Newsletter

3rd Quarter - July 2024

Message From WAHA President

Greetings WAHA Hockey Family,

The summer is going fast and the hockey season is approaching. We look forward to two major events in Wisconsin in the coming months. The first is the 11th Annual Association Officers Conference to be held in conjunction with the WAHA Annual meeting on August 2 and 3 in Stevens Point at the Holiday Inn and Convention Center. The conference is designed to help association board members successfully operate their organizations. All board members are invited to attend.

The second is the 49th Annual Wisconsin Hockey Hall of Fame celebration on September 7 at Eagle Waters Resort in Eagle River. This year three deserving Wisconsin hockey legends will be inducted into the Hall.

One announcement and one word of unsolicited advice: The announcement is a reminder that any player participating on a rostered team must wear neck laceration protection – see the related article below. The unsolicited advice: If your children are still playing hockey and have not had a break since the official 2023-24 season ended, please consider allowing them to participate in other activities so they can be rejuvenated differently, and be ready again for ice hockey in the fall.

Participation in WAHA hockey association teams continues to grow every year. Thank you for your efforts to make the culture of your organization one in which families want to be involved.

Fran Finco, WAHA President

What's New

WAHA would like to announce the appointment of WAHA Coach-in-chief - Raja Aylsworth.

Raja Aylsworth is currently the Hockey Director for Arrowhead Youth Hockey and has a 15 year history of coaching in Wisconsin after his Junior and Collegiate career finished.

The WAHA coaching Director leads our Coaching Education Program, to ensure that WAHA coaches have access to high quality USAH education requirements.

Safety Matters

Neck Laceration Protectors

Effective August 1, 2024, every skater under the age of 18 must wear a neck laceration protector. Also, all On-Ice officials under 18 years of age must wear neck laceration protector. The only exception will be for any kids who are not on an official USA Hockey roster and play in USAH sanctioned games, for example kids in a Learn To Skate program.

Concussion Management

WAHA’s Concussion Management program requires any player that shows any sign or symptom of a concussion be removed from practice, play or any type of training. Such player may not return to full participation until a Return to Play form is filled out completely and signed by all required individuals. This requirement does not end when the season ends. Per State Law, “A person who has been removed from a youth athletic activity under par. (a) may not participate in a youth athletic activity until he or she is evaluated by a health care provider and receives a written clearance to participate in the activity from the health care provider.” So, this means the player may not participate in any youth athletic activity over the summer until a Return to Play form is submitted to the WAHA Player Safety Representative

Scholarship Awardees

Wisconsin Amateur Hockey Association and the Wisconsin Hockey Hall of Fame offer seven $1,500 Scholarships and one $2,000 Scholarship to graduating seniors who are planning to continue full time education at an accredited University, College, or Technical School.

The 8 Awardees will be honored at the WAHA Annual Meeting on August 3rd in Stevens Point

Hall of Fame Scholarship Awardees

Summer Hamman

Brandon Spies

Nolan Bunnell

Brook Brennen

Charlotte Fetherston

Jack Drout

Benjamin Johnson

Don Kohlman Scholarship Awardee

Autumn Cooper

Hockey is for Everyone

This fall a USAH Foundation Grant to increase the number of players of color in the Wisconsin hockey community will be launched.

Thanks to the generous donation by a Milwaukee philanthropic organization, Associations across WI can access the grant program to provide players of color an entry point to hockey.

Grant information will be coming to all Associations in August

More information can be found on USAH website about grant programs

Wisconsin Teams at Nationals this past spring

Congratulations to the Wisconsin Selects 19U Girls team on their National Championship at the USAH Tier 2 2A National Tournament this past spring.

TW 19U Girls - Quarterfinalist Tier 1 Nationals

Green Bay Bobcats 18U - Quarterfinalist Tier 2 3A Nationals

WEHL 18U South East Girls - Quarterfinalists High School Nationals

WEHL 16U South West - Semifinalists Tier 2 2A Nationals

Green Bay Bobcats 16U Girls - Quarterfinalist Tier 2 1A Nationals

WEHL 16U Western Girls - Tier 2 2A Nationals

Madison Capitols 14U Girls - Tier 1 Nationals

Lake City Whitecaps 14U Girls - Tier 2 2A Nationals

Wisconsin Hockey Hall of Fame Induction

September 7th - 49th Annual Wisconsin Hockey Hall of Fame Induction Banquet and Golf outing - Eagle River WI

Wisconsin Hockey Hall of Fame has named its Class of Inductees for 2024. Selected for induction to the Hall of Fame, September 7th in Eagle River are

Paul “Doby” Doud of Milwaukee,

Molly Engstrom from Siren

Sue Pope from Madison

Banquet Tickets and Golf reservations Here

Mite Equipment Grants

Once again, Associations from across the State submitted a record number of Grant requests for our Mite Equipment packages. 36 sets of learn to play equipment will be distributed to our Grant winners during the Annual Meeting. These packages include everything but a pair of skates, and enable associations to gear up new to hockey kids each season. Announcements will be coming soon to associations who were awarded.

WAHA has distributed 1080 sets of equipment to Associations through these Mite Equipment Grants.

WAHA would also like to extend a heartfelt "Thank You!" to the Scott and Mary Turner Foundation, who generously donated Mite Equipment packages to Region 2 Associations this year. Their support of the growth of youth hockey in Wisconsin is appreciated beyond measure.

GOALIE COACHES

Goalie Coaching education in conjunction with WAHA Goalie Development Camp

August 2nd-4th, 2024

Stevens Point, WI ~ Ice Hawks Arena & Holiday Inn Convention Center

This multifaceted development camp will provide both goalies and goalie coaches with the tools to build skills to continue development through out the season.

Come learn from USAH Goalie Coaches Larry Clemens & Erin Connolly the best ways to train your programs goalies, and network with other coaches across the State.

Coach Registration

(No Goalie spots available)

Upcoming Events

WAHA Annual Meeting and Workshop

Association Leadership are encouraged to attend our annual meeting and workshop August 2-3rd in Stevens Point at the Holiday Inn Convention Center.

This workshop is geared towards providing tools and information to Associations, so you can provide the best experience for our youth players.

11th WAHA WORKSHOP & ANNUAL MEETING

FRIDAY AUGUST 2

6:00 – 8:00 PM - Local Association President’s Forum - Presidents and Vice-Presidents in the room will discuss the “Nuts and Bolts” of running an effective association and issues that we face as the world of amateur ice hockey becomes more complex.

6:00 – 8:00 PM - Girls Hockey : Association Leadership to engage in discussion about growing girls hockey at the grass roots level and why it so important to long term female athlete development and association growth.

Both Forums will be interactive.

SATURDAY, AUG. 3:

7:00 AM Buffet-style breakfast and registration
8:00 AM Opening Remarks
9:00 AM Breakout Sessions

Workshop Breakout Sessions

9:00 AM

Safe Sport
Grass Roots and Grants
Player Development

10:45 AM

Positive Coaching Alliance and Coaching
Rink Rookies: Cultivating Youth Hockey Excellence Early
Association Hot Topics – a round-table discussion of issues facing local associations.

The Grab & Go box lunch will be available at 12:15 for all who attended the Workshop, and the WAHA Annual Meeting will be held beginning at 12:30 and lasting about an hour.

REGISTER

Wisconsin members recognized at USA Hockey

This past June, at the USAH Annual Meeting, several Wisconsinites were recognized. Congratulations to the following and thank you for your dedication to hockey.

Don Mulder - 25 year Service Award - Waupun WI

Vice President, Adult Council Chair (2018-24) Adult Council (1999-2024); Director, Central District (2012-18); Director Rep., Executive Committee (2015-17); President, Wisconsin AHA (2010-16)

Brad Roethlisberger - 10 year Service Award - Green Bay WI

Referee-in-Chief, Disabled Hockey (2014-22; 2023-24); Disabled Hockey Section (2022-24)

Dr. Mike Uihlein - Dr. Alan Ashare Excellence in Safety Award - Grafton, WI

US National Sled Hockey team (2013-24)

Wisconsin Players invited to USA Hockey National Camps

Congratulations to the following players invited to attend the upcoming National Development Camps in July

Brady Anundesen - Defense

Monica Berres - Defense

Milo Boyle - Defense

Faye Brunke - Forward

Addison Dahl - Defense

Alaina Damrow - Forward

Caleb Deanovich - Defense

Emmersyn Finke - Forward

Lincoln Krizizke - Defense

Zandra Land - Defense

Mason Majewski - Forward

Piper Mathison - Defense

Carter Oliphant - Forward

Lily Pachl - Defense

Dominique Reiher - Forward

Callie Rottman - Forward

Julian Scalcucci - Goalie

Spencer Shober - Goalie

Cooper Simon - Forward

Camryn Steele - Defense

Henry Steele - Defense

Gus Thorp - Defense

Abigail Waara - Defense

Gavin Weber - Forward

Adalyn Westergaard - Defense

Cooper Zinda - Defense

Did You Know?

September 1st is the deadline for submissions for Grassroots Grants.

More information about the grant and the application can be found on the WAHA website