tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-249270535338571391.post1708208150336237099..comments2023-05-02T04:35:25.561-05:00Comments on Chicago Area Youth Hockey: The Mite Hockey BattlegroundChicago Area Youth Hockey Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13262287174021843066noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-249270535338571391.post-86102615747316152612015-03-23T14:05:02.407-05:002015-03-23T14:05:02.407-05:00Looking back on the 2014-15 season, a large number...Looking back on the 2014-15 season, a large number of clubs did ditch their NIHL mite program and went completely AAU. Except for our AA team (which played both) our club remained with NIHL. To a person, all of the kids thought the full ice games were more fun. Shouldn't that count for something?<br /><br />I don't know why USA Hockey is picking this battle. The ADM concept has beed widely accepted and implemented in practices and skills clinics. My son spends a minimum of 180 minutes each week, practicing under ADM. Assuming a game per week, he gets another 15-16 minutes of ice time in a game. Here's the money question: Why are USA Hockey and AHAI willing to fracture mite hockey in IL, by dictating approximately 5-10% of a child's total ice time? It makes no sense. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-249270535338571391.post-47087542478263137482014-07-14T12:37:35.866-05:002014-07-14T12:37:35.866-05:00It looks like there will be around 18 new organiza...It looks like there will be around 18 new organizations in Illinois that will allow the 8U player to play full ice hockey this coming season by becoming proud members of AAU. Thank You to all those that have stepped up to make Mite Hockey better in Illinois by forming this new league and not being intimidated by the threats by USA Hockey and AHAI. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-249270535338571391.post-55464852549713485552014-07-03T22:58:35.909-05:002014-07-03T22:58:35.909-05:00Skokie just signed up as well. Skokie just signed up as well. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-249270535338571391.post-36193540796047699112014-07-02T02:38:50.070-05:002014-07-02T02:38:50.070-05:00Another update: http://cayhockey.blogspot.com/201...Another update: <a rel="nofollow">http://cayhockey.blogspot.com/2014/07/northbrook-forms-jr-spartans-at-8u-and.html</a>Chicago Area Youth Hockey Bloghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13262287174021843066noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-249270535338571391.post-1843000409317496022014-07-01T21:11:05.478-05:002014-07-01T21:11:05.478-05:00OK, I'm firing, dump and chase play has nothin...OK, I'm firing, dump and chase play has nothing to do with any of this. However,the new Chicago United Hockey League for Mites has formed. It will include about 15 organizations from the Chicago area. The league will consist of 24 full-ice games, plus round-robin playoffs, from September to March. USA Hockey has gone too far and now has disrupted Illinois hockey, specifically the MitesAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-249270535338571391.post-90387921927637557882014-07-01T06:44:11.107-05:002014-07-01T06:44:11.107-05:00Blatherwick makes a great point in one of his arti...Blatherwick makes a great point in one of his articles when he states "it's not the number of games, but the way they are conducted that is destructive. There should be no games where adult egos are more important than youth development and fun."<br /><br />AHAI is trying to mandate culture which is not going to work. I do not believe all NIHL clubs will fall into line. AHAI and USA HOCKEY have no teeth trying to reprimand clubs. Look at their bylaws. The fact they are threatening clubs speaks volumes. Good hockey coaches and program directors already understand and implement adm principles into their development, they need autonomy to be creative and adapt their methods to their kids. This will improve development in the long run. In one or 2 years after MITE I don't think much of this matters as the game changes anyway.<br /><br />If AHAi really wants to implement regulations to improve development, they should outlaw dump and chase hockey before BANTAM. Unfortunately, outlawing short-benching or short-shifting cannot be regulated ecept by good coaches.<br /><br />The nex year or two will be a cluster but n the long run will improve Illinois hockey. AHAI needs a kick in the ass and AAU Illinois needs to shed its meathead image(look at their videos). <br /><br />I am a parent of players from MITE thru PEEWEE. Fire away.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-249270535338571391.post-91389082044122521312014-06-30T19:51:24.489-05:002014-06-30T19:51:24.489-05:00Update from AHAI:
http://ahaienews.com/2014/06/22...Update from AHAI:<br /><br />http://ahaienews.com/2014/06/22/1674/<br /><br />"[sic] we are aware that some organizations are looking to step outside the governance of USA Hockey." I actually don't think any of the NIHL organizations will go fully AAU at Mite and have zero USA Hockey registered teams. It frankly isn't necessary when a player can be dual registered with AAU and then join an AAU team concurrently with their club team.<br /><br />See this FAQ from the AAU New York affiliate for more on how this works:<br /><br />http://www.empirehockeyleague.com/page/show/943021-frequently-asked-questionsChicago Area Youth Hockey Bloghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13262287174021843066noreply@blogger.com