A year after winning the AHAI/Blackhawk hockey championship, Lake Forest Academy may not be invited back to defend its title.
The Amateur Hockey Association of Illinois (AHAI) has threatened to withhold the Academy’s invitation to the 32-team tournament because of various “compliance violations.”
In a letter to the school, AHAI listed three violations: fifth-year players, boarding of students and recruiting.
According to Lake Forest Academy Athletic Director Eve Alexander, the school has never had a five-year student who has played hockey all five years.
School headmaster Tom Harvey doesn’t dispute the boarding school charge. “Three years ago, when we were admitted (to AHAI), we were a boarding school and we’re still a boarding school,” he said. “It is hard to be a boarding school and not board students.”
Harvey and Alexander also said that the lifeblood of the school is attracting students, and the school markets itself both academically and athletically.
“We don’t recruit hockey players. We recruit students who are good hockey players,” said Harvey.
Harvey will meet with AHAI’s high school committee Saturday. If denied an invitation, he said the school will consider legal action.