Amateur Hockey Association Illinois

It is important to understand that different entities are involved in the development process for youth hockey in the United States. USA Hockey is the governing body for the sport of ice hockey in the United States. USA Hockey is divided into twelve geographic districts. The States of Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and Wisconsin comprise the Central District. AHAI, the Amateur Hockey Association of Illinois, is a sanctioned affiliate of USA Hockey and the governing body of Illinois amateur hockey. USA Hockey, the Central District and AHAI work in concert with one another to promote the development of youth hockey players. You can get the latest information online from the USA Hockey website (www.usahockey.com), and the AHAI website (www.ahai.org). This outline describes various player development opportunities available through AHAI, the Central District and USA Hockey. AHAI sponsored events include the “Opportunities in Hockey” Seminar, America’s Showcase for High School aged players and the AHAI Boys’ Development Camp. The Central District hosts the Central District Development Camp and USA Hockey presents National Development Camps.

AHAI/USA Hockey Player Development Events In Chronological Order:

October 17, 2011
“Opportunities in Hockey” – (College Night) Seminar
Woodfield Hyatt, Schaumburg, Illinois

March 23-25, 2012
USAH/AHAI Boys Player Development/Identification Camp
(1995, 1996, 1997, 1998 birth years)
AHAI Hockey Center, Bensenville, Illinois

May 11-13, 2012
USAH Central District Boys Player Development Camp Tryouts
(1995,1996, 1997 birth years)
Fond du Lac, Wisconsin

June 17-22, 2012
USAH Central District (IL, MO, MW, WI) Boys Bantam Camp (98’s only)
Iowa State University — Ames, Iowa 

USA Hockey will host more than 1,100 hockey players at nine player development camps over a six-week period beginning July 7, 2012. The events will be split between the MCC Sports Centre in Rochester, N.Y., and the National Hockey Center in St. Cloud, Minn.

The weeklong sessions provide many of the United States' finest young hockey players with concentrated on- and off-ice training and instruction, as well as the chance to compete against other top players from their age group.

Each of the Boys' Select Player Development Camps will feature teams of 18 players. The Boys' Select 14 and 16 Player Development Camps will each have 10 teams, while the Boys' Select 15 Player Development Camp will feature 12 teams. The Boys' Select 17 Player Development Camp will have eight teams.

The Girls' Select 14, 15 and 16 Player Development Camps will each showcase six teams of 17 players, while the Girls' Select 17 Player Development Camp will have four teams of 19 players.

In addition, the Sled Hockey Player Development Camp will offer instruction to more than 50 disabled athletes.

2012 USA Hockey Player Development Camp Schedule Dates Player Development Camp Location:

July 7-12 Select Sled Camp Rochester, N.Y.
July 7-13 Boys Select 16 Rochester, N.Y.
July 11-17 Girls' Select 16 St. Cloud, Minn.
July 11-17 Girls' Select 17 St. Cloud, Minn.
July 14-20 Boys' Select 15 Rochester, N.Y.
July 20-26 Girls' Select 14 St. Cloud, Minn.
July 20-26 Girls' Select 15 St. Cloud, Minn.
July 23-29 Boys Select 17 Rochester, N.Y.

Detailed AHAI/USA Hockey Player Development Events In Chronological Order:

Opportunities in Hockey (College Night) – October 17, 2011
Woodfield Hyatt, Schaumburg, IL

The Hockey Season begins with this seminar held during October on Columbus Day every hockey season. This year the Seminar was held on October 17, 2011 and was mandatory for all 1999 birth year players, as well as Bantam, Midget, or High School age players who have not attended an AHAI College Prep Seminar in the past. This seminar is important for those players wishing to participate in AHAI Player Development events, and/or players who wish to tryout for the prestigious America’s Showcase team when they become Juniors and Seniors in High School. All other High School age players as well as parents and coaches are welcome and encouraged to attend this very informative event.

The theme of the evening discusses opportunities after youth hockey. Multiple high powered speakers from the NCAA, ACHA, Juniors and Prep Schools discuss what it takes to get to the next level. They discuss what is required other than hockey skills? How do I do it ? How do I get noticed ? They present NCAA and the new stricter rules for admittance for athletes. Making the grade - How important is it? Should I play Juniors before college?

March 23-25, 2012 - AHAI Player Development Camp
AHAI Hockey Center in Bensenville, Illinois

The AHAI Player Development Camp will be held at the AHAI Hockey Center in Bensenville. Players invited to this camp are selected from the list of players recommended by the coaches in Illinois as well as from previous evaluation records. This year we will be inviting (68) players at each of the 1995, 1996, 1997 and 1998 age levels to participate in several games to evaluate their skills and talent at this point in the season. Some of the players who participate in this AHAI Camp will be invited back to try-out for the Select 15, 16, and 17 USA Hockey National Development Camps. Those try-outs are May 11-13, 2012, in Fond du Lac, WI. A certain number of players born in 1998 will be selected from this Camp to attend the In-District Bantam Development Camp June 17-22, 2012 at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa.

May 11-13, 2012 - Central District Development Camp Tryouts
Fond du Lac, Wisconsin

The Central District will hold tryouts for the Select 15, 16, and 17 USA Hockey Development Camps on May 11-13, 2012, in Fond du Lac, WI. Each Affiliate sends its best players at pre- determined positions to tryout for the USA Hockey Development Camps. The players are placed on four teams and play a series of games as well as participating in specific skills drills. The coaching staff and District evaluators select the best players to represent our District at the Development Camps and the USA Hockey Select Camps which are held in Rochester, New York. Players from these teams may be selected to participate on the USA Hockey National Teams or the USA Hockey Standing Team based in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Costs associated with this process include a player fee for tryouts, transportation, rooming and meals during the tryouts, and a nominal player team fee if the player is selected for a team. USA Hockey sponsors the housing and meals for the players and staff at the Festivals. AHAI subsidizes a portion of the cost for this Camp.

June 17-22, 2012 - In-District Bantam Camp
Iowa State University — Ames, Iowa

The Central District holds its own player development camp during the summer. The location of the Central District’s Boys Bantam Development Camp varies from year to year and this coming summer will be held at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. The 2012 Central District Boys Bantam Development Camp will be June 17-22, 2012. The goal of the Central District Boys In-District Bantam Development Camp is to provide a week-long skill development program for boys 14 years of age. Each State within the Central District is allotted a number of spots in the Central District Boys In-District Bantam Development Camp depending on the overall number of boys registered in such State. Each State is responsible for selecting boys who will represent that State at the Central District Boys In-District Bantam Development Camp. From AHAI’s Player Development Camp on 1 march 23-25, 2012 at the Edge Ice Arena in Bensenville, Illinois, 1998 birth year Boys will be selected to represent Illinois at the Central District Boys In-District Bantam Development Camp and will be notified directly by AHAI shortly after their selection.
Illinois players selected to participate in the Central District Boys In-District Bantam Development Camp pay a bus fee (TBA) for their transportation and also pay a player fee (TBA) which includes the cost of lodging and meals at the Camp.