The section met in Chicago Saturday April 15 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel at the same time that the Chicago Showcase National High School Hockey Tournament was being held in the nearby Seven Bridges Arena.

Ted Brill, Section Director

Kevin Ahern, Michigan Rep (New)

Mike Bonish, Massachusetts Rep

Tony DeMayo, New York Rep (New)

Greg Dugan, Atlantic Rep

Kelly Grover, Rocky Mt. Rep

Dave Klasnick, Mid-Am Rep

Bob Mathson, Central Rep (New)

Bill Moore, Minnkota Rep (New)

Kevin McLaughlin, USA hockey

Guest: Alan Ashare, Massachusetts

Guest: Garrett Reagan, Massachusetts

Absent: Bruce Urban, Pacific Rep

Absent: Don Gensler, Southeastern Rep

Absent: Bill Antonucci, New England Rep

Absent: Sue McDowell, Girls

Ted Brill welcomed the new district reps Tony DeMayo, New York District, Kevin Ahern, Michigan District, Bob Mathson, Central District, and Bill Moore, Minnkota District. He also acknowledged a new addition to the Section, Sue McDowell, representing girl’s high school hockey, who was unable to attend because of another hockey commitment, and introduced Kevin McLaughlin the new USA Hockey section liaison.

Minutes of previous meeting approved as read.

• To encourage and improve the standards and conduct of High School hockey in the United States;
• To encourage and assist registration of all high School hockey teams, varsity, club. or otherwise with USA Hockey;
• To develop and encourage sportsmanship and playing proficiency by all players and persons involved in High School hockey;
• To communicate and cooperate with all governing bodies of High School hockey including National Federations so as to improve and promote the sport of High School hockey in the United States;
• To act on behalf of all High School hockey teams and to interface with the various other hockey Committees of USA Hockey so as to improve High School hockey in general;
• To do any and all acts necessary or desirable in the furtherance of High School hockey in the United States;
• Furthermore, it shall be the responsibility of this section to make recommendations for adoption to the Board of Directors which shall be in the best interests of the High School Program of USA Hockey

The current and future status of the NDTP program was discussed. District representatives were asked to give their districts impressions of the program and the impact, if any, on their local programs.

Ted Brill mentioned that he was under the impression that the USAH Board of Directors had voted to reduce the program to one team and move it to Lake Placid. In discussing the issue with other board members and USAH staff, he has received conflicting information, some saying yes that is the case, and others saying, no, that is not the case. Ted will pursue the matter at the annual meeting to determine in fact just, what is the correct information.

Minnesota and Massachusetts representatives and guests stated that they were not in favor of the NDTP program. Their comments included:

• "Players were not better players when they returned to their home program."
• "Medals not the best goal to use for program."
• "Have not been successful thus far."
• "Players leaving home at age 16-17 not in the best interests of the player’s overall welfare. Takes them away from the familiar and friendly home and school environment regarded as a valuable tool in their social and emotional maturation process as well as impacting their educational interests and needs."
• "Too much money being spent on a selected few at an age when future performance is not predictable because of the many developmental dynamics associated with these ages."
• Money would be better spent by establishing in-district developmental programs. By creating more opportunities for more players USAH would ultimately build a larger base of talent and provide more incentives to more players.
• Other districts mentioned that because they were new to the section, or had very few players selected for the program from their respective districts, that they were not aware of any impact of the program in their high school areas.

Participating Teams: AZ - Mountain Point HS, CO - Monarch Hockey (Boulder), NM - Los Alamos, OK - Putnam City Original HS, TX1 - Plano West, TX2 — Grapevine, UT1 — Timpanogos, UT2 - Viewmont HS.

Each year there is discussion in the section regarding the possibility of USAH sponsoring a National High School Hockey Tournament as an incentive for teams. Understanding that many districts do provide an avenue to national tournaments, by allowing dual registration and participation in existing youth programs, it is recognized that it would be difficult to conduct a national high school event without creating conflict with these programs.

In an effort to provide some kind of incentive for USAH registered team the Rocky Mountain District under the direction of Kelly Grover conducted a successful District Championship tournament. New York and Southeastern District are talking about an East Coast Championship Tournament and Atlantic District under the direction of Greg Dugan conducts the annual Flyer Cup Championships.

As the districts develop and enhance these types of events it is the eventual goal to establish a playoff system ultimately leading to a National High School Tournament that will not conflict with current programs and provide incentives for player and team registrations

A current alternative for district teams is the 24 team Chicago Showcase High School Tournament, held in mid April. Sponsored by the Illinois Amateur Hockey Association, the event is well organized and provides many opportunities for players to "showcase" their talents and skills for advanced level recruiters. This event is sanctioned by USA Hockey.

As representatives of USAH, each district rep is responsible for informing, organizing, and providing USAH available services to all high school programs in their respective districts regardless of affiliation.

Ted Brill, Director of Player/Coach Development for Minnesota Hockey, distributed information on how the two organizations (High School and Amateur Hockey) worked together to provide approximately one-third of all high school hockey players in the state with opportunities to participate in USAH programs.

Expanding the Select 15, 16, and 17 programs and establishing fall and spring Leagues were mentioned. Creating summer programs designed for physiological development as well as fundamental individual skills on-ice training, and season ending all-star exposure programs for graduating high school seniors were also mentioned as ways to provide service to high school aged players.

According to Bill Moore, President of the MN High School Hockey Coaches, the relationship between Minnesota Hockey and the high school coaches in Minnesota has developed into a mutually beneficial relationship. It was suggested that in districts where there is none or little relationship between amateur hockey affiliates and high school programs that reps seek ways to develop a mutually beneficial relationship by providing service to the high schools in the form of USAH programs. Brill is willing to assist in establishing these types of programs in the districts.

Some districts are restricted in what they can provide because of state high school federation rules and regulations. It was suggested that seeking a waiver of restrictions be pursued using the Olympic or National Development Program concept as provided for by the National Sports Act through USAH.

From 1994 to 1999 the number of USAH registered teams has experienced dynamic growth, expanding by 750 teams for a 57% increase. With the increasing popularity of Girl’s Hockey, these numbers are expected to grow.

During the 1998-99 season, Atlantic District experienced a 24% increase, Rocky Mountain 33%, and Southeastern a 39% increase in the number of registered teams.

Don Gensler has developed a well-organized informative web site pertaining to high school hockey in the USA.

The section agreed that the web site should focus on providing information, recognition for players, teams, and serve as a reference site for those seeking information. Features such as how to start a high school program, posting district recognition for teams and players, sports medicine and training programs information, team listings by district, tournament information, links to district sites, and contact lists were some of the things mentioned.

The section agreed that the web site can be a valuable tool in promoting high school hockey in the US and expressed gratitude for Don Gensler’s fine efforts.

Several requests were made by the section to USA Hockey to have the section web site linked to the USAH web site, however this has not yet been accomplished. Ted Brill mentioned that when he gets calls regarding information about high school hockey, that he refers the callers to the web site. Callers seem to get the information they need from the site. Another request will be made to USAH to link our site to the USAH home site.

A motion was passed by the section requesting $600 from USAH annually to cover the maintenance cost of the web site. Kevin McLaughlin will attempt to find the funds to cover these expenses.

Greg Dugan distributed information regarding an advanced level coaching symposium at West Chester University, May12-14 in West Chester PA.

Alan Ashare mentioned the availability of the "Heads Up" video pertaining to safety issues, which will be made available through the section web site.

High School National Federation teams have insurance coverage through their own organizations and have no need for the USAH coverage. Minnesota, which used to register all of their high school teams, expressed a desire to be a part of the "USAH family" but does not need the insurance coverage. They would like to see a form of modified membership made available to federation teams.

Some USAH high school teams are using eighth grade players. This is contrary to the USAH Guidebook, which clearly states that the player must be attending high school. Eighth grade players are not eligible to play on USAH high school teams.

Some districts do allow eighth graders to participate. Caution should be exercised in allowing this to occur. Because of the already marked differences in age and physical attributes (Grade 9-12) adding another year does create more risk and possible liability. Risk Managers should be contacted and approval gained prior to allowing eighth grade participation.

A lengthy discussion was held regarding junior team attempts to lure high school players to leave their high school teams and play junior hockey instead. Garrett Reagen, coach at Hingham High school in Massachusetts, and Bill Moore from Minnesota gave examples of Junior coaches recruiting high school players for their programs. In the examples given the player was promised extensive playing time, a quick avenue to advanced levels of hockey, and a better development path. In reality the player often ended up as a third or fourth line player seeing limited ice time, had no chance of playing at an advanced collegiate level, and was used primarily as a source of revenue to help the junior team pay its bills. According to Reagen, and Moore these things were occurring without regard for what is in the best interests of the player.

Garrett Reagan and Tom Saterdalen, high school coach at Bloomington Jefferson in Minnesota, accompanied by Ted Brill, presented their views of the issue to the Junior Council at the 1999 USAH annual congress meeting in Colorado Springs. Ted Brill distributed a report from the meeting to the section.

The Section recognizes that the juniors have done an excellent job of promoting their product and understands you cannot legislate "choice". With this in mind, Bill Moore stated that the Minnesota high school coaches are developing a brochure promoting the "high school option". The brochure will outline all of the values involved in electing to stay with the local high school program. The brochure will be available this fall and will be posted on the section web site.

With a brochure of this kind, according to Moore, the parents and players will be better able to make a more informed decision.

Sue McDowell now represents girls’ high school hockey in the section

Kelly Grover mentioned that at a risk manager meeting the question was raised regarding what criteria the high school section uses for classification of players. Unsure of just what the risk managers were referring to and after a lengthy discussion, no action was taken by the section. Further clarification and discussion with the risk managers is needed before any action is taken.

Rocky Mountain: Kelly Grover, District Representative

• Experiencing growth of high school hockey programs in Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and Montana.
• Held first District Championships

New York: Tony DeMayo: District Representative

• Numbers for high school teams in New York are good.
• Players under same rules as Federation teams.

Mid-Am: Dave Klasnick, District Representative

• High School registrations continue to grow.
• Merged 3 leagues (Lake Shore, South Hill, and West Penn), involving 90 teams to form Pennsylvania Interscholastic Hockey League (PIHL). Consolidated playing, enrollment rules, structured unified schedule.

Minnkota: Bill Moore, District Representative

• 160 boys teams, 120 girl's teams in Minnesota; 18 boy's teams in ND; 15 boy's teams in SD. Tremendous growth in girls hockey.
• Minnesota granted 3 game increase in the number of games played during regular season.
• Budgets strained particularly in Greater Minnesota.
• Losing players to juniors and Ann Arbor is a concern of coaches. Developing programs in partnership with Minnesota Hockey to provide more training and competition for those players who wish to remain with their local high school team.
• Losing players has a severe impact on all levels of the smaller programs. Takes away role models for younger players.
• Developing a brochure promoting the values of staying in high school hockey.
• Coaches quitting after 2-3 years because of conflicts with player parents.

Massachusetts: Mike Bonish, District Representative

• Concern about losing players to juniors and Ann Arbor program.
• Concern about juniors' recruitment and misrepresentation of opportunities to recruits.
• Dr. Ashare stated that people are working in Massachusetts to communicate and develop a spirit of cooperation among all levels of hockey in the state.
• Have a very effective "split-season" Midget program in MA. Play before and after high school season. MA team from this league won National Tier 1 championship. Also, allow overage players to participate however these teams are not eligible for national playdowns.
• Buddy Ferrara MA "Coach of the Year".
• Two state tournaments, Catholic-Public and Private Schools.

Central District: Bob Mathson, District Representative

• Number of registrations up. Some spring teams not registering this year.
• Not interested in Federation affiliation

Atlantic: Greg Dugan, District Representative

• High school teams registered: Delaware (5), New Jersey (39), Eastern PA, (291).
• Three new leagues now in development in Northeastern PA.
• Possibility of expanding State Championships into a weeklong round-robin event.
• The Delaware Scholastic League played its first season with 5 schools.
• Issues impacting high school hockey in Atlantic District. Availability of qualified referees, and ice time for games and practice; Control of registrations; and availability of qualified coaches.

The NCAA has been considering proposals for deregulation of amateurism. Some of the proposals would have a dramatic and adverse impact on high school hockey. Current speculation, after extensive lobbying by interested people and organizations, has reduced the adverse impact and is currently proposed as follows:

Players will have a two-year grace period after completing a normal four years of high school to start their collegiate clock. A one-year grace period will be given for those who attend a post-graduate Prep School. No grace period will be allowed for those opting to play "Major Junior A" without losing eligibility and sitting a year in collegiate residency.

Ted Brill’s three-year term as section director will expire after the USAH annual meeting in June. Ted has indicated that he is interested in continuing to represent the needs of the section on the USAH Board of Directors, continuing as the section director.

An election process is in place as required by USA Hockey. Kevin McGlaughlin will facilitate and conduct the election process.

At the Chicago Showcase National High School Hockey Tournament April 2001, or Minnesota State High School Championships in early March 2001.

The meeting was adjourned at 12:15 PM.

Submitted by: Ted Brill - High School Section Director

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