August 2023

2023 USHL Clark Cup Champion Youngstown Phantoms affiliated academy to field teams at U18, U16 and U15 Bethesda, MD – Black Bear Sports Group, Co-owner of the 2023 USHL Clark Cup Champion Youngstown Phantoms, has announced the formation of the Black Bear National Academy. The program will begin play in the 2024/25 season and will …

December 2023

The “spread” has no place in youth hockey Black Bear Sports Group recently started the Hockey Power Rankings (“HPR”) as an alternative to MyHockeyRankings (“MHR”). MyHockeyRankings has been the only ranking source in youth hockey for many years and originally was used to help families schedule competitive games. Unfortunately, as its power grew, people and …

December 2023

Odenton, MD – Team Maryland of the Eastern Hockey League (EHL) has announced the relocation of its franchise to Hamilton Township, New Jersey for the 2024-25 season. The team will play out of Ice Land Skating Center and play under the Mercer Chiefs banner. The team will be affiliated with the Mercer Chiefs youth hockey …

August 2022

Bethesda, MD Today, Foundry Adult Hockey, part of Black Bear Sports Group, Inc. the largest and most comprehensive adult hockey organization in the USA announced its fall/winter 2022/2023 league plans across the Black Bear Sports Group, Inc Arenas. “Foundry Adult Hockey is about learning the game of hockey and playing the game whenever you want, wherever you want, at any …

August 2022

Bethesda, MD- Today, Foundry Adult Hockey, part of Black Bear Sports Group, the largest adult hockey organization in the U.S. launched another new offering, the Foundry Adult Hockey Novice Draft League. The league is designed for graduates of the Foundry Adult Hockey Get in the Game Learn to Play Hockey Program to continue on their hockey journey. Foundry Adult Hockey’s …

August 2022

Bethesda, MD – Today, the Tier 1 Hockey Federation “THF” is proud to announce the formation of the THF Western Conference. This conference will compete at the 14U, 15U, 16U, and 18U age levels whereas the Champions at each level will compete in the United States Premier Hockey League “USPHL” Cup in March against winners …

June 2022

Bethesda, MD- Black Bear Sports Group has finalized a multi-year marketing and sponsorship partnership with Apex Learning Virtual School. The partnership provides for the title sponsorship for the Atlantic Hockey Federation and Tier 1 Hockey Federation spring parity events as well as significant digital marketing, branding, and on-site seminars throughout the Black Bear Sports Group ice arena portfolio. …

May 2022

Bethesda, MD- Black Bear Sports Group has finalized a multi-year marketing and hockey equipment procurement agreement with Pure Hockey. The agreement provides for entry level hockey equipment options for both youth and adult first time hockey players throughout its ice arena portfolio. “Growing hockey participation in all of our facilities is our lifeblood, “said Black …

May 2022

Bethesda, MD- Black Bear Sports Group has finalized a multi-year marketing, facility service, first aid and safety agreement with Cintas Corporation. The agreement will provide for the full array of Cintas cleaning products with branded dispensers as well as first aid and AED equipment supported by training and certifications for Black Bear Sports Group staff members throughout …

March 2022

BETHESDA, MD — Black Bear Sports Group, Inc., (“Black Bear”), the United States Premier Hockey League (“USPHL”) and the Tier 1 Hockey Federation (“THF”) are pleased to announce a collaboration of their youth and midget hockey activities.  Teams at all ages from Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania will play in the …

January 2022

Play scheduled to begin for the 2022/23 hockey season Bethesda, MD – Black Bear Sports Group is proud to announce the Tier 1 Hockey Federation (“THF”), a new hockey federation designed to facilitate scheduling among rink owners in the Eastern U.S. and the clubs located in their buildings. Initially, the THF will have 12 Founding …

January 2022

Five Adult Hockey Tournament Events Scheduled for Spring/Summer 2022 Bethesda, MD – Today, Black Bear Sports Group’s most recent vertically integrated program expansion, Foundry Adult Hockey, the largest and most comprehensive adult hockey organization in the U.S.A. launched five adult hockey tournament events branded the Keg Cup Series. The Foundry Adult Hockey Tournaments Keg Cup Series locations include: Pittsburgh, Palmer …

November 2021

Bethesda, MD (November 1, 2021) – The Atlantic Hockey Federation (“AHF”) is pleased to announce its plans for the 2022-23 season as follows: (1) Inclusion of the Haverford Hawks, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, Palmyra Black Knights, the Valley Forge Colonials, and the Wilkes Barre Scranton Knights as full season members and the St. James Hockey …

October 2021

Bethesda, MD- Black Bear Sports Group just completed multi-year official beverage agreement with Liberty Coca-Cola Beverages for 14 of its’ ice arenas in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. The agreement will provide for fountain and single serve products, equipment for concessions operation as well as single serve products that will be serviced by Black Bear Sports Group’s corporate vending partner, Canteen. …

October 2021

Bethesda, MD- Black Bear Sports Group has finalized a multi-year snack and beverage vending agreement with worldwide renowned Canteen. The agreement will provide for state-of-the-art snack and beverage vending machines in each of the 27 Black Bear Sports Group Ice Arenas. Each of the vending machines will be custom branded and include a QR code that links …

July 2021

Bethesda, MD – Today, Black Bear Sports Group, Inc. is proud to announce that they have agreed to terms with Berkeley Heights, New Jersey-based Summit Health to be the Presenting Sponsor at SportsCare Arena in Randolph, NJ and the Ice Rink Naming Rights Sponsor at Skylands Ice World, Stockholm, NJ facility locations. The partnership includes significant branding and marketing …

May 2021

Albert Lea, MN – All-American Arena Products has been named the Official Ice Rink and Arena Equipment with Related Supplies Partner of Black Bear Sports Group. All-American Arena Products will be the exclusive supplier for rinks owned and operated by Black Bear Sports Group. “We are excited to partner with Black Bear Sports Group to facilitate …

December 2021

Foundry Adult Hockey – Get in the Game Registration Opens Today Bethesda, MD – Today, Black Bear Sports Group’s most recent vertically integrated program expansion, Foundry Adult Hockey, the largest and most comprehensive adult hockey organization in the U.S.A., is proud to announce that registration is open for GET IN THE GAME, a new co-ed learn to play hockey …

September 2020

South Brunswick, NJ — An affiliate of Black Bear Sports Group, Inc. (“Black Bear”) has acquired Pro Skate Ice Arena in South Brunswick Township, NJ (the “Arena”). The Arena features two ice sheets, eight full size team locker rooms, a snack bar, pro shop and rink-operated gym. The Arena is home to many figure skaters and …

June 2018

The USHL had its strongest-ever showing at the NHL Draft, as 57 players with USHL ties were selected at the 2018 NHL Draft in Dallas, TX. The 57 players chosen set a new USHL record, shattering the previous mark of 51 set at the 2014 NHL Draft. 45 of those 57 players skated in the …

June 2018

Maryland-based sports and entertainment group reach terms with Troy and Aafke Loney Chevy Chase, MD – Black Bear Sports Group, Inc. (“Black Bear”) has acquired the co-ownership position in the Youngstown Phantoms of the United States Hockey League owned by Troy and Aafke Loney. The Zoldan family retained their existing co-ownership of the team and …