The following is a letter from Sylvain Turcotte, Glenview Stars hockey director, and Stephanie Arkus, Glenview Stars president:

Hello Glenview Stars,

As most of you are aware, USA Hockey has made many changes to the U8 hockey player (Mite) instruction model. The most significant changes are to the game limits and rink-size area of play. To help you to understand how the new rules will affect your children, the Glenview Stars will host a Mite Information Town Hall meeting on Tuesday, July 30 from 6-8 p.m. in the Community Room at the Glenview Ice Center.

To familiarize our parents of the new rules, we have included the letter sent to all Illinois organizations listing the new guidelines. We will discuss in detail how NIHL and the Glenview Stars will implement these mandated rules.

Letter from USA Hockey:

USA Hockey has granted the state of Illinois an exception to the ruling that all 8U hockey (all Mites) must be played cross-ice/half-ice. AHAI spent many hours with the USA Hockey Committee in charge of granting the exceptions to the Affiliates at the recent USA Hockey Congress in Colorado Springs. After much back and forth, we were able to come to an agreement that satisfied USA Hockey and gave AHAI what we were after for the most part. Below you will find references to the exceptions that some of the other states were granted as a comparison to the AHAI ruling by USA Hockey.

• California: 12 Full-Ice games after Dec 31.
• CT, RI, MN, and ME: 10 Full-Ice games after Dec 31.
• MA, NH: 10 Full-Ice games plus 1 Tournament after Dec 31.
• MI: 15 Full-Ice games after Dec 31 for 8 year-olds only
• NY: 10 Full-Ice games after Dec 31 for 8 year-olds only

The one change to our original proposal is the only games allowed to be played outside of the 15 full-ice games after Dec 1, 2013, will be a Thanksgiving tournament. Those games will not be counted in the 15 that can be played post-Dec 1. In essence, we received approval to play 19 total games. See final ruling below:

1. All 6U players will only be allowed to play cross-ice/half-ice, no exceptions.
2. 6U teams will not be allowed to travel outside the state.
3. 8U players will be able to play 15 full-ice games after December 1st, with the exception being a Thanksgiving Tournament. All other games prior to this date will be cross-ice/half-ice.
4. AHAI and the various associations/leagues will continue to host cross-ice jamborees throughout the full-ice playing season with a minimum of two each year.
5. 8U will play a geographical based schedule, with no more than 20% of their games outside their geography, excluding out of state tournaments.
6. There will continue to be no State Tournament for 8U age group.
7. 8U teams will only be allowed one out of state tournament each season.
8. No 8U will be allowed to play up at 10U level, no exceptions.
9. All Associations must conform to the ADM practice program and will be monitored by AHAI and Association Boards.

The Glenview Stars are confident that we can continue to provide the best Mite instruction in the state! We look forward to seeing you on July 30!

Sylvain Turcotte
Glenview Stars Hockey Director

Stephanie Arkus
Glenview Stars President