Dear Cyclones Families, 

On Monday February 12th the CAHA Board of Directors voted to fill the Hockey Director position that is open since Brad must return to Canada. We had a number of very worthy candidates and concepts to review and discuss.  

Mr. Frank Bisceglie received the vote and we are pleased to announce that he has accepted the position as the new Hockey Director for the Cyclones Amateur Hockey Association.  

Frank has several years of experience with the Chicago Flames as their Vice President of Hockey.  All their Hockey Level Directors (non-coaches) as well as all the coaches reported directly to him. He offers a tremendous amount of experience interfacing with the players, parents, coaches, Board of Directors, the different leagues, AHIA and USA Hockey.  He is living in our community and will be involved with our organization on a full time basis. 

He will office out of the FVIA and plans to move in on Monday Feburary 19th. So please don't hesitate to stop in and say hello. He also will be present for our Open Registrations held on Saturday, February 24th and Monday, February 26th.  

Please make yourself available to meet Frank and provide him with a very warm welcome into the Cyclones family.

Thank you,
Doug

Dear Cyclones Families,

After serving Illinois youth hockey for decades, I am finally home. For years I have looked forward to the opportunity when I could serve the game of hockey and my community simultaneously. My wife Debbie and I along with our sons Frankie and Louis have resided in the Fox Valley area since 1995. We moved to the area for many of the same reasons that so many others have. The proud sense of community, small town ambience with big city amenities, and dedication to family values are traits that make our community so unique and welcoming. As part of the Cyclones family our bond with the community will be even greater. We have been fortunate in that our children have been raised here, we work here, and we worship here.

In the world of Illinois youth hockey it is extremely difficult to garner a strong sense of community and maintain the ability to compete at the highest levels of competition. Competing at the highest levels and continuing to build our recreational programs is a challenge that I will embrace wholeheartedly. I will work diligently at placing the Cyclones at the forefront of Illinois youth hockey by raising the bar to a level that all other clubs will try to be measured by.

Fox Valley hockey has come along way since my long cold nights of coaching at the Mill Creek Barn. Since that time I have been blessed with the opportunity to coach at various League Championships, State Championships, and International Finals. More importantly I have helped see players thru some of the difficulties of life. I have been there for my players when they were faced with parental divorce, family disabilities, lost love ones, or just tough times. There is more to coaching and managing a program than merely teaching the skills of the game. It is about being a solid role model and teaching life lessons. The role of a coach is similar to that of a leader. To be successful at either it takes commitment, sacrifice, and dedication. As an administrator I have managed a trading firm at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, and have been Vice President of Hockey Operations for one of the most successful youth hockey organizations in Illinois. It will be my job to lead our club into the future and build upon the success of our past.

I consider it a privilege to give to the game that has given me so much, and a blessing to serve a community that has provided so much for my family. I look forward to the challenges ahead as we provide a brand of hockey that will insure fun and fulfillment.

Respectfully,
Frank Bisceglie
Cyclones Amateur Hockey Association
Incoming Hockey Director

Spring Hockey is here for the 2007 season. We look forward to this time to see some new faces within each of the different divisions as some of our players are moving up and we also see new players coming from other clubs. The spring season is the building block for our fall season. As we all know, the spring season does not determine who will skate for what team come next fall, but it does provide some great benefits and insights for both the players and coaches alike.

I‘m pleased to inform you that we only took a marginal increase in the players fees for this spring season. It represents a 5% increase when ice costs have increased over twice that rate along with other increases we recognized as well. It is important for all of you to understand that only through our volunteer efforts, that allowed us to host the Cyclones Holiday Hockey Classic, plus the State NIHL and Blackhawk Cup tournaments, were we able to keep this increase to a minimum. We thank those who stepped forward as we all have benefited in many ways from their time and efforts. We would hope that with this understanding that many more of you will step forward and donate some of your time in the future to help this association control the cost of participating in this great game of hockey.

To keep and attract goalies, we are offering a 50% fee discount for this spring season. As your youth hockey organization, we will work hard to meet your needs while continuing to offer the highest quality programs at the best values.

We are one of the founding members of the “South West Spring League” (SWSL) and as such will continue our participation in this league. The league has three playing levels Red, White and Blue equal to the AA, A and B levels of Tier II hockey. We, along with all the other associations will place all our teams in the SWSL. The league membership consists of eight local Tier II organizations. For this season only, the league has granted “participation” rights to Crystal Lake and St. Jude under the Peoria Rule where they will have to play their home games in the opponent’s rink when ice is available.

This league was developed for the following reasons:

• Limit your travel in the spring
• Control our game schedule
• All home games are at Fox Valley Ice Arena
• Season begins after Spring Break
• Season ends prior to Memorial Day weekend
• Control spring league fees

It is our intent to field at least one team at each of the "color" levels for Mite, Squirt, Pee Wee and Bantam. For Midget we will field a Midget Minor and Midget Major teams. It is critical that you take advantage of the mail-in registration. For your convenience, we will make all registration forms available to you on line through our Web site @ www.cycloneshockey.net. Please print out the appropriate form and mail it in. You will also find SWSL registration forms available at the front desk at the rink.

See you at the rink,
Doug Becht

[+] Return to Top

Congratulations to all of the Cyclones Teams!

The following Associations/Clubs were recently named as the recipients of the IHOA Sportsmanship Award. These Associations/Clubs were chosen by the On-Ice Officials for displaying good sportsmanship, integrity and fair play from all of their Teams, Staff and Spectators during this past season.

Cyclones Organization
Chicago Hawks Organization
Lake County Atoms Organization
Lincolnway High School Hockey
Sabres Girls

The 2007 IHOA Sportsmanship Award banners will be hung with pride in our home arena.

[+] Return to Top

We're baaaaack!  The Cyclones win TWO 1st PLACE FLAGS in our first year back into the NWHL.
 
Congratulations go to...
 
Head Coach Mike Zerafa and his coaching staff for the NWHL Mite Team and Head Coach Jay Rule and his coaching staff for the NWHL Squirt Team. Best of luck to all our NWHL teams as they enter into their playoff games.

[+] Return to Top

The Cyclones Amateur Hockey Association is pleased announce Mr. Jay Rule as our NWHL Coach of the Year.  Jay has coached Mite through Bantam for a total of 15 years.  He has coached at the Cyclones for 8 years and 6 of them were in the NWHL. He started coaching this son who has since grown out of youth hockey…we are very fortunate that Jay did not.

Throughout the years, Jay has gone above and beyond in many cases not only for his teams but for the entire club.  He currently also serves this association as our NWHL representative.  He's in the game for all the right reasons and is a constant source of positive energy. He promotes sportsmanship, teamwork and is a great role model for our kids. We feel very fortunate to have him in our program to pass on his knowledge, passion and love of the game. His enthusiasm is contagious, making him the head coach kid’s love you play for…regardless of their age.    

His dedication doesn’t stop at the rink. He is a great family man, always making time for his wife Joan. He is very close with his 4 children who range in age from 21 to 33.  He is very proud to be a Grandfather with one Grandchild.

On behalf of all the Cyclones players, coaches, parents and the Board of Directors, we thank you Jay. Your time, effort, and enthusiasm are greatly appreciated and it is our pleasure to name you our NWHL Coach of the Year. Keep up the great work! 

[+] Return to Top

What is more rewarding this holiday season other than playing hockey?  Volunteering your time and giving to children in need!  The Cyclones Northwest Pee Wee team got an opportunity to give back to the community by volunteering their time and financial resources to purchase supplies to replenish stock for Reach for the Moon Foundation. 

Reach for the Moon Foundation is a not-for-profit organization that provides basic needs for children in Illinois. We were able to take part in this activity because of Head Coach Rob Hasemann. He is very familiar with having the teams he coaches give back to the community. “We are given so much and it is a good feeling to have the kids look beyond themselves and give to those less fortunate”, says Coach Rob. 

Not only are they working to be a team on the ice, being a team off the ice is an incredible achievement. People say that hockey is more than just a game—the Northwest Pee Wee team is an example of just that. They took the Dollar Tree by storm on Wednesday evening, December 20th, pooling their money together to buy much needed items such as shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrushes, soap, etc. As other patrons and store employees watched with amazement, three shopping carts were filled to the brim! At the check-out, the clerk commented, “This order is officially the biggest I’ve ever rung up!”, as he handed the long receipt over.

After shopping, it was off to deliver the 15 plus bags to Pam Bruss, executive board member for Reach for the Moon Foundation. Later, all gathered for cocoa at Caribou Coffee to end a perfect evening. Ben Foster, one of the parents added, “I thought it was terrific to combine being with buddies on the hockey team to do something special. This reinforces what we are trying to teach our son”. “It was fun”, said Mike Potvin, winger for the Cyclones team. Truly a guy of many words, this was the sentiment shared by all who were able to attend in person!

For more information about Reach for the Moon Foundation and what you can do to help please visit www.reachforthemoonfoundation.com

Pictured from left to right:  JoJo Durrbeck, Dylan Wagner, Courtney Hasemann, Coach Rob Hasemann (wearing the dorky hat!), Joe Foster, Mike Potvin, Mark Homann and Jamie Auriemmo.  (Not pictured:  Alex Baecker, Joel Bouagnon, Ethan Chapman, Ammar Hamidani, Billy Petersen, PJ Preusser, Tyler Rydosz, Dillon Schennum, Angelo Schutt, Dominick Scotello, Paul Senechalle and James Solari.)

[+] Return to Top

The Cyclones Amateur Hockey Association, Naperville North, Northland Pines High Schools along with the local hockey community invite you to join in to support one of our hockey players and families at an event held at the Fox Valley Ice Arena.

Anthony Regole skated for the Cyclones throughout his youth hockey career. His father, Mike, was a board member and a head coach for the Cyclones for many years. Just a couple of years ago, Anthony left to play for his High School team at Naperville North. He was in the process of transferring to Eagle River, WI where he was planning to play for the High School.

Then, the unthinkable happened, he was in a car accident and was left paralyzed from the waist down. Anthony has kept his head up and spirits high. He now takes to heart the words so many of his coaches have taught him - there's only two things you can control, "Effort and Attitude." His strength and positive attitude inspires us all.

Please join us in celebrating this young mans courage while helping out this wonderful family.

The USA Hockey and AHAI Disabled Sled Hockey team will play against our able body players on sleds from Squirt to Midget/High School levels. Come, watch and be amazed - you will see that this great game of hockey is for everyBODY.

• Saturday, March 3rd from 12:00 to 3:30PM
• The game will start @ 1:00 PM and run until 3:00 (three 25 minute periods)
• Raffle Prizes, Silent Auction, Chuck-a-Puck
• Guest Speaker JJ O'Connor, USA Hockey Chairperson for Disabled Hockey
  

For more information, please contact:
Doug Becht, president@cycloneshockey.net
or Dan Galardini, dangalardini@comcast.net (Event Chairperson)

Donations can be made out to: Anthony Regole Foundation,
Attn: Anthony Nasharr
Two Prudential Plaza, 180 N. Stetson Ave., Suite 4525, Chicago IL, 60601
All donations are 100% tax deductible.

[+] Return to Top

Tuesday, January 16: Lansing- It is the key experiences like the ones gained at the Capitol City Tournament in Michigan this week-end, that will help build and shape many of the Cyclones as winners in the future. For most all of the players, this was their first out-of-town tournament that they had participated in. Having to cope with the drive, the aggressive game schedule, the Michigan State hockey game, the restaurant food, not to mention the off-ice play activities, like swimming, mini-sticks and other things six to eight year olds do, the Mite NWHL Cyclones did exceptionally well. They finished in first place in their division with three straight wins in round-robin play and advanced to the semi-finals against a tough, St. Clair Shore team, who plays out of the Detroit suburb league, before falling 6-5 in overtime with 1:35 remaining. The Cyclones go home with heads up high. They played hard to the end. It was a tough loss, especially when sometimes our expectations are such that we expect to win, considering that we almost always do. But more important than the score, or the results of this tournament, will be the memories of great hockey, great camaraderie, sportsmanship and friendship gained that will last a lifetime. I soon realized after the overtime goal went in and the Cyclones had lost, that the tears on the kids faces wasn't because they lost the game, but because the tournament had come to an end. Quickly thereafter, the tears turned to smiles as the whole tournament experience was put into their memory. These are the positive type of memories that winners are made from.   

- Coach Mike

[+] Return to Top

The following article is number two in a series of three that we will be featuring in BreakOut! over the next few issues. These articles have helped shape me as an athlete and a person and I hope that in some way they can provide some direction and inspiration into your lives as they have for me.

If desire is your wishbone, then courage is your backbone. Your backbone gives you the gumption, the get-up-and-go, the guts to excel, the incentive to make any dream you dare to dream come true.

It's easy to be ordinary or mediocre, but it takes courage to excel, to be different from the crowd. That's why not many people can do it. The rewards are great, but so are the risks. It takes courage to sacrifice; to work long, hard hours when you could be relaxing to work out when you're tired or sick; to focus on being the best you can be when there are so many distractions; to seek out tough competition when you know you'll probably get beaten. It's easy to be average, but it's hard to be the best.

It takes courage to stand by your convictions when all those around you have no convictions.

It takes courage to keep fighting when you're losing.

It takes courage to stick to your game plan and the unrelenting pursuit of your goal when you encounter obstacles.

It takes courage to push yourself to places that you have never been before physically and mentally, to test your limits, to break through barriers.

It takes courage to run a marathon, but then how would you ever know how far you could run if you never tried?

It takes courage to try to be the very best you can be when others around you settle for mediocrity.

I firmly believe we are put on earth to be tested - to be challenged with adversity and to see what we can accomplish. The successful person is the one who continually faces the problems and challenges that life brings - and overcomes them all, no matter what the obstacle is.

I also believe that most people have far more courage than they give themselves credit for. When tested, people find they have the courage to look deep into their souls; and do things they never thought possible. This amazes most people, who initially don't believe they have much courage. We all have it - we just don't realize it.

Most people are completely unaware that they possess this type of courage. Why? Because if they were aware of it, they'd have to test it - and that's risky. So most people play it safe and don't risk "Going for it." They're afraid of going into the unknown. There are no guarantees.

Unfortunately, people frequently tell you things can't be done before they tell you things can be done. They're what we call "SNIOPs" - people who are "Susceptible to the Negative Influences of Other People." It's easy to be negative because it's safe and deals with the known. It's hard to be positive because it means taking risks and deals with the unknown. It takes courage to succeed.

Sebastian Coe used the word "courage" to describe what it will take to run the super mile. He didn't say mental toughness - which is what you need at the end when your legs are dead and your lungs are bursting. Most good athletes can handle this; they can fight through the pain barrier. What Coe is saying is that you must be courageous - you must be brave enough to push yourself at the beginning when you're not hurting, knowing full well that by doing this, the more you'll hurt at the end. That is courage!

[+] Return to Top

As the 2006-07 season comes to an end, I wanted to update everyone on the accomplishments off the Off-Ice Development program (Dryland).

Player attendance has improved over last year. Most of the teams have 95% of their players attending. This year coaching help has greatly improved. Because of this, teams have been able to work on specific skills, and coaches have at times taken fun skill games and drills to their on-ice practices.

With many players returning from last year, I was able to pick-up where we left off. Our goals this year were to combine stick handling drills and foot agility drills. Players also developed team communication, spacing, foot speed and fun in small area games like soccer and speed hand ball. These games had various rules to change skill development goals for the day.

More drills we done for goalies. These drills were reaction drills and coordination drills. Some of the goalies did work on these drills at home.

There were three levels of development. They are for the NWHL, NIHL and CSDHL teams. As the season progressed, drills were tailored to the team’s skill level.

The Cyclones program is very unique. Drills are developed specifically for hockey. Focus is on skill development and not on conditioning. Many drills are high speed and last for less than 30 seconds. Players are taught, encouraged and recognized for doing their home program. Most of all, this year the players worked together and had a lot of fun.

Please encourage the Cyclone players to do drills they have learned this year in the spring and summer seasons. In the fall, I look forward to continuing the progression of our players and this program.

Coach Mike Andrews
Cyclones Off-Ice Development

[+] Return to Top

The NWHL squirts began their season like many teams do, with a bunch of boys anxious to get on the ice. This squad, strangers at the start, has seen a dramatic transformation from September until February. What began with Coach Jay Rule encouraging excellence on the ice and friendships outside of the rink, has developed into a team that thrills its fans on a weekly basis. The team began the season struggling to win (although lots of games were close). Coach Jay attributes the boys’ “heart and determination” and “never give up attitude” to the eventual success of this team. The boys had many opportunities along the way to develop friendships through team pizza, holiday, and skating parties and these friendships have carried over to success on the ice. Around Christmas things “clicked” and the transformation from a bunch of boys who love hockey to a team of outstanding players was apparent to everyone. Coach Jay notes that the Christmas tournament was the “turning point” of the season, with few loses recorded on the score sheets after that. In particular, team defense has really come together. Orange slices served up prior to games have become a team tradition since helping to propel the team to a victory in December (you might say they’re a superstitious bunch). They have transformed both in hockey skill level and friendships. It seems only fitting that the next adventure for these boys is a trip to Decatur to compete in the aptly named “Tournament of Friends”. The NWHL squirts eagerly await their chance to play hard, play smart and play TOGETHER at the NWHL playoffs!

[+] Return to Top

Important Dates

February, 24th and 26th is SWSL registration @ Fox Valley Ice Arena

March 2nd Mail-in registration forms are due 

March 3rd The Anthony Regole Fundraiser – Sled Hockey Game Squirt though Midget 
More information will follow about this wonderful event.

March 4th or 11th Pee Wee Checking Clinics

March 12th – 14th Spring Tryouts

March 17th In-House/Cross Ice evaluations

[+] Return to Top

On Sunday, February 11, 2007 the Mite Elite team anxiously awaited their chance to step onto the ice in Joliet to play in the NIHL Championship Game. Never experiencing a NIHL Championship before we had no idea what to expect all we knew was this was a big accomplishment -- similar to the Super Bowl. We took the ice and fought hard and had the parents “oohing and aahing” like it was the 4th of July. The game ended with us bringing home the 2nd place NIHL flag. What an exciting way to end the regular season -- now let’s get ready for the State Tournament!!

Congratulations to our Mite Elite Team: Sean Dhooghe, Trenton Fuerst, Quinn Green, Jake Hoffman, Adam Kadlec, Chris Kocim, Graham Lillibridge, Nick McKeeby, Liam O’Reilly, Joe Papa, Evan Pike, Adam Scheel, Joey Smagacz, Sam Sterne, Jared Weaver, Martan Yelle. Coaches: Jim Allen, Brad Layzell, Josh Bletzinger, Andy Kadlec and Jeff Green.

BE THE ONE…

• to make your teammates better,
• to fore-check, back-check, poke-check,
• to finish your checks,
• to rush the net,
• to grind in the corners,
• to make the extra pass,
• to find the 5-hole,
• to get the cow bells ringing,
• to get the hockey moms screaming,
• to get the hats flying,
• to burn through the brackets,
• to toss your gloves in the air,
• to be on the bottom of the pile.

(Courtesy of Nike Bauer)

[+] Return to Top

Be a part of Breakout!

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

Email your comments, suggestions, and questions to: bryan@ims-chi.com. Thanks.

[+] Return to Top