We are pleased to announce that Kevin Bolger will serve as President of the Amateur Hockey Association of Illinois, Inc. Kevin's vast experience in the Illinois hockey community will serve our membership well during these unique and trying times.
 
Kevin began coaching in the House League at Winnetka 27 years ago. He progressed through the Winnetka Program serving on the Board of Directors as Wishbone Tournament Director, Director of Development, Legal Consultant, Director of Personnel, Coaches Selection Committee, All Star Committee, Vice President and President. 
 
From 2004 to 2011 he served on the Loyola Academy Hockey Board holding positions as Registrar, Chairman of R&E, Coaches Selections Committee and Secretary. In 2003 Kevin was appointed to the AHAI Board of Directors to fill the vacancy of Sarah Teuting. 
 
Prior to taking the helm as President, Kevin most recently served AHAI as Vice President of Hockey Operations and Chairman of the Suspension & Review Committee. Kevin has also served on the Tier II, Showcase, Screening and Appeals Committees. 
 
Additionally, Kevin's experience as a Criminal Defense Attorney, former Cook County Assistant State's Attorney and Chicago Police Officer provides him with the broad experience necessary to fulfill the role of AHAI President and achieve the goals of Illinois Hockey. 
 
Kevin was inducted into the Illinois Hockey Hall of Fame in 2018 for his myriad contributions and exceptional dedication to hockey in Illinois.
 
"There are many ways we can improve this great game and grow our sport in the coming years. I look forward to serving the Illinois hockey community and representing your interests in the State of Illinois." - Kevin Bolger, AHAI President

The AHAI Board of Directors want to take this opportunity to reach-out to all of you to provide an update on the current status of ice hockey in Illinois.

The challenges relating to the Covid-19 pandemic are daunting and ever-changing.

The AHAI Board empathizes with you and understands there are a myriad of Covid-19 related issues which created a series of challenges for rink facilities, leagues, clubs, parents, and most importantly players, that are not just unique – they are unprecedented.

While we all wish that hockey could return to “normal” this is simply not possible at this point in time.  And none of us know when “normal” might be possible.

We want to make it clear that AHAI, in its role and responsibility as the governing body for amateur hockey in the State of Illinois, is in contact with medical experts and policy-makers in the State of Illinois to consider all avenues to (1) keep everyone as safe as possible, and (2) explore options to offer the membership as robust and as full a hockey experience as possible in the current environment.

AHAI will not trade safety for expediency but we want you to know that we are working on your behalf.

Illinois hockey has a very long and rich hockey history, in large part due to the tireless dedication and commitment of individuals who have helped make sure every individual who has had a desire to participate in this great sport has had the opportunity to do so. The Illinois Hockey Hall of Fame recognizes outstanding players, organizers, coaches, managers, supporters, and officials.

Please click HERE for Nomination Qualifications & Procedures. If you know of someone who you believe should be a candidate to enter the Illinois Hockey Hall of Fame Class of 2020, you are encouraged to click HERE for Nomination Form; please submit all assisting documentation by October 1, 2020. Click HERE to view a list of past IHHF Inductees. The 2020 IHHF Induction Dinner will be held in their honor on Sunday, January 31, 2021 at the Belvedere Banquet Hall in Elk Grove Village beginning at 5:00 pm. Tickets are available by contacting Norm Spiegel at 847.269.2922 or jacole@comcast.net.

By Jack Weinberg, AHAI High School Committee Chair

Explanation of New High School Rule

To begin with there are a number of reasons the high school committee has been gravitating toward this change.

1) In order to have hockey work as a true varsity sport it is essential that the development process is designed to promote the best players to the varsity level.

2) Allow, unlike Tier I or Tier II players the chance to progress during the course of one season. Hard work, good attitude and performance earn an opportunity.

3) Remove the possibility (except in the case of a crisis) for a player to move down for the purpose of trying to improve the record of a JV or lower development team.

4) Provide experience for a player at a lower level gained by playing at a higher level in order to prepare them for the next season.

5) Provide players to fill holes on an upper team caused by illness or injury. 

Rule: Dual Rostered HS Players

HS Affiliate Organization teams may dual roster players on their teams within the same affiliate. A player may only dual roster up to a team one level higher.

For example, they may allow a player to be dual rostered between two teams by rostering a player from a team 1 (one) level below such as JV2 to JV1, or Varsity2 to Varsity1, or JV to V. The player must carry the designation of their primary team. When placed on a second roster, they must carry the same primary team designation on the team to which they are dual rostered. The dual rostered players may play up in 9 league games on the non-primary team. Once they play in a tenth league game, it will lock that player to the non-primary roster for all games for the remainder of the season, including the State Tournament. The player's designation does not change, and the player is not removed from the primary team. They remain a player on the primary team that is not locked to the non-primary team.

If a team plays in more than 1 league, the combined number of league games played count in the 9 allowed games before being locked to the upper team.

The lower team may not drop below the 14 player and 1 goalie minimum roster by reason of moving players up and being locked on the upper team. Games played by the upper team in violation of this rule will be forfeit and the player will be locked on the lower team.

It is recommended that if there are 2 goalies on the lower team, 1 goalie should be dual rostered on the next upper team. If there is only 1 goalie on a team, they may only be on the upper roster as a BUG.

No player may play down, exception by petition if there is a crisis as determined by the HS committee and the AHAI registrar.

Individual leagues may be more restrictive.

The Tier II substitute choice application process, 10U through 16U/18U will begin on July 21, 2020. All applications will be submitted online. Please click HERE to apply.

The Tier II Committee will have (3) three appeal hearings for those denied a substitute choice. The dates for the appeals are August 13, August 27, and September 9, 2020 at 6:30 p.m. via Zoom. If denied, please email Gregg Chudacoff, AHAI Tier II Chairman, at gregg.chudacoff@ahai2.org with your preferred appeal hearing date. The deadline for applying for a substitute choice will be September 15, 2020. 

The A Step aHead partners are excited to announce the 10th year of our program! We are proud of the work that has been done to educate our youth hockey community about sports safety and provide free baseline neurocognitive testing. We look forward to another 10 years of working to keep our athletes safe while they play the game they love.

This year the free baseline testing will be offered from August 1 through November 30, 2020. We will continue to offer the testing at select Athletico clinics. Please click here for additional information. Registration for baseline testing will open soon.