, please click  HERE  and follow the links for seminar registration.
IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING USE OF ILLEGAL OR IMPROPER EQUIPMENT
I am receiving a rather large number of reports indicating players are participating with illegal or improper equipment. Of particular note are facemasks and helmets for players and goalies alike. The reports indicate that goalies are using illegal facemasks (sometimes referred to as "cat eye" masks). I would refer everyone to USA Hockey Rule 303 and the casebook examples located in the equipment section of the rule book for further information but suffice it to say, if an opening in a player's or goalkeeper's facemask is large enough to permit a puck or butt-end of a stick to enter inside, then it is illegal and the player or goalkeeper is not permitted to participate with that piece of equipment. FULL ARTICLE>>
ASK THE OFFICIAL BY DAVE ZEDNIK
QUESTION: I have been involved in 2 separate instances this year where a minor penalty was assessed to a player on my team. In the first instance the officials did not know who caused the penalty so they did not just pick a player and send them to the bench. In a more recent game an official assessed a minor penalty to a player on my team and did not remember or see who caused the infraction. He then randomly picked a player to serve the penalty. He did however come to our bench and tell us that was what he was doing. How is an official supposed to handle the situation where there was definitely a penalty and they do not know who caused the infraction: do they just pick a player?  VIEW ANSWER>>
2016 BAUER WORLD INVITE
ILLINOIS BOASTS 6 CHAMPIONS & 5 FINALISTS!
Six Illinois teams claimed Bauer World Invite Championship titles this past weekend. Nearly 1,100 games were played in a myriad rinks throughout the Chicagoland area by 492 teams and 9,348 players. Illinois also had 5 second place finishes and numerous teams advanced through to the quarter final and semi final rounds. Click HERE for a complete list. Congratulations to all our Illinois teams for their excellent showing at the 2016 World Bauer Invite.
Chicago Mission
03 Elite Champions
Team Illinois
04 Elite Champions
Chicago Blues
05 AAA Champions
Chicago Mission
05 Elite Champions
Team Illinois
06 Elite Champions
New Trier Green
U18 AAA Champions
HIGH SCHOOL NEWS
BROTHER RICE CONTINUES ITS PUSH TO TOP OF THE CHICAGO CATHOLIC HOCKEY LEAGUE
By Ross FormanBrother Rice made a quick, bold, loud statement Oct. 30 that it is a team to watch in the Chicago Catholic League and come state tournament time, too.  The Crusaders that Sunday afternoon played host to Benet Academy at the Oak Lawn Ice Arena, a rematch from their Oct. 8 game, won by Benet, 4-2.  In the second game between these schools, Brother Rice struck first, and fast.  Matthew Moro scored 14 seconds into the game on assists from Joseph Dvornik and Tim Kirkwood. Brother Rice was ahead 4-1 after the first period, and though Benet tied the score 4-4 early in the third period, it was the Crusaders who added two more for the 6-4 win. FULL ARTICLE>>
ROTT SIGNS TENDER WITH BRAHMAS
By Nick Iaciancio ~ Providence Catholic High School is pleased to announce that senior, Jake Rott, has signed a tender with the Lone Star Brahmas of the North American Hockey League (NAHL).  The forward from Orland Park declined an invitation to join the Bahamas this past summer and returned to the Celtics. READ MORE>>


METRO GIRLS LEAGUE DIVISION NEWS
By Pam Flores  ~ Play continues in the tiering round of the Metro Girls season. Many games are yet to be played, but this season is shaping up to be one of the most competitive in recent years. Click   HERE  for scoring leaders to date. We are pleased to report that there is more good work regarding community involvement: Fenwick Girls will host Shoot Down Alzheimer's on November 20!  READ MORE>>
IHSHL - ILLINOIS WEST DIVISION NEWS
By Brian Meek  ~  The Illinois West Division's season is well underway. Click  HERE  to check for our teams' schedules and standings. Our  teams perform many community service and fundraising events; most recently, Glenbard Hockey hosted  a "Pink (and Orange) at the Rink" event, raising over $1600 for the Ross K. MacNeill Foundation. READ MORE>>
NORTHERN ILLINOIS HOCKEY LEAGUE (NIHL) NEWS
NIHL is excited to unveil our Game of the Week Highlight Videos! Click HERE to check out the highlight reel from the Bantam Bronze Yellow Jackets vs. Chargers game!  We also encourage you to like NIHL on Facebook  and follow us on Twitter ! Don't miss the next issue of the NIHL Newsletter; text " NIHL " to 22828 to subscribe today.  READ MORE to find out what one lucky subscriber will win! Winner will be announced in the November NIHL Newsletter published on Tuesday, November 22nd.
CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS NEWS & INFORMATION
HELP TOMMY HAWK BECOME THE 1ST NHL MASCOT INDUCTED INTO THE MASCOT HALL OF FAME!
The National Mascot Hall of Fame will be opening its doors in 2017 in Whiting, Indiana. The 25,000 square foot, multi-million dollar facility will be a state-of-the-art, interactive, family fun zone, with a wide range of exhibits, activities and events that celebrate mascot fun. Voting has begun for the next mascot to be inducted into the Hall of Fame! Help Tommy Hawk become the first NHL Mascot inducted into the Mascot Hall of Fame! VOTE NOW>>
PLAYERS, LEADERS & CLUBS IN THE NEWS
PIEROTH RECEIVES 2016 LAS ALUMNI ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
By University of Illinois College of Liberal Arts & SciencesElizabeth Pieroth is the first to point out that she is not gifted athletically. Growing up, her family nicknamed her "Grace" because of her lack of that quality in sports. But when it comes to protecting an athlete's most important body part-the head-Pieroth is the go-to person for many athletic programs around the country, including major professional teams.  Today, Pieroth (BS, '88, psychology ) is the concussion specialist for the Chicago Blackhawks, Bears, White Sox, and the Chicago Fire soccer team. Now, Pieroth can add another honor to the list-a 2016 LAS Alumni Achievement Award. READ MORE>>
USA HOCKEY NEWS
U.S. UNDER-18 PLACES 1ST AT FIVE NATIONS TOURNAMENT
TEAM USA CLAIMS CHAMPIONSHIP
 AT WOMEN'S FOUR NATIONS CUP
ILLINOIS HOCKEY COMMUNITY GIVES BACK
LOOKING FOR A MEANINGFUL VOLUNTEER ACTIVITY FOR YOUR TEAM? BERNIE'S BOOK BANK NEEDS YOUR HELP!
AHAI's affiliate associations and their teams have a proud and strong history of giving back to their communities.  Bernie's Book Bank  invites you help them increase book ownership among at-risk children in the Chicagoland area. Since 2009 Bernie's Book Bank has collected, processed and distributed more than 7 million books to at-risk infants, toddlers and school-age children. Your association or team can support Bernie's Book Bank by volunteering at their facility, hosting a book drive or holding a team party or team building event at their Lake Bluff facility. READ MORE>>
GLENVIEW 12U RAISES NEARLY $1000 FOR FORWARD4TOBI FOUNDATION!
The Stars' Girls program takes great pride in giving back to the community.  On Sunday October 30th, the Glenview Stars 12U team held their 2nd Annual Bake Sale in support of Breast Cancer awareness, with all proceeds going to   Forward4Tobi FULL ARTICLE>>
FENWICK GIRLS TO
"SHOOT DOWN ALZHEIMER'S"
Don't miss the Fenwick Girls hockey benefit on Sunday, November 20th at the Edge Ice Arena to support Alzheimer's research! Raffle begins at 6pm and puck drop for Fenwick vs. Lake Forest Girls is at 7pm. Click HERE if you can't make it, but still want to donate! VIEW FLYER>>