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 …

August 2023

Bethesda, MD – Black Bear Sports Group, Inc. has announced a strategic partnership with the New Jersey Orthopaedic Institute (NJOI) and will now be known as the official orthopedic provider for SportsCare Ice Arena and Skylands Ice World as well as the North Jersey Skyland Kings and NJ Jets Youth Hockey Clubs. NJOI, a leader …

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 …

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 …

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

Bethesda, MD – Today, Black Bear Sports Group, Inc. is proud to announce that they have agreed to terms with East Hanover, NJ based SportsCare Physical Therapy to open physical therapy spaces on site at their Aspen Ice Arena, Randolph, NJ; Jersey Shore Ice Arena, Wall, NJ; Howell Ice Arena, Howell, NJ; and Skylands Ice World, Stockholm, NJ facility locations. …

May 2021

Black Bear Sports Group, Inc. (“Black Bear”) has partnered with Kathryn Kehoe and Sean O’Brien, founders of the National Girls Hockey League (“NGHL”) to expand the footprint of the league and provide more resources and opportunities to promote the growth of girls ice hockey programs in the United States. Kathryn and the NGHL team will …

January 2021

Team will compete at World Selects Trophy in Nashville, TN from June 28-July 2, 2021. Philadelphia, PA (January 27, 2021)- Black Bear Sports Group has created a new invitation only tournament hockey team at the 2006 birth year level called Black Bear Selects. The team will compete at the international World Selects Trophy from June 28-July …

December 2020

BETHESDA, Md.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Black Bear Sports Group, Inc., (“Black Bear”), Keith Primeau, the Montgomery Blue Devils, New Jersey Bandits, New Jersey Rockets, Hollydell Hurricanes and Team Philadelphia (the “Founders”) are proud to announce the official launch of the Atlantic Hockey Federation (“AHF”), a USA Hockey Sanctioned, Tier-II Youth Hockey League that will facilitate games and showcases …

October 2020

PHILADELPHIA–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Comcast Spectacor has reached an agreement with Black Bear Sports Group, Inc. for the sale of three of its Skate Zone ice rink locations in Northeast, Phila., Pennsauken, NJ, and Atlantic City, NJ. Full transfer of ownership and operation is planned to go into effect within 30 days pending receipt of the necessary approvals and completion …

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 …