By Gregg Chudacoff, Tier II Committee Chairman ~ The Tier II substitute choice application process, Squirt 10U through Midget 16U/18U will begin on July 20,2018. All applications will be submitted online. The Tier II Committee will only have (3) three appeal hearings this year for those denied a substitute choice. The dates for the appeals are August 9, August 29, and September 6, 2018 at 6:30pm at the North Shore Ice Arena. If denied, please email Gregg Chudacoff, AHAI Tier II Chairman, at  [email protected] with your preferred appeal hearing date. The deadline for applying for a substitute choice will be September 15th, 2018.

This past weekend AHAI sent the Boys' Showcase and Girls' Showcase teams to compete at the 2018  America's Showcase at the St. Peters Rec-Plex in St. Peters, Missouri.  The Illinois  Boys' Showcase team , led by Benet Academy's Jon Grzbek and assistant coaches, Nick Iaciancio (Providence Catholic), Dave Dyson (OPRF) and Steve Silvey (AHAI), was just one goal shy of bringing home their 5th consecutive Showcase title. SHOWCASE WRAP-UP>>

The Chicago Blackhawks and BMO Harris Bank are proud to honor members of the hockey community. Each month during the regular season they recognize the excellence of a youth hockey player, coach and volunteer.  Honorees are selected based on several criteria including: on-ice accomplishments, off-ice community involvement and their passion for the game. AHAI congratulates the March Award Recipients: Amy Newling (Volunteer) - AWFM Renegades High School Hockey Club, Dan Deverick (Coach) - Homewood Flossmoor Vikings, and Ben Barone (Player) - Arctic Jr. Fury. They were honored during the Chicago Blackhawks vs the Winnipeg Jets at the United Center, March 29, 2018.

This month USA Hockey hosted the 14th Annual Disabled Hockey Festival in Chicago with the support of the Chicago Blackhawks organization, the Amateur Hockey Association of Illinois (AHAI), Illinois Hockey Official Association (IHOA) and the USA Hockey Central District. The Disabled Hockey event lasted eight days over two consecutive weekends and was the single largest indoor USA Hockey event ever organized. With over 1800 players and coaches (plus hundreds of family members and volunteers) from the United States, Canada and even London it exceeded all expectations and was a tremendous success. READ MORE>>

Diagnosed at age 10, the 18-year-old Horbach has thrived as a hockey player and advocate for a cure

By Greg Bates, Special to AHAI ~ When Macey Horbach started playing hockey at 8 years old, she didn't have a care in the world.  Horbach's biggest worry might have been how she was going to play on her shift.  But on Jan. 28, 2010, Horbach's world was turned upside down. The 10-year-old was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis (CF). The progressive, genetic disease that causes persistent lung infections and limits the ability to breathe over time was a hard diagnosis to swallow for Horbach and her family. READ MORE>>

The Chicago Steel is offering a "Buy One, Get One" (BOGO) ticket special for Game 3 (Thurs. 4/26 at 7:05pm) and Game 4 (Fri. 4/27 at 7:05pm) of the Clark Cup Eastern Conference Semifinals at Fox Valley Ice Arena. Don't delay! BOGO offer ends TONIGHT. You don't want to miss seeing the Chicago Steel take on Team USA in their quest for back-to-back Clark Cup Championship titles! Enter promo code "BOGO" to activate offer.

By Ross Forman ~ Bridgedale Academy is wrapping up its fifth school-year, with 39 students in four grade-levels ... and plenty of optimism for the future.  Bridgedale Academy is a private, all-boys school for athletes, all of whom are hockey players. Students receive a classical-curriculum education, using the academic curriculum of Hillsdale Academy, along with four weekday on-ice and off-ice hockey training sessions. (Fridays are academics-only.)  Bridgedale is deeply rooted in Illinois hockey history. READ MORE>>