Ann Arbor, MI – The Ann Arbor Ice Cube (AAIC) has been named the new home of the Biggby Coffee Hockey Club beginning Spring 2023. The new club will offer youth hockey teams for all youth players at every skill level, Instructional, House (T3), Travel (T2) and AAA (T1). Before this merger, Biggby rostered both boys’ and girls’ team at the AAA- T1 level. With this new partnership, all levels of youth hockey in Ann Arbor will be rostered under the Biggby Hockey Club name. As part of a new partnership between AAIC’s new operator, Black Bear Sports Group (BBSG), and the Biggby club, the arena has hired full time staff to bolster its year-round hockey programs and offerings. Beginning with the 2023-24 season, players rostered under Ann Arbor Amateur Hockey Association (AAAHA) Travel and House teams will roster under Biggby Coffee Hockey Club. AAIC remains the home ice arena of Ann Arbor residents and current AAAHA players. Current players will be directed to AAA and Travel tryouts or House registrations. Peggy Costello, current Executive Director of AAAHA will transition to a new role as Director of Hockey Operations for AAIC and the Biggby Coffee Youth Club, and together with Tom Berry, Executive Director of Biggby AAA Hockey, will lead all hockey operations for the club and the rink.

The expanded Biggby Coffee Hockey Club is projected to have 600+ members comprising of Learn to Play Programs, Introductory Leagues, and all three levels (AAA, Travel, and House) of boys and girls hockey providing the community with hockey opportunities for all ages and skill levels. New jerseys will be provided for all members. Other key highlights of the partnership include:

• Exposure for Tier 2 Travel & House players to Tier 1 coaches and trainers
• Full-time, professional staff managing year-round hockey programs
• Consolidation improves the player pool and consistency of level of play
• Tier 1 advancement opportunities in the same arena for boys and girls
• Increased off-season programming and skill development opportunities at the rink
• Black Bear Sports Group’s Free Gear “Rookie Program” for first time players
• For players with college hockey ambition, access and exposure to Black Bear’s affiliated Junior Hockey clubs: Youngstown Phantoms (USHL), Maryland Black Bears (NAHL), Mercer Chiefs (NCDC) and Team Maryland (EHL)

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Coaches: 2023-24 prospective coaches for AAA, Travel and House should complete the applications HERE (link also on AAAHA and Biggby websites).

FAQ:

1. Which rink will teams play out of? Both Ann Arbor Ice Cube and Yost. Certain Tier 1
   boys teams may use other rinks in District 6.
2. I played for AAAHA at the Cube this season, do I have a spot in Biggby? Yes, we are projecting ice for at least the same amount of AAAHA teams from this season. All AAAHA players seeking AAA Tier 1 or Tier 2 Travel spots should attend Spring tryouts in March and Fall tryouts in May, and AAAHA players seeking House programming should register for Spring and Fall programming when sign-ups become available. Links will be emailed to returning players and also posted on both the rink’s website and Biggby Hockey’s website.
3. What are limited travel or “house hockey” options? The club and the rink will offer the same types of introductory programs, leagues, and House / “No-Cuts” hockey as AAAHA has in the past.
4. What happens to AAAHA? As all youth hockey club operations shift to the rink AAAHA will go through a restructuring to continue its mission of supporting youth hockey in the Ann Arbor community. AAAHA will be in touch with its membership in the coming days and weeks regarding this transition.
5. What is the difference between AAA Tier 1 and Tier 2 Travel? AAA Tier 1 is a larger time and financial commitment for players and families involving more games and more travel than Tier 2 Travel or House hockey. Program offerings and pricing for each Tier, level and age group will be released shortly from the rink.
6. Which leagues will Biggby play in? Travel and House teams will continue to play in the same leagues as AAAHA: LCAHL (Little Caesar’s Amateur Hockey League) and MGHL (Michigan Girls Hockey League). AAA Tier 1 teams will play local and showcase schedules to be announced prior to tryouts.

About Black Bear Sports Group, Inc.
Black Bear Sports Group, Inc. is a privately held company formed by Murry Gunty
and Blackstreet Capital Holdings, LLC in 2015 that seeks investments in sports and entertainment facilities, teams, and youth sports events. Black Bear arenas are clean, professionally managed, and offer world-class recreational programs. Black Bear focuses on ice arenas in metropolitan areas with compelling demographics, markets with a National Hockey League club presence and arenas with existing youth hockey clubs. Black Bear not only features the ability to acquire healthy and stable arenas, but also the expertise required to turn around mismanaged or under-performing facilities. The largest owner/operator of ice arenas in the U.S., Black Bear’s footprint totals 34 facilities across the United States with 64 sheets of indoor ice, four indoor turf fields, 31 youth hockey clubs, four hockey leagues (Atlantic Hockey Federation, Atlantic Girls Hockey Federation, Tier 1 Hockey Federation, and Foundry Adult Hockey, two tournament businesses, Defender Hockey Tournaments and the National Girls Hockey League and four Junior “A” hockey franchises with membership in the United States Hockey League, North American Hockey League, United States Premier Hockey League NCDC and the Eastern Hockey League.

About Tom Berry, Executive Director of Biggby AAA Hockey - Tom Berry has been involved in Hockey since 2001 coaching from the mite house level to coaching and scouting in Junior Hockey. He has served as the Director of WMEHC now Biggby Coffee AAA Hockey since 2007. He has been a Director at MAHA for the past five years. Contact at: tberry@biggbycoffeehockeyclub.com

About Peggy Costello, Incoming Director of Hockey Operations - Peggy brings 15 years of experience in youth hockey operations, most recently serving as the Executive Director of the Ann Arbor Amateur Hockey Association for the past 7 years. Peggy also currently serves as a District Director for the Michigan Amateur Hockey Association. Contact at: pcostello@biggbycoffeehockeyclub.com

About Biggby Coffee Hockey Club - Biggby Coffee AAA Hockey which is the sole sponsor of WMEHC, a Tier 1 affiliate in Michigan, was started 15 years ago and has made its purpose to develop and advance Michigan players to the Highest level. Biggby AAA has placed over 100 boys in Girls in Junior and college hockey respectively making it one of the most successful youth hockey programs in Michigan. Our mission is to provide Elite youth boys and girls hockey players in West Michigan and the out-state communities the opportunity to maximize his/her potential. The West Michigan Elite Hockey Club will provide a competitive
learning atmosphere where players, coaches, families, and organizations are committed to long- term development.
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About Ann Arbor Ice Cube - Ann Arbor Ice Cube, owned by Black Bear Sports Group, Inc. is a multi-sheet facility located in Ann Arbor, Michigan also known as A2Ice3. The arena measures around 160,000 square feet and includes two NHL-sized ice rinks and one OLY-sized ice rink. The facility has multiple tenants as well as a concessions stand. The arena provides a home for various ice skating and hockey programs, regular public skating sessions, the Ann Arbor Adult Hockey League, and is the home arena for the Biggby Coffee Hockey Club, Ann Arbor Figure Skating Club, Perani’s Hockey World, Michigan Medicine MedSport, Advantage Strength & Conditioning, Huron HS Hockey Team, Pioneer HS Hockey Team, Saline HS Hockey Team, Father Gabriel Richard/Greenhills HS Hockey Team, EMU Club Hockey Team, and Wolverine Sports Club Speed Skating. For more, go to www.a2ice3.com.

Blackstreet Capital Holdings affiliate Black Bear enters into long-term lease

Rockville, MD – An affiliate of Black Bear Sports Group, Inc. (“Black Bear”) has entered into a long-term lease to operate the AAA youth club, Team Maryland. Team Maryland has seven AAA youth hockey teams and has perennially been the premier youth hockey organization in the DMV region. Team Maryland previously had entered into a partnership with Black Bear regarding Black Bear’s junior hockey clubs in the area, Team Maryland EHL and the Maryland Black Bears. This lease formalizes the overall relationship and puts Black Bear in charge of the day-to-day operations of the entire club. Michael R. Weiss, former President of Team Maryland, will remain as scheduling director and will serve as a resource to Black Bear going forward. Black Bear is also thrilled to announce that, pending all appropriate immigration documentation, Robbie Murden, has been hired as Team Maryland’s Hockey Director and 15U Head Coach beginning with the 2023-24 hockey season. Robbie will also be the Assistant General Manager of all Black Bear Junior Hockey including Assistant General Manager of the Youngstown Phantoms of the U.S.H.L. Robbie joins team Maryland from the Windy City/Tri City Storm organization where coached and served as Director of Player Personnel for nationally ranked Midget teams. In addition, Robbie held roles in player personnel, scouting and drafting for the Tri City Storm of the U.S.H.L. Previously, Robbie was one of the founders, coaches and the Director of Player Personnel for Bishop Kearney Selects, as well as Midget coach at Selects Hockey Academy where their 18U team won the 2018-19 National Championship. Over the past 5 years, Robbie has coached teams to 7 state titles, regional titles and multiple teams to National Tournament appearances. Over the past 5 seasons in AAA, Robbie has recruited, coached and fostered in the development of 8 NHL draft picks, 47 NCAA Division 1 commits, 55 USHL/NTDP selections and 12 players who have gone on to play in the OHL, WHL or QMJHL. Team Maryland will remain headquartered at Rockville and Cabin John with the 18U Prep Team solely operating out of Piney Orchard Ice Arena. With the addition of Team Maryland, Black Bear now operates 29 youth hockey clubs including 8 AAA organizations.
 
Black Bear is also pleased to announce that former NHL player and current Maryland Black Bears Assistant Coach, Pete LeBoutillier, will take over as 18U Head Coach next season, and Mike Donnellan, current 15U coach, will assume the title of Director of Operations and head coach of the 16U team next season. Black Bear, the largest owner-operator of ice rinks in the U.S., was founded by CEO Murry Gunty in 2015.
 
“Twenty years ago my father and I started Team Maryland from scratch and are proud of the work we have done to build it into one of the best Tier I organizations in the country.” said Michael R. Weiss, former President of Team Maryland. “We made this decision because Black Bear has the resources, staff and relationships to continue to strengthen the club and to elevate the experience for our families even further.”
 
“Based on the foundation built by Bob and Mike Weiss as well as Robbie joining for the fall, we believe Team Maryland is poised to become one of the elite programs in the country.” said Murry N. Gunty, CEO and Founder of Black Bear Sports Group. “My children both played for Team Maryland and I have a personal attachment to make sure the club remains in good hands in the future. I wish to thank Bob and Mike for this opportunity.”
 
“Robbie will make a tremendous addition to our junior hockey staff and will provide incredible leadership for Team Maryland,” said Andrew Goldman, President of Black Bear Junior Hockey. “I wish to thank Tony MacAulay and Matt Reid for the work they have done for Team Maryland and wish them well in their future endeavors.”
 
About Black Bear Sports Group, Inc.
Black Bear Sports Group, Inc. is a privately held company formed by Murry Gunty and Blackstreet Capital Holdings, LLC in 2015 that seeks investments in sports and entertainment facilities, teams, and youth sports events. Black Bear arenas are clean, professionally managed, and offer world-class recreational programs. Black Bear focuses on ice arenas in metropolitan areas with compelling demographics, markets with a National Hockey League club presence and arenas with existing youth hockey clubs. Black Bear not only features the ability to acquire healthy and stable arenas, but also the expertise required to turn around mismanaged or under-performing facilities. The largest owner/operator of ice rinks in the U.S., Black Bear’s footprint totals 34 arenas across the United States with 64 sheets of indoor ice, four indoor turf fields, 29 youth hockey clubs, four hockey leagues (Atlantic Hockey Federation, Atlantic Girls Hockey Federation Tier 1 Hockey Federation, and Foundry Adult Hockey, the largest adult hockey league in the U.S.), two tournament businesses, Defender Hockey Tournaments and the National Girls Hockey League and four Junior “A” hockey franchises with membership in the United States Hockey League, North American Hockey League, United States Premier Hockey League NCDC and the Eastern Hockey League.
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