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Coach Nick Lavalle Named AHAI Girls Coach of the Year

By Glenview Stars Staff, 03/06/18, 9:00AM CST

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Award to be Presented March 24 at the United Center

The Amateur Hockey Association of Illinois (AHAI) has named Glenview Stars Girls Director and Head Coach Nick Lavalle as the AHAI Girls Coach of the Year for 2018.  This is a huge honor for Coach Nick and recognizes the skill, dedication and success that Coach Nick shares with everyone who has worked with him or has had the privilege of having him on their bench!

Coach Nick has forged one of the top girls' hockey programs in not only the state of Illinois, but across the country. The Stars’ girls’ teams led by Coach Nick continue to find tremendous success in state championship play as both the U10s and U12s are vying for state titles this year. Both teams have also showcased their skills against other top girls’ programs across both the United States and Canada.

Nick does not just teach hockey skills to each of “his” girls, but he also instills a sense of family and community to each player. His teams spend a lot of time focusing on community service and giving back to others in need (e.g., sled hockey teams). These initiatives are not just one-time events, but are deeply-rooted in the Stars girls’ program. Under his leadership, Coach Nick instills a feeling of “hockey as a family” which is crucial to the success of the girls in the program both on and off the ice. This type of leadership and dedication — to more than just winning games — is the reason Nick is being recognized by AHAI. 

Coach Nick will tell you that the success of the girls' program is due to the coaches, families and girls that make up this organization. However, without Nick’s leadership, none of the success seen over the years would have been achieved. 

On behalf of the entire Glenview Stars organization, congratulations to Coach Nick on this tremendous honor. His hard work and success makes every member of the Glenview Stars family very proud and happy that he has dedicated so much of his time and energy to the Glenview Stars program.



Coach Nick Lavalle led the Glenview Stars U12 team with Madison Itagaki to win the 2012 USA Hockey National Championships

Congratulations also to former Glenview Stars player Madison Itagaki for being named the 2018 Cammi Granato Female High School Player of the Year.

Madison played for two seasons under Coach Nick and was on the team that won the USA Hockey National Championship in 2012. Madison now plays for the Glenbrook South Girls team, the Chicago Mission U19 team, and has committed to play NCAA Division 1 college hockey at the Rochester Institute of Technology beginning this fall. Congratulations Madison!