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 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.
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“We don’t recruit hockey players. We recruit students who are good hockey players,” Harvey said.
Harvey will meet with AHAI’s high school committee Saturday. If denied an invitation, he said the school will consider legal action.
– Bob Foltman
Help wanted: St. Viator is seeking assistant coaches in boys and girls track, boys tennis and boys and girls water polo. For information, call 847-392-0304.
Hut, hut, hike: The Illinois High School Football Coaches Association will conduct a clinic April 2-4 at the Chancellor Hotel in Champaign. Keynote speaker will be Washington Redskins head coach Norv Turner. Fee is $50 and includes the hall of fame induction banquet. For information, call Jim Rexilius at 630-668-0648. . . . Boys and girls basketball teams from grades 5 through 12 are being sought for the Chicago Kickoff Classic April 3-5 and the Chicago Easter Basket Classic April 10-12. For information call Project Education Plus at 312-642-4191.
Poll-sitters: Lincoln-Way finished 12th in the National Sports News Service’s 70th annual national poll of high school football teams. Hampton (Va.) was ranked No. 1. The No. 1 team 60 years ago was Austin, led by national player of the year Bill DeCorrevont.
In the zone: LaDarius Halton, a University of Florida recruit, scored 76 points Wednesday night in New Smyrna Beach’s 116-80 victory over Deltona Pine Ridge.
Halton, a 6-foot-5-inch forward who had 55 points earlier this season against Daytona Beach Mainland, was 27 for 48 from the field, including 12 for 25 from three-point range. He also had 15 rebounds and seven assists.
The 76-point performance is the third highest in Florida prep basketball history.
Wimaumi’s Dickie Pitts set the record of 103 in 1955-56, and teammate Hardy Safford had 92 in a game the same season.
Clearing the air: High school principals and athletic directors from Conference Indiana met for three hours Friday to discuss an alleged racial incident that occurred during a boys basketball game last week.
Martinsville High School students and fans allegedly yelled obscenities and racial slurs at black players on the Bloomington North basketball team before and during the Jan. 23 game.
Steve Heath, a conference spokesman, said the meeting at Southport High School was an opportunity for school officials to voice their concerns. No specific measures or proposals were made, he said.