Volume 6 Issue 1 | February 7, 2020
PLAYOFF HOCKEY IS HERE!!!
Play-in games for the Amateur Hockey Association of Illinois (AHAI) State Hockey Championships are underway. Many of our teams have started their journey to the March 6th and 8th finals in Bensenville.  WE CAN’T WAIT TO SEE YOU THERE!! 
 
In the leagues, the Central States Development Hockey League (CSDHL) 2019-20 playoffs started last night. Winners will be determined this Sunday, February 9th. Five Hawks teams are competing for a championship banner!! We want to wish our U18, U15, Bantam Major, Bantam Minor and Peewee Major teams GOOD LUCK!! 
 
Meanwhile, the last regular season games for the Northern Illinois Hockey League (NIHL) will be played tomorrow with teams starting their first round of the NIHL Blackhawks Tournament Tuesday of next week.
 
We are still a few weeks away from CUHL and NWHL playoffs, but we are asking EVERYONE to keep an eye on the Games of the Week. Come support your Hawks and Phantoms family!! If we all commit to attending just a few playoff games for another Hawks or Phantoms team this postseason, it will make a HUGE difference. Let's show the hockey community our HAWKS PRIDE!!!!
BOARD BRIEFS
Chicago Hawks Spring Registration is Now Open!
Registration is NOW LIVE for Hawks spring hockey! We are proud of the spring program that Coach Poapst and our directors have put together for the Hawks 2020 spring season. Click on the buttons below for information and to register.
CHHC Prospects Camp Evaluation Dates
U8 through U14
Birth Years: 2013 - 2006
March 9-11, 2020
U15, U16 & U18
Birth Years: 2005 - 2002
March 15 & 18, 2020
Girls U10, U12, U14 & U16
Birth Years: 2011 - 2004
March 15 & 18, 2020
SWSL Evaluation Dates
U8 through U14
Birth Years: 2013 - 2006
March 9-12, 2020
U6 Developmental Program
Evaluation Date
Birth Year: 2014
March 19, 2020
SWSL Skills Sessions
The Hawks are excited to offer a skills session to our spring lineup for SWSL players ONLY. Hawks level directors and coaches will run a session consisting of power skating, stick handling, shooting, small-area games and more. We will offer eight Wednesday night skill sessions beginning on Wednesday, April 8th, and concluding Wednesday, May 20th.
NEWS YOU CAN USE: TRY HOCKEY FOR FREE
On February 22nd, the Hawks will again host a USA Hockey Try Hockey for Free event!! Since starting this program last February, it has quickly become one of our favorite and most popular events!! Please encourage your friends and neighbors with 4-9 year old children to come out to see what hockey is all about!! Hockey Director Steve Poapst, Mite Director Steve Climo, as well as other current coaches and players will be at the rink to help kids get geared up and on the ice to experience “hockey” for the first time!  NO EQUIPMENT? NO PROBLEM!!! We will have equipment on hand to borrow.

Please visit www.tryhockeyforfree.com/10514 for more information. Questions may be directed to president@chicagohawks.com.
HELP US MAKE THIS EVENT A SUCCESS!!
Contact Hawks President Melissa Surrette at  president@chicagohawks.com if your player would like to hand out Hawks Valentine’s Day cards to friends and classmates. Please include your team name and manager and the number of cards you would like in your email.
HAWKS HIGHLIGHTS
Chicago Hawks Inaugural Senior Night
On Saturday, February 1st, the Hawks recognized our most senior players at the inaugural Chicago Hawks Hockey Club Senior Game. Banners for each player were displayed around the rink and each boy took the ice with his parents to be acknowledged for their lifelong commitment to hockey and their dedication to the Chicago Hawks. The game was also a success, a 6-2 win over the Vikings! Afterwards, the players, their families and friends enjoyed a lunch reception in the Chalet room.  

Hawks mom Melanie Maxwell summed it up perfectly by saying, “After years of practices, games and tournament-filled weekends, the Senior Game celebration was the perfect reminder of why we love watching our kids play this sport. It’s so bittersweet that these boys are moving on.” Special thanks to organizer and Hawks mom Laura Lipinski for a great day and to our Phantoms who came out to cheer the boys on the ice!!
Chicago Hawks Trivia Night Did Not Disappoint!
Can you name the only NHL Captain to win a Stanley Cup with 2 different teams? Who wrote where the Wild Things are? Hawks Trivia Night DID NOT disappoint!!! On Friday, January 24th, seven teams representing the Hawks and the Phantoms competed against each other for the top spot in the Hawks 2020 Trivia Challenge!! Guests enjoyed a buffet dinner, lots of laughs as they put their knowledge of '80s “one hit wonders” to good use!! Bantam 2’s team, the “Hat Tricks,” walked away with the title.

We extend a special thanks to social committee members Suzy Chudzik, Angie Ogean, Trina Powels and Jen Ortega for a perfectly planned event and to everyone who came out to #BeAHawk!
HAWKS TOURNAMENT NEWS
Bantam 3 CAN/AM Champs!
Bantam 3, led by Head Coach Luke Gosewich, competed in Nashville this past weekend at the CAN/AM Cup. They went undefeated in Smashville against the Nashville Preds Select, Nashville Flyers, and the Missouri Falcons before defeating the Admirals in the Finals! Congratulations to the team on a successful weekend and bringing home 1st Place! 
#BantamGoldWinners #BeAHawk
MEET ACHIEVE: NATIONAL HEART MONTH
CPR: The Most Important Life-Saving Skill You Can Learn
By Kevin Morris, MS, ATC - Life can change in an instant. Hank Gathers was running to the rim for an alley-oop dunk during a 1990 conference tournament game. Michael Jackson was preparing for a series of comeback concerts during the summer of 2009. Carrie Fisher just bought a new home in London before heading back to Los Angeles in late 2016. What appear to be normal expected actions quickly led to the same unexpected consequence, Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA). A life-threatening arrhythmia where the heart abruptly stops beating, usually without warning, SCA sadly affects 350,000 victims outside of hospitals with an average survival rate of 10%.1 SCA survival relies on an immediate recognition, activation of the emergency response system, and administration of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR). 
LAST CALL FOR ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AWARDS
CSDHL Academic Awards
Part of the CSDHL mission is to promote excellence in academics and personal conduct among its Tier II youth hockey players. The league would like to recognize those CSDHL players who meet the following criteria at the end of the first trimester, fall semester, or first two (2) quarters of their current school year: Click the button below to read the criteria and find out how to enter your player for recognition.
NIHL Academic Awards
In concert with the Chicago Blackhawks, NIHL is pleased to announce the 2019-2020 Academic Excellence Program. All qualifying participants will be recognized on the NIHL website. All high school age qualifying participants will also be entered into a raffle. The drawing will be held at the regularly scheduled April NIHL meeting and winners will be notified shortly thereafter. Click button below for information on how to participate.
NWHL Academic Awards
The NWHL honors student athletes that reach levels of Honor Roll and beyond in their respective class levels. Grade school (through 8th grade): athletes must receive all A's with the exception of Gym, PE or Art, which may receive a B. High School: athletes must attain B Honor Roll status during the first of second marking period of the current year. If you are a NWHL player who fits the above criteria, please inform your team manager as soon as possible.
REMINDERS
Chicago Hawks Bantam Checking Clinic
Any player moving on to the bantam level must attend a checking clinic prior to play. Player safety is our number one priority! Please click HERE to gain more information about the Hawks Checking Clinic and to register.

Dibs Requirement Deadline
Dibs requirements need to be met by March 31st. Please check the Dibs link if you still need to meet the 6-hour volunteer commitment.

Chicago Hawks Survey
Thank you to everyone who completed our Club survey. We are in the process of evaluating your feedback and will report back on the results in the coming weeks.