AHAI is excited to offer its first-ever USA Hockey led Bronze Level High Performance (HP) Goaltending Development Coach Seminar at Darien Sportsplex on Sunday, November 3 from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. This seminar will include both on- and off-ice instruction for coaches and will be led by Steve Thompson, USA Hockey Goaltending Coordinator. Space is limited, therefore, we suggest interested coaches sign up early. Based on the success of our first clinic, AHAI will add more goaltending clinics in the future.

Prior to the seminar, AHAI will host a 90-minute Goalie Summit (beginning at 12:00 p.m.) to discuss how to develop the goalies we currently have and how to development/find more goalies. Our hope is that this brainstorming session will enable us to better serve our existing goalies and help our clubs find new ones. The Goalie Summit is open to any club, coach, and/or goalie instructor who wishes to participate. We welcome all thoughts and ideas.

The Bronze Level High Performance (HP) Goaltending Development Coach Seminar is the first step in the goaltending coach development program. This 1-day clinics will cover aspects of goaltending such as practice planning, game management, fundamental saves, foundational skating, equipment education, and more. The seminar is available to certified coaches and upon completion a coach will earn his or her Bronze Level Status. Coaches will need to bring a helmet, gloves, skates, and a stick for the on-ice portion. ***Coaches may attend even if the system does not let them register. Please contact Steve.Thompson@USAhockey.orgto then be registered as a walk-in**

Please click HERE for seminar registration.

IHOA is please to announced that they have added a Level 1 and Level 2 Officiating Seminar on Wednesday, November 27th at Fox Valley Ice Arena in Geneva. Registration for this seminar will open soon. There are still a few spaces remaining for the Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3 seminars on Sunday, November 10 at Canlan Ice Sports in Romeoville. Please visit www.ihoa.com for complete details.

By Jack Weinberg, AHAI High School Committee Chairman

The AHAI High School Committee recently passed rules that will expand flexibility for dual roster goalies and female High School Players.

1.5.18  Seven Up-Seven Down for High School Organizations with more than two (2) teams: (See Seven Up- Seven Down Rule Clarification)

1.5.18.1  Organizations with two (2) Varsity and one (1)  Junior Varsity Teams – The number one Varsity team is frozen for movement, however, there may be movement between the number two Varsity team and the Junior Varsity team.

1.5.18.2  Organizations with one (1) Varsity and two (2)  Junior Varsity Teams – The number two Junior Varsity team is frozen for movement with the exception of the goaltenders, however, there may be movement between the Varsity team and the number  one Junior Varsity team.

1.5.18.3  Organizations  with  two (2) Varsity and two (2)  Junior Varsity Teams – The number one Varsity team  and the number two Junior Varsity team are is  frozen for movement, however, there may be movement between the number two Varsity team and  the number one Junior Varsity team. The number two Junior Varsity team is frozen for movement with the exception of the goaltenders.

Explanation: This would expand the dual roster capability for goalies as outlined above.

1.5.12.1  A girl High School player may double roster on a boy’s High School team provided that she is not on the roster of ANY other team. Youth, Tier I or other. The rules of what program a girl skater may play for are the same as for boys.

Explanation: This rule is on the heels of the rule that allows girl goalie to do likewise. It allows programs that are short numbers a source of players and provides additional opportunities for girls.

AHAI has announced the Coaching Education Program Clinics for the 2019-20 season. 

All ice hockey coaches as well as instructors of USA Hockey programs shall be registered for the current season (before the start of the season) in order to be eligible to coach/instruct in any regular-season activities (practices, clinics, games, tournaments, try- outs, etc.), state, district, regional playoff, national championships or in the USA Hockey Player Development Programs.

By Laura Johnson, AHAI Registrar

As you may know, the United States government enacted the Protecting Young Victims from Sexual Abuse and SafeSport Authorization Act of 2017 on February 14th, 2018. USA Hockey has been working on addressing the changes necessary for the USA Hockey SafeSport Program based on this Act.

Click HERE for a memorandum from Casey Jorgensen, USA Hockey General Council, which provides details about these changes.

The changes approved at the USA Hockey Annual Congress last week to comply with the government requirements will directly impact players in Illinois.

To comply with the government requirement, USA Hockey does not want players or officials turning 18 to become ineligible in the middle of a season.

Therefore, USA Hockey is requiring all players 17 years of age or older on or before December 31st of that playing season and who play on a team in a classification that allows minor aged players, to complete SafeSport Training before being added to a team and prior to participation with the team (on-ice or off-ice). This requirement applies to all teams in the age classifications Youth, Girls, High School, Junior Hockey, Flex Hockey and Disabled Hockey programs that allow both minor age and adult age players (anyone over 18 years).

Players in the group identified above that have not completed the SafeSport Training cannot be placed on the team’s roster in the USA Hockey registration portal (where rosters are created). The computer program will prevent the player from being added to the team until they have completed the training. Because the player is not on the Official Roster, they are prohibited from participating with the team until the training is completed and the player can be added to the roster.

We strongly recommend that players act on this new requirement NOW if they are currently 17 or older, or will be on or before December 31st.

The program takes about 90 minutes to complete online. Once the fall season is underway, players will be consumed with school, hockey, and other commitments. It is to their advantage to take the SafeSport Program NOW and not wait until it is time to be placed on a roster and games are starting.

The SafeSport Program is free. You must have a USAH Registration Confirmation Number to register to take the training. Players registered with USAH for the 2018/19 season can use the USA Hockey Confirmation Number from that season (which is valid until August 31, 2019) to register to take the training. They may also register with USA Hockey for the 2019/20 and use that confirmation number to register for the course. Effective September 1, 2019, registration for the program requires a 2019/20 USA Hockey Registration.

To take the SafeSport Program access the online program via the USA Hockey Website https://www.usahockey.com/safesporttraining. Or use this direct link to access the SafeSport site: https://safesport.org/authentication/register?token=71d4f2f9-bddb-4e6d-bb2a-37211b8999d9.

Like the requirement this year to complete SafeSport, we anticipate additional changes regarding screening in the 2020/2021 season. At the present time, for the 2019/20 season, there is not a requirement for these individuals to be screened.

Enjoy the summer, and if you are or know someone that meets the age requirement for this new rule, we hope you take advantage of using some of your time to complete the SafeSport program.

Questions about this new policy can be directed to the following:

John Dunne, AHAI Executive Director
jdunne@ahai2.org
224-636-3215

Laura Johnson, AHAI Registrar
registrar@ahai2.org
224-636-3233