Notes from the USA Hockey Annual Congress

By Michael Caples –

USA Hockey held their four-day Annual Congress in Colorado Springs, Colo., from June 5-8, bringing some of the top minds in hockey to one place to share ideas and improve the sport.

Safety and total participation numbers – USA Hockey recorded record numbers in 2013-14 – were two of the main topics discussed at the Annual Congress.

“We’re focused on ensuring the safest possible environment and providing a development program that helps players of all ability levels reach their full potential,” said Ron DeGregorio, president of USA Hockey, in a release. “That focus was very evident during our Annual Congress.”

USA Hockey will be hiring a national safety director to lead the organization’s efforts in both on- and off-ice safety. The board of directors also approved increased rules to help reduce fighting in junior hockey. A 10-minute misconduct will now be added to any fighting major at the Tier I and Tier II levels beginning in the 2014-15 season.

“Our efforts in player safety include a concerted focus on eliminating dangerous behavior in junior hockey,” said John Vanbiesbrouck, vice president of USA Hockey, chair of the Junior Council, Michigan native and GM of the USHL’s Muskegon Lumberjacks. “We’re making significant and continued progress, and from my standpoint as a parent, that’s a real positive.”

The board of directors also approved the use of a ‘Look-Up Line’ that extends 40 inches in width from the bottom of the boards that is orange in color. The ‘Look-Up Line’ is the latest idea in the quest to limit head and neck injuries. USA Hockey is asking any rinks that implement a ‘Look-Up Line’ to report their observations to the USA Hockey Look-Up Line Safety Task Force.

“There was terrific collaboration on the topic of safety,” said Dr. Michael Stuart, chief medical officer of USA Hockey. “We continue to make progress on all fronts and that is extremely pleasing to see.”

The governing body for hockey in the U.S. also reported that their final record count of youth, junior and adult-aged players in 2013-14 (519,417) was a new record, passing the 2011-12 previous high (511,178).

USA Hockey also set a new mark for total numbers – players, coaches, officials, administrators, team managers/volunteers and parents – at 1,075,424, passing last year’s mark (1,061,130).

More from USA Hockey:

OFFICER ELECTIONS
Three officer positions were up for election and the board unanimously re-elected both Jim Smith(treasurer) and Larry Reid (vice president, marketing council chair). In addition, Charlie Fuertsch was elected to replace retiring Peter Lindberg as vice president/legal council chair.

Other Elections

Donna Guariglia was elected as the director representative to the executive committee; Shawna Davidson and Dave Meisner were re-elected as director at-large; Jenny Potter was re-elected as the athlete director representative on the executive committee; Joe Bertagna and Mike Snee were elected as NCAA directors, while Bill Daly and Don Fehr were re-elected as professional sports organizations directors. Athlete directors elected to the board included Taylor Chace, Chris Clark,Manny Guerra, Meghan Duggan, Shelley Looney, and Blake Sloan.

NOTES: USA Hockey had a record year in sponsorship revenue with final totals up 26% over the 2012-13 season and 38% over the previous Olympic year (2010). In addition, sales at the organization’s online store – ShopUSAHockey.com – were up 80% over last year and 30% above the previous Olympic year … Peter Lindberg was honored during the board of directors meeting in recognition of his contributions to the organization. He has been USA Hockey’s only legal council chair and previously served in multiple capacities with Minnesota Hockey, including as president … President’s Awards were bestowed on T.C. Lewisand Jim Johannson for outstanding contribution to USA Hockey … Representatives of 21 of the 23 U.S.-based NHL teams participated in USA Hockey’s Annual Congress. The only exceptions were the New York Rangers and L.A. Kings, the two teams currently playing in the Stanley Cup Finals … The board voted both Peter Lindberg and Brad Bekkedahl as director emeritus.