IN THIS ISSUE
Volume 5 Issue 7 | August 16, 2017
KEEPING YOUR HOCKEY PLAYER HEALTHY
By Bradley Dunlap, MD
Sports Medicine, NorthShore Orthopaedic Institute
The hockey season is long - many times starting in August and running through late spring. With out of town tournaments and early/ late ice times, it can be a challenge to keep your player healthy and performing at their best. Injuries may be an unavoidable part of the game, but luckily, there are things that we can do to minimize them.

Prioritizing Sleep
With limited ice availability, many players will find themselves on the ice as early as 6 a.m. or as late as 10:30 p.m. Time for sleep can also compete with homework, video games and other activities. But making sleep a priority is an important part of keeping your athlete healthy. Not only is there research that your player will perform better with the proper amount and quality of sleep, there are some studies that suggest inadequate sleep can lead to an increase in injuries. While the proper number of hours will vary by age and individual, eight hours each night should be a minimum, and in many cases, that number should be higher.

Proper Nutrition and Hydration
Fueling the body appropriately can help your player perform at a high level. It can also help them avoid muscle cramps and dehydration that can lead to more significant injuries. Space out meals around ice time to avoid exercising on a full stomach. Hydration is also key before, during and after skating - every player should bring a water bottle with them to the rink so they can have quick access to water as often as possible. Though there are many sports beverages on the market, water is sufficient in most cases. Chocolate milk is a good post-exercise recovery drink, as it has a good carbohydrate to protein ratio that will help get your player ready for the next skate. FULL ARTICLE>>
A SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR PARTNERS




AHAI NEWS & INFORMATION
TIER I PLAYERS, PARENTS & COACHES: NOTABLE CHANGES FOR THE 2017-18 SEASON
By Mike Mullally, AHAI Tier I Chairman ~ Hope you are having a great summer. As we are about to get rolling on the 2017-18 season I thought I would share some rule changes that will apply this year.
  1. The girls and youth 14U teams cannot have any players of 12U age on their rosters if they want to be eligible for the AHAI State Tournament or the USAH district or national tournaments. So you can do it, but you would not be eligible for State. Right now this has no effect on our Tier 1 teams.
  2. The AHAI/Illinois girls Tier 1 teams are limited in number by age for national bound divisions to 4 14U, 3 16U and 2 19U. That is the national USAH agreement. However, AHAI has invoked the "grandfather clause" and will be able to field 4 Tier 1 girls teams at each nationally bound age level, not withstanding, all 4 clubs must continuously field those teams. Any club that fails to field a team at a given level, will lose that team in the future as well (unless the total number of girls at that age level increases to allow 20% tier 1 girls).  If you have any question on this rule please contact Mike Mullally at [email protected]. FULL ARTICLE>>
2017 REGISTRAR TRAINING SESSIONS
TIER II SUBSTITUTE CHOICE PROCESS
Dates are set for the Registrar Training Sessions for the 2017-18 Season. These training sessions are intended for those individuals that are the Registrars for their respective AHAI Affiliate Organizations. It is mandatory that Registrars attend  one  of the sessions. Other administrative members of your organization are welcome to attend. All sessions, with the exception of Bloomington, will begin at 7 PM, and will last less than 2 hours. All sessions will provide the same information. Registrars do not need to register to attend a session. More information as well as copies of the training materials will be sent to Registrars prior to the training. Questions? Contact AHAI Registrar, Laura JohnsonVIEW SCHEDULE>>
The Tier ll Substitute Choice Application Process, Squirt through 16U/18U will begin on July 20, 2017. The Tier ll Committee will  ONLY  have (3) three appeal hearings this year for those denied a substitute choice.  The dates for the remaining appeals are August 30 and September 7, 2017 . Appeal hearings will be held at 6:30pm on the aforementioned dates at the North Shore Ice Arena. If denied please email Gregg Chudacoff, AHAI Tier II Chairman,  with your preferred appeal hearing date (listed above). Deadline for applying for a substitute choice will be September 15, 2017. 

Click HERE for the online application.
A STEP aHEAD REGISTRATION NOW OPEN!
AHAI, the Chicago Blackhawks, Athletico and NorthShore University HealthSystem are proud to announce that we are in our 7th year of the "A Step aHead" program, which provides FREE baseline neurocognitive testing and education on concussions to the youth hockey community. Registration is now open through November 30, 2017. All AHAI players aged 11-18 years old are eligible for free baseline testing. Please note that registration will be online only, do not call Athletico directly. REGISTER NOW>>
USA HOCKEY GROW THE GAME INITIATIVES
GROW YOUR ASSOCIATION WITH THE 2 AND 2 CHALLENGE
Do not miss USA Hockey's 2 and 2 Challenge for the 2017-18 season! The 2 and 2 Challenge guides youth hockey leadership through national programs to achieve their growth goals. Associations accepting the 2 and 2 Challenge will:
  1. Participate in Welcome Back Week (Sept. 18-24, 2017)
  2. Host a Try Hockey For Free event on BOTH national days (Nov. 4, 2017, and March 3, 2018)
  3. Offer a Transition Program (after your Try Hockey events)
By completing the 2 and 2 Challenge, associations will receive up to $250 in Pure Hockey credit to help your association enhance growth initiatives. Click HERE  for more information and/or get started on the path to growth by REGISTERING NOW.
HOST A TRY HOCKEY FOR FREE DAY!
USA Hockey's Try Hockey For Free Day, is designed to provide youth hockey associations a national platform to introduce new kids to the sport. The upcoming events for the 2017-18 season are: Saturday, November 4, 2017 and Saturday, March 3, 2018. Last season, nearly 27,000 kids experienced youth hockey for the first time. This opportunity targets kids between the ages of 4 and 9.
For November, the goal is to have over 500 locations host a Try Hockey For Free clinic. Let's have Illinois lead the way in number of host locations! REGISTER NOW>>
COACHING CLINICS & OFFICIATING SEMINARS
COACHING EDUCATION PROGRAM (CEP) CLINIC SCHEDULE
If you have any questions, please contact Paul Jakubowski at [email protected].
ILLINOIS HOCKEY OFFICIALS ASSOCIATION (IHOA) SEMINAR SCHEDULE
If you have any questions, please contact Jameson Gronert at [email protected].
RULE CHANGES FOR 2017-18 SEASON
USAH RULE CHANGE FOR 14 & UNDER TEAMS:  At the 2017 USA Hockey Annual Congress, USA Hockey passed a rule that will have direct impact on team registrations for the 2017/18 season. The rule stipulates that if there is a player that is 12 years or younger registered on any 14 and under or U14 team (Tier I, Tier II, House League or Girls) that team will not be eligible to participate in the District or National Championship tournaments.  Based on this rule, AHAI has extended the restriction to the Illinois State Tournament.  If a 14 and under or U14 team is submitted for registration that has 12 and under players, the organization's President, Registrar, team Head Coach and Manager will be notified that once the team is certified, the team will not be eligible to play in the Illinois State Tournament. There will not be any exceptions made to this restriction. Click HERE for the complete USA Hockey rule.  All other requirements, rules, regulations, operation and procedures of all USA Hockey District and National Championship Tournaments shall be set forth in the District and National Championship Tournament Guidebook.
AGE-SPECIFIC MODULES:  Coaches will not be able to be added to a Youth/Girls/HS Roster until the required Age-Specific Coaching Module has been completed. Coaches will not be allowed to participate with their teams until this requirement is met and processed through the USAH Registry. It can take a few days for USAH to process the information and the member will be able to be added to the team roster. We encourage you to plan accordingly.

SAFESPORT TRAINING: Coaches and Managers will not be able to be added to a Youth/Girls/HS Roster until their SafeSport training has been completed. USA Hockey has an extensive SafeSport program that provides resources to ensure the safety of all involved in the game both on and off the ice. COMPLETE RULE>>

CONSENT TO TREAT FORM: The Consent to Treat form is no longer a required form. Managers will no longer have each team participant complete a Consent to Treat form.

For information or clarification of these rules please contact Laura Johnson, AHAI Registrar at [email protected] or 224 636 3233.
PLAYING RULE CHANGES ADOPTED BY USA HOCKEY


RULE CHANGES ADOPTED BY USAH
By Michael Barrett, Illinois Referee-in-Chief & Supervisor of Officials
This year was a rule change year at USA Hockey; therefore, I am writing this article to inform you of the rule changes adopted by the USA Hockey Board of Directors.  There are quite a number of changes applicable to playing rules and equipment  starting with the 2017-2018 playing season and will continue for the next four (4) years until the next time rule changes are permitted.  Please click HERE for a summary of the changes.
ICING RULE MODIFICATION RATIONALE
By USA Hockey
USA Hockey has modified its playing rules for the 14-and-Under age classification and all younger age classifications (youth and girls) to no longer legalize icing while a team is shorthanded. Beginning with the 2017-18 season, if a team ices the puck while shorthanded, it will result in a whistle followed by a defensive-zone faceoff. The team that commits an icing infraction will be allowed to change lines and/or players prior to the defensive-zone faceoff.  The rationale behind this rule change is twofold. FULL ARTICLE>>
ILLINOIS HIGH SCHOOL HOCKEY
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NEWS & HAPPENINGS IN THE SCHOLASTIC HOCKEY LEAGUE
With the coming 2017-18 season the Scholastic Hockey League (SHL) has adopted a 3 on 3, five minute overtime for games that end in a tie. Should the teams still be tied after the 3 on 3 the teams will go directly to a sudden death shoot out. This applies only to Varsity games; the JV games will still be decided by a 3 man shoot out.  Carmel of Indiana has become a full member in the SHL at both the Varsity and JV level. FULL ARTICLE>>
ILLINOIS HOCKEY HEADLINES
COACHING STAFF FOR 2018 OLYMPIC MEN'S ICE HOCKEY TEAM INCLUDES TONY GRANATO & CHRIS CHELIOS
USA Hockey has named the management and coaching staff for the 2018 U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team.  On the management side, Jim Johannson, assistant executive director of hockey operations for USA Hockey, has been named general manager, while Ben Smith will serve as director of player personnel.  USA Hockey also named Tony Granato (Downers Grove, Ill.), head coach of the University of Wisconsin men's ice hockey team, as head coach of Team USA. Joining Granato behind the bench will be assistant coaches Keith Allain, Chris Chelios (Chicago, Ill.); Ron Rolston and Scott Young. FULL ARTICLE>>
BLOOMER & MURPHY ROSTERED TO 2017 WOMEN'S U-18 SELECT TEAM FOR SERIES AGAINST CANADA
USA Hockey announced that 22 players who participated in the 2017 USA Hockey Women's National Festival have been chosen for the 2017 U.S. Women's Under-18 Select Team that will compete in a three-game series against Canada from  Aug. 17-20  at the Olympic Center in Lake Placid, New York. The roster includes Illinois' Anne Bloomer (Chicago, Ill.) and Abbey Murphy (Evergreen Park, Ill.). READ MORE>>
GREAT READS!
TRYOUT TIPS FROM AU WOMEN'S HOCKEY COACH GRANT KIMBALL
Another season is a few short weeks away and everyone knows what that means - TRYOUTS!  There can be a lot of anxiety and stress when trying out for a team. Here are 10 tips in no particular order to help you manage the time leading up to and during the tryout itself!
  1. Shake off the rust...going into a tryout without having skated, shot some pucks, or made some saves is difficult. Get some ice time 1-2 weeks before your tryouts. It usually takes the body anywhere from 4-6 hours of ice time to make your muscles remember all those 'hockey movements' again. If you can't get any structured ice time, go to a public skating session or rat hockey time. READ MORE TIPS>>
SPORTS PHYSICAL VS. REGULAR PHYSICAL: WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE?
It's almost time to get back to school - and back to school teams and sports! While a physical is required for most students returning to classes this fall, there is an option of a regular physical and a sports physical. Dr. Hallie Labrador, Primary Care Sports Medicine specialist at NorthShore Orthopaedic Institute, discusses the difference between these two physicals to guide you in choosing the best option for your child prior to starting the new school year. FULL ARTICLE>>
CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS NEWS
INTERMISSION & JUNIORHAWKS PREGAME REGISTRATION FOR THE 2017-18 BLACKHAWKS SEASON IS NOW OPEN
The Chicago Blackhawks have opened the Intermission Skate and JuniorHawks Pregame registration for the 2017-18 Chicago Blackhawks regular season. Please fill out a form as soon as possible if you are interested in entering your team into the selection process. All youth hockey teams are selected at random to participate in the events. All teams will be notified by the end of November if they have been selected for one of the ice slots.

I NTERMISSION SKATE
  • 12 Mite or Squirt Players (10 skaters and 2 goalies) participate in a relay race during the 1st intermission of the game.
  • 50 tickets purchased in 300 Level Tier 3 location.
  • Click HERE to register.
JUNIORHAWKS PREGAME SKATE
  • Two teams, max of 20 players per team
  • 80 minute ice slot at the United Center 3 hours prior to the Blackhawks Game (Can be used for scrimmage, clinic, or practice)
  • Each player receives a Blackhawks Jersey to wear during their ice slot.
  • 200 tickets purchased in 300 Level Tier 3 location
  • Click HERE to register.
ROCKFORD ICEHOGS NEWS
SKATE ON THE ROCKFORD ICEHOGS' HOME ICE!
The Rockford IceHogs have plenty of opportunities for your team to skate on the IceHogs' home ice at the BMO Harris Bank Center during pre-game and intermission! For more information please contact McKenna Ryan at  815.847.6386 or  [email protected].