The following is a brief summary of the election. Please click the link to view the full story.

In 2006, as per the CAHA By-Laws, the “B” Class Directors, Beth Sterne, Jeff Heise, Angelo Lekkas, Bob Piper and Robert Riccio terms expired on April 1st. These board members had to inform the Nominating Committee by February 15th, 2006 if they wanted to stand for re-election or if they have selected not to run for another 2-year term.

Bob Piper chose not to run for another 2-year term. The entire organization thanks him for his years of service.

For full detail of proceedings, click here.

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The Cyclones organization is proud of our athletes for the work they do to succeed in their academic endeavors. We congratulate the academic excellence displayed by our NIHL and CSDHL players. Great job.

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The 2006 Scholarship was awarded to one our CSDHL Midget Major players. Neal D. Cole, of Glenbard North High School, is this year’s recipient and will receive $2,500 toward his college tuition. Neal has skated with the Cyclones since our inception and worked his way to our top team. Neil knows the hockey’s lessons of team work, tireless effort, and character will help him in all future endeavors. He will be attending Northern Illinois University this fall. Congratulations Neil, the Cyclones organization is proud of your accomplishments.

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During the first week of April, a PeeWee and Bantam team of Cyclones made the trip to Lake Placid for the CAN/AM Hockey Tournament. Teams from throughout the East and Midwest came to compete on the same rink where the 1980 USA Hockey Team won their Gold Medal.

Each year the CAN/AM awards one player from the Bantam and Midget division a $1,000 Collegiate Scholarship. All participating players are asked to submit an essay on why he or she should qualify as the recipient of this award. They are encouraged to write a personal statement and include recommendations from teachers and coaches along with their academic records.

The Cyclones would like to congratulate one of our own for this award. Chris Huston was the recipient of 2006 CAN/AM Tournament Collegiate Scholarship. Congratulations to Chris. All of the Cyclones family is proud of your accomplishment.

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It is with a tremendous amount of pride that we share with you the unprecedented level of success we are enjoying this 2005-06 fall season. It is a very exciting time to be a Cyclone. By staying true to our focus on player development, we are just beginning to realize our potential for success.

All of you have contributed to this Cyclone's family success story. We recognize and appreciate all of your support, commitment and loyalty.

Please join us in congratulating our 2005-06 players, coaches and families.

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When a group of Bantam players met for the first time in September, none of them knew the excitement and camaraderie they would bring to their family, friends and the Cyclones Amateur Hockey Association. Thus the case with the 2006 Bantam Gold Team. This is their story and I’m sticking to it.

It was during a team meeting in which the goal or the season was set. “We want to bring home a Blackhawk Cup State Championship flag to hang in Fox Valley Ice Arena. A lofty goal at that, and in order to achieve, we would become known as the best passing team at the Bantam A level.

The season began on a high note. A 7-0-1 record in the NIHL tiering round was followed with a 2-0 start to the regular season. But then, the injury bug took hold. The loss of three key players to a broken arm, a broken wrist and a broken collar bone set in. It felt like we were snake bitten. Could this be the end of a season to remember? All their hopes and dreams put on hold like the playing careers of their unfortunate team mates. No. Not this team. The team struggled a bit but held their heads up high. Everyone stepped up their game to fill in the gaps left by the injured players and we made it through the turning point of our season. Are we a team of destiny?

The holiday season was now upon us. We had the good fortune of having our full bench back. A little rusty at first but nothing a few practice sessions couldn’t take care of. First on the agenda was the Cyclones Holiday Classic. Winning this tournament was the start of an incredible 15-1-2 run that would take this team right through the State Playoffs.

Next, a trip in February to the Winter Elite Classic in Cincinnati, Ohio. A 5-0 run here was capped off with a 10-1 championship game win over some of Ohio’s elite bantam players. Our players bonded as a team, a move that would prove immeasurable as we embarked on the State Playoff run. The trip was also filled with many memories, which will last for years to come. Just ask the parents.

As the NIHL season came to a close, we were faced with the fact that we would miss the NIHL playoffs. One point. One point was all that separated us from a NIHL playoff berth. The players were upset but determined more than ever to achieve their ultimate goal. We would make our statement in the Blackhawk Cup.

Leading up to the State Playoffs our team was determined to let the entire Illinois Hockey Community know that they were a team to be reckoned with. A 12-1-1 record since Christmas was all the remaining Bantam A coaches needed to determine playoff seeding. The Cyclones Bantam Gold team received a 4th seed playoff ranking. To go along with this ranking, they also received a bye in the elimination rounds and a trip to the Elite 8 round robin tournament. We now came to the realization that we were a team of destiny.

It was now time to go to work. The first game of the round robin ended in our favor with a win over the Sabres. Game two was battle which ended in a 2-2 tie with the Blues. As we sat in the locker room prior to Sunday’s final game we knew what was stake. The only thing standing between us and a trip to the State Championship Game was the Flames. The game started as a dog fight. A 2-2 tie going in to the third period. The right to play next Saturday comes down to one period of hockey and who wants it more. Us or them. And then, it happened. Our offense exploded for 4 goals in the third, while our defense kept the Flames in check. The final score was 6-2 and a trip to the AHAI Center was on the horizon.

Super Weekend was here. We arrived at the AHAI Center ready to take on the Sabres and reach our ultimate goal. The pre-game speeches were done. The entire team was ready and focused for the task at hand. It was now time to take the ice. Everyone had butterflies as we sung the National Anthem. We just wanted the game to begin.

As the puck dropped, it became evident that there wasn’t anything that would stand in the way of us achieving our goal. The puck never came out of the Sabre zone until 4 minutes were left in the first period. We were up 2-0 at one point. However, a couple of bad penalties late in the first opened the door for the Sabres and the score was 2-2 going into the second period.

The second and third periods once again proved to be our periods. We were leading at the end of the second 5-2, while continuing to dominate the third period with the final outcome of 7-3. As the final buzzer sounded, the players had achieved their ultimate goal. It was quite a sight watching their joy on the ice, all the family and friends in the stands, and the hugs and hand shakes amongst the coaches on the bench. This definitely was “A Season to Remember.”

The Cyclones Bantam Gold Team consisted of the following:
Players: Michael Becht, Taylor Clark, Johnathon Eassa, Michael Fazio, John Gilbertsen,
Nick Gorczyca, Jay Graffagna, Chris Hipchen, Jacob Kancherlapalli, Evan Kling,
Mark Koske, Myles Neuneker, Chris Perillo, Timothy Prinz, Alex Raver, and Joey Samuels.
Coaches: Doug Becht, Keith Gorczyca, Kevin Koske and Mike Perillo.
Manager: Lynn Kosk

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September 23, 2005, was first game of the 2005-2006 NIHL season for the Pee Wee Bronze #1 team; and it was the LAST time the team lost a NIHL game!  The team finished with an amazing 20-1-3 NIHL record, earning the NIHL President’s Cup.

Prior to the NIHL championship game, the Cyclones took its talent on the road for a little fun at the Great Lakes Tournament in Holland, Michigan. The team registered for the Pee Wee A division to face some good competition to prepare for the playoffs. Although the team’s main goal was to relax and take a breather from the intense focus to keep its winning streak going, they found themselves in the championship game. The team was fired-up and won the game 8-2, to take the championship banner.

The NIHL championship game was a great battle and a fitting end to the NIHL season. The team went up against the Huskies, who they beat twice during the season, but this time brought their best game. It was a back and forth game for 3 periods, ending 3-3 in regulation. However, the team stepped it up and scored half way through the first overtime period.
One of the great sights of the championship game was seeing the Cyclone Mite Bronze team, who was playing their championship game next, cheering for the older Pee Wees.

The team made the Final 8 in the State Tournament, however, was knocked out in a 0-1 loss against the Huskies Gold team. The boys played an amazing game, with a stifling defense and great goaltending.

At the beginning of the season it was hard to believe that these boys, ranging from 5th grade to 7th grade, coming from Cyclone travel teams and in-house program, as well as, from other clubs would find common ground and come together as a team. At the end, there were no egos, just a team working together to accomplish a goal.

First Row: Nick Riscossa, Tyler LeSage, Spencer Seno, Quinn Sweeney, Kyle Kauss, Sam Vivirito, Max Channon, Ted Cuscaden not pictured Middle Row: Dan Price, David Wilson, Mark Cummings, Christian Jahntz, Eric Jacobson, Robby Allen, Wolfgang Baran, Anthony Hesser. Back Row: Chris Jahntz Manager, Todd LeSage Asst. Coach, Pat Sweeney Asst. Coach, Mark Cummings Asst. Coach, Paul Hesser Head Coach

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The 2005-2006 Mite Gold team continued its winning ways right through to the “Final Four” in the Blackhawk Cup State Tournament. As the NIHL Gold Mite Champions, Cyclones showed the Illinois hockey community that team play and a commitment to team defense is the way to continue to win playoff hockey games.

Our 11th seeded Cyclones opened the state tournament against the 5th seed Vikings in Orland Park. The speedy and talented Vikings opened the game up early by going up 2-0 in the first, thanks to 2 power play tallies. The Cyclones turned the game around in the second period by playing stingy defense and capitalizing on any Viking turnovers to tie the game 2-2 at the end of regulation. The two teams battled through 3 overtime periods before Christian Fischer drove the length of the ice and scored the game winner by stuffing his own rebound past the Vikings goal tender for the game winner. This victory earned the Cyclones the right to play in the season-ending round robin tournament, hosted by the Huskies in Darien.

The Cyclones faced the powerful Darien Huskies in the opening game of the "Elite Eight" tournament. The Cyclones played the eventual State Champion Huskies, tougher than any other contender in the tournament, holding them to just 2 goals. Huskies prevailed 2-1 in another thrilling game. (This game broke a 14 game Cyclone unbeaten streak that dated back to January 10th!).

The Cyclones absolutely dominated the #5 seed Chicago Blues in their second game of the tournament with an awesome display of passing and racked up a 5-2 victory. The Blues didn't have a chance against the outstanding face-off stunts and back checking of the Cyclone Mites.

The next opponent for the Cyclones was the #3 seed Flames. The Flames started fast, jumping out to a 4-0 lead. But the as was the case all season, the Cyclone Mites never stopped playing their game. They chipped away at the Flames lead throughout the second and third periods and tied the game 4-4 on a goal by Jason Dhooghe (assisted by Christian Fischer and Matt Balara) late in the third period to force another overtime game. Neither team scored in overtime and the game ended 4-4.

The Cyclones finished the round robin tournament 1-1-1 and had successfully eliminated the Flames from the tournament. By virtue of the goal differential in the previous two games, the Cyclones had earned the right to play the Winnetka Flyers in the Mite AA State 3rd place game.

The Cyclones had their hands full with this speedy and well coached team (The Winnetka Mite AA team is the reigning Mite AA Elite Conference Champions). But as in every other game this season, our Cyclone Mite squad showed everyone why they had gone so far. The Cyclones tied the game 3-3 late in the third period on a goal by hard working forward Alex Kielion. After 3 periods of exciting hockey the game was tied!  The two teams battled hard during

3 overtime periods, but the Winnetka squad scored first, which put an end to the tournament for the Cyclones.

Congratulations to Matthew Balara, Lee Barnes, Conner Bingham, Jason Dhooghe, Cody Esposito, Christian Fischer, Jeremy Forbes, Alex Kielion, Bayley Marshall, Brenden Payne, Matthew Romano, Bryan Tierney, and Alex Vandenberg

NIHL 2005-2006 Mite Gold Conference Champions, NIHL 2005-2006 President’s Cup, 2006 Blackhawk Cup AA 4th Place Finalists, Wausau Invitational Tournament Champions (Undefeated); Wishbone Invitational 2nd Place

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Entering the 2005-2006 regular season, no one knew what to expect from the Mite Silver Team.  Patience, practice and team work were the rallying cry for Coach Gus and his assistants.  However, after a somewhat slow start to the season, the Mite Silvers put on an impressive show of all three.  Finishing the regular season with an 8-4-4 record, they were seeded second in the NIHL tournament.

Defeating the Huskies in the quarterfinals 5-0 proved to the team that hard work does payoff. This led to an exciting semifinal match-up with the Skokie Flyers. Skating and scoring goal for goal with a much bigger Flyers team, the game was tied 4-4 after regulation. The Cyclones prevailed in sudden death 5-4 to advance to the championship.

The championship game versus Barrington showed a glimpse of a bright future. The Cyclones took an early 1-0 lead and were tied late in the 2nd period only to fall 5-1 to a very determined Redwings team. Although it did not end in story book fashion, it was an exciting and successful season for the entire Mite Silver.

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Looking for a summer camp experience without leaving the area?  Checkout the Fox Valley Ice Arena Link for available camps at our home rink.

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Be a part of Breakout!

Breakout! is always looking for ideas, contributors, and assistant editors.

Our next issue contribution deadline is June 1, 2006.

Email your comments, suggestions, and questions to: directorlekkas@cycloneshockey.net. Thanks.

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