The National Girls Hockey League (NGHL) is excited to announce its new partnership with ICEBERG Sports Analytics and theProspect Exchange (TPE).  Beginning with the 2021-22 season, NGHL member clubs in the Red Division at the 14,16, and 19 age levels will receive access to ICEBERG Analytics’ Premium X product at league events where game clips and advanced stats will be automatically uploaded to each players’ TPE profile page. The Prospect Exchange (TPE) has quickly become one of hockey’s most popular platforms that connect players, coaches, and scouts using TPE’s unique communication tool. Players will be able to share their video and analytics with college coaches and also track communication on their dashboard. With over 2,000 registered coaches and scouts using the platform, TPE has become a trusted source in player recruitment and is proud to partner with the NGHL and Black Bear Sports Group.

“We are very excited about our partnership with ICEBERG and TPE and the tremendous value it will bring to our membership,” said Jeremy Dallow, Interim-Commissioner of the NGHL. “Our vision is to use great emerging technologies to offer our players the opportunities to be seen by coaches and scouts and advance their hockey careers and we believe this partnership helps us execute that vision.”

Recently, the Prospect Exchange announced they will be integrating their platform with the technology of Iceberg Sports Analytics. ICEBERG is the global leader in providing enhanced hockey analytics and data collection through modern computer vision algorithms. ICEBERG will provide video and analytics to 14U, 16U, and 19U NGHL members in the Red division playing league games at each NGHL event this season. Each player will also have their individual video and advanced analytics available to share in TPE.

“We are humbled that NGHL has chosen to partner with TPE and ICEBERG. The NGHL is determined to provide their membership the greatest exposure to the next level and we are thrilled to be part of that process,” noted John Becanic, Co-Founder & Managing Partner of The Prospect Exchange.
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“Since day one we envisioned improving the structure and experience for girls hockey with the NGHL,” said NGHL Co-Founder, Sean O’Brien. “This new partnership is another big step forward for the league.”

Philadelphia, PA

Score for the Cure is an ice hockey tournament and full day event that will take place on Saturday, August 14 at Revolution Ice Gardens in Warminster, PA. The tournament will also include a 5K race, family fun activities, delicious food, live music, and more. Proceeds will go to fund the research of type 1 diabetes (T1D) and advocacy initiatives conducted by JDRF. 

Notable Flyers alumni scheduled to participate in the hockey tournament portion of the event include Brian Propp, Riley Cote, and Doug Crossman.
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Black Bear Sports Group has donated the full usage of the facility for this event, which will take over the entire complex that day. As a thank you to the Black Bear Sports Group, part of the proceeds will be directed to Black Bear Youth Hockey Foundation to support youth in their pursuit to play hockey that otherwise would not be able to.

In early 2021, a group of volunteers involved with the Keystone Chapter of Community Associations Institute (CAI) decided to unite their energy and resources to host a fundraiser benefiting JDRF, the leading global organization funding T1D research, and SCORE FOR THE CURE was born.

The group, led by Nicole Skaro of CIT Bank and Sean McCabe of SERVPRO, comprises David Velasco and Steve Roderick of JGS Insurance; Robyn Colajezzi, Becca Herman, Amanda O’Connor additionally of SERVPRO; Anne Yannarella of National Contractors, Inc.; Michael Shaw of Keystone CAI; Suzanne Kulliver of Access Property Management; Deb Rizzi of Rizco; David Dahan of Hyland Levin Shapiro, LLC; Megan Elgard of Falcon Engineering; Barry Siburkis of ATI Restoration; and Kevin Morrow of the Philadelphia Builders Union. 

“It’s been amazing to see such talented, driven business people come together for such a great cause,” said volunteer Sean McCabe from SERVPRO of Upper Bucks, Germantown, and Pennypack/Bustleton. “Hockey was a natural selection as many of us are enthusiasts and we personally know many young players afflicted with Type 1”. 

The group hopes to make this an annual event with the first year's goal to raise $50,000. If you are interested in participating on August 14 or would like to donate to the cause, please visit ScoreForTheCure.com.


About Type 1 Diabetes: Type 1 Diabetes typically develops in children and adolescents, but it can also develop in adults. Various factors, such as genetics and viruses, can contribute to the development of this disease, but it has nothing to do with diet or lifestyle. Those afflicted with Type 1 diabetes must suffer through insulin injections, disruptive glucose monitoring, and sleepless nights while carefully balancing their eating and activity. Living with Type 1 diabetes grants no days off and there is no cure.

About JDRF: JDRF has been a global leader in the search for the cure to Type 1 Diabetes for over 40 years. They also work to improve the lives of every person living with Type 1 Diabetes until they arrive at that goal. JDRF focuses primarily on developing cure therapies and treatment therapies and researching preventative therapies for the disease.
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For more information, contact: 
Nicole Skaro 
908.524.8741 
JDRFHockey@gmail.com.

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 as well as fully integrated services for the athletes and families at both facilities. 
 
“Black Bear Sports Group is doing great things to enhance the quality of life in the communities we serve” said Karen McVeigh, Marketing Director, Summit Health. “We are thrilled about this partnership and look forward providing the support and care the athletes need efficiently, easily, and conveniently.” 

“We could not be any prouder to be partnered with a community leader like Summit Health,” said Black Bear Sports Group Founder and CEO, Murry Gunty. “We look forward to working together with Summit Health to provide their leading edge, full array of health and wellness options to support our customers”.  

About Summit Health - Summit Health is a physician-led, patient-centric network committed to simplifying the complexities of health care and bringing a more connected kind of care. Formed by the 2019 merger between Summit Medical Group, one of the nation’s premier independent physician-governed multispecialty medical groups, and CityMD, the leading urgent care provider in the New York metro area, Summit Health delivers a more intuitive, comprehensive, and responsive care experience for every stage of life and health condition through high-quality primary, specialty, and urgent care. For more, go to www.summithealth.com.

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 and 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 has the ability to acquire healthy and stable arenas, but also to turn around under-managed or under-performing facilities. The largest owner/operator of ice rinks in the U.S., Black Bear’s footprint totals 25 facilities across the United States with 47 sheets of indoor ice, three indoor turf fields, 15 youth hockey clubs, one youth hockey league, the Atlantic Hockey Federation, the National Girls Hockey League and three Junior “A” hockey franchises in the United States Hockey League, North American Hockey League and Eastern Hockey League. For more, go to  http://www.blackbearsportsgroup.com/

​New leadership brings experience, resources to Ward 7 facility

​WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Friends of Fort Dupont Ice Arena today announced the appointment of a new Chairman of the Board and additional Directors. Incoming Chairman Murry N. Gunty, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Black Bear Sports Group, Inc., brings rink ownership, operating expertise and extensive hockey experience and resources to Fort Dupont. His election and those of additional directors will sustain the rink’s longstanding commitment to the community, maintain its operation as a non-profit, and continue Kids On Ice® programs that for 25 years have transformed the lives of more than 20,000 children, primarily from Wards 7 and 8.

"We are excited to join and continue the great work of the board, build on its success and preserve the arena’s role as a vital recreation facility for families in the District. With a mission to serve children who may lack access to skating facilities, equipment and guide them from Learn To Skate to the great sports of hockey, figure, speed and synchronized skating, Fort Dupont is a unique treasure among ice rinks in North America,” said Gunty. “Our commitment is to preserve and strengthen the special role of Fort Dupont in the community and sustain the positive impact of its extraordinary programs, teams, coaches and instructors.”

Black Bear Sports Group, Inc. is a privately-held company that owns, manages and operates 27 ice rinks across the Mid-Atlantic and Midwest, including three in Maryland. Black Bear also owns 15 youth hockey clubs and three junior hockey teams, including the Maryland Black Bears in Odenton, MD. Black Bear's rinks are primarily in metropolitan areas with a National Hockey League presence. Gunty is local to Washington and has three children, two of whom skated for high school teams that called Fort Dupont home ice.

In addition to Gunty, new directors joining the existing Fort Dupont board include Tarik El-Bashir, a native Washingtonian and one of the country’s preeminent sports and hockey reporters; Kim Weiss, also from the area and the first female bench coach of a North American Junior Hockey team; former Preseason All-American football running back and business executive Ellery Roberts; high-profile criminal defense attorney and Harvard Law Review member Ismail J. Ramsey; Bob Weiss, owner/operator of Rockville Ice Rink, the largest such facility in the DC Metro area; and several Black Bear financial and management executives.

"Fort Dupont will remain independent of Black Bear and continue operation as a stand-alone non-profit with a different mission from our commercial rinks,” said Gunty. “The Fort Dupont Board has done an exceptional job of building and maintaining the rink and the KOI programs. With the help of additional directors, we will be able to provide operational resources and national outreach to a Board that has strong community representation and a track record of success. I believe this diverse group will help meet the rink’s needs today and in the future.”

“Murry brings extraordinary resources and national relationships that can ensure Fort Dupont’s sustainability and growth,” said outgoing chairman Willem Polak, who will remain on the board. “I’ve had the honor and privilege to serve as Chairman since 1996 and have seen our Kids On Ice program transform the lives of thousands of children. I am proud of what we have accomplished and am excited to turn the reins over to Murry, who will lead the rink into its new home and a great future.”

Atop the agenda for the new board is long-awaited construction of a new ice arena. With construction scheduled to begin next spring, the new arena will replace the existing facility with an NHL-size ice sheet as well as expanded locker facilities, support facilities, and a community meeting room. The state-of-the-art facility will open in 2023.

For 25 years, Fort Dupont has served more than 20,000 children through Kids On Ice® programs, and with off-ice enrichment programs for children ages 5-18. The rink provides skates, equipment, and lessons to all who need them. Fort Dupont offers summer camps, DC Department of Parks and Recreation programming, and partners with D.C. Public and Public Charter Schools to offer instruction and ice time free-of-charge through the Schools Skate for Fitness program. The rink also hosts annual Special Olympics Speed Skating training and competitions, and is home to the Fort Dupont Cannons, the country’s oldest minority youth hockey club, founded by U.S.A. Hockey hall-of-famer Neal Henderson.

The Washington Capitals and Monumental Sports and Entertainment Foundation have been long-time partners to Fort Dupont Ice Arena and the Fort Dupont Cannons. In support of the new arena, the NHL, Monumental Sports and Entertainment and Caps owner Ted Leonsis launched a $500,000 GoFundMe campaign – helping reach the fundraising goal set by the city to trigger construction of the new rink.

“The community’s ongoing support and response to the need for a new, modern facility has been incredible,” said Gunty. “My own kids played hockey at Fort Dupont, so I feel a personal connection to this special arena, where families in the District will continue to have the opportunity to discover and enjoy hockey and the other great ice sports.”

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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 and professionally managed and offer world-class recreational programs. Black Bear targets ice arenas in metropolitan areas with compelling demographics, existing youth hockey clubs and a National Hockey League club presence. The largest owner/operator of ice rinks in the U.S., Black Bear’s footprint totals 27 facilities across the United States with 50 sheets of indoor ice, three indoor turf fields, 15 youth hockey clubs and three Junior “A” hockey franchises in the United States Hockey League, North American Hockey League and Eastern Hockey League.


Contact: Murry Gunty
Black Bear Sports Group, Inc
mgunty@blackbearsportsgroup.com

Kim Weiss hired as Assistant Bench Coach for North American Hockey League’s Maryland Black Bears

Bethesda, MD (June 21, 2021) –
​Black Bear Sports Group, the largest youth hockey and ice rink business in North America (“Black Bear Sports”), is pleased to announce the immediate hiring of Kimberly Weiss as Assistant Bench Coach for the Maryland Black Bears (the “Black Bears”), a Tier II Junior Hockey team that plays in the North American Hockey League.  Ms. Weiss joins the Black Bears’ coaching staff following the highly successful 2020-21 season which saw the Black Bears advance to the Eastern Conference Finals in their first ever playoff appearance.  Kim joins the Black Bears following almost 10 years coaching with the nationally dominant Washington Pride Girls Hockey Program.  Previously, Kim was an All American four-year starter at Trinity College in Hartford, CT.  Kim is also a Maryland native. 
 
“We are excited to have Kim join our staff,” said Clint Mylymok, Head Coach and General Manager of the Black Bears. “Kim had an outstanding playing career and achieved great success with the Pride.  Over the past few years, Kim has joined us on the ice as well as evaluated for us at our main camps.  She brings a lot of hockey experience and will be an asset to our program.”
 
“It gives me great pleasure to have hired the first female President of a Junior Hockey team in Robyn Remick, to be a partner with Kathryn Kehoe in the largest girls hockey league in the country, and now to have hired the first ever female bench coach in Junior Hockey in North America,” said Murry N. Gunty, Founder and CEO of Black Bear Sports Group.   “Kim is the All-Time leading scorer for Trinity and was an All American & 2x Captain before becoming a highly successful AAA girls coach where she developed countless players who went on to successful college careers.  We are lucky to have her on our team.”
 
“I am thrilled to join the Black Bears’ staff and look forward to working with Clint and Assistant Coach Brandon Gotkin,” said Kimberly J. Weiss.  “The team had an amazing season and I look forward to helping build upon their success this year.”
 
“This is another great example of why the NAHL is the League of Opportunity.  We wish Coach Weiss all the best and know she will make an impact in the development and growth of players as they continue to pursue their college hockey dreams,” said Mark Frankenfeld, Commissioner and President of the North American Hockey League.
 
“Kim is an amazing person and an even better hockey coach,” said Andrew Goldman, President of Junior Hockey for Black Bear Sports.  “We have had the chance to work with her over the years in different roles and are pleased that she decided to accept our offer to join our staff in a critically important role.”
 
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 and professionally managed and offer world-class recreational programs. Black Bear targets ice arenas in metropolitan areas with compelling demographics, existing youth hockey clubs, and a National Hockey League club presence.  The largest owner/operator of ice rinks in the U.S., Black Bear’s footprint totals 27 facilities across the United States with 50 sheets of indoor ice, three indoor turf fields, 15 youth hockey clubs, and three Junior “A” hockey franchises in the United States Hockey League, North American Hockey League, and Eastern Hockey League.


Contact Info: 
Murry N. Gunty, CEO, Black Bear Sports Group, mgunty@blackbearsportsgroup.com
Clint Mylymok, Head Coach, Maryland Black Bears, clint@marylandblackbears.com

Pittsburgh, PA – An affiliate of Black Bear Sports Group, Inc. (“Black Bear”) has acquired Pittsburgh Ice Arena in New Kensington, PA (the “Arena”). The Arena features two NHL ice sheets, a full-service gym, a hockey training center, a pro shop, and a chiropractic treatment center. The Arena is home to the Pittsburgh Vipers and Esmark Stars youth hockey clubs along with many figure skaters and recreational skaters in the area. Black Bear, the largest owner/operator of ice rinks in the U.S., was founded by CEO Murry Gunty in 2015. 

​“We are excited to expand our Pittsburgh presence with this transaction, as Pittsburgh is one of the best hockey markets in the Country,” said Murry Gunty, Founder and CEO of Black Bear. “We also look forward to growing our league and tournament businesses in the Pittsburgh area and expect to host numerous boys and girls events in our rinks.”

Black Bear owns and operates Printscape Arena in Canonsburg, PA (formerly known as Iceoplex at Southpointe), Palmer Imaging Arena in Delmont, PA (formerly known as Center Ice Arena) and co-owns and operates the Youngstown Phantoms of the United States Hockey League in Youngstown, OH.  Black Bear recently announced the formation of the Atlantic Hockey Federation (“AHF”), a new Tier-II hockey league in the Mid-Atlantic, and recently acquired the National Girls Hockey League(“NGHL”), the leading girls hockey league in the U.S.

“Our mission is to continue growing hockey and ice sports in Pittsburgh,” said Ryan Scott, Vice President of Black Bear. “Our Pittsburgh operations team, led by Scott Branovan, is excited to dig in and develop new programs and opportunities for the community.”

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 26 facilities across the United States with 49 sheets of indoor ice, three indoor turf fields, 15 youth hockey clubs, two youth hockey leagues (Atlantic Hockey Federation and National Girls Hockey League) and three Junior “A” hockey franchises with membership in the United States Hockey League, North American Hockey League and Eastern Hockey League.

Contact Info

Ryan Scott
rscott@blackbearsportsgroup.com

 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. The partnership includes significant branding and marketing as the official Physical Therapy provider in each of the facilities, highlighted by facility naming rights for the Randolph NJ location, which will now be known as SportsCare Arena.
 
 
“We are honored to be partnered with Black Bear Sports Group, the largest owner/operator of ice arenas in the country,” said SportsCare Owner Ron Lombardi. “We look forward to providing value added services to the athletes and families at all four locations.”

“SportsCare is the leader in their field and a mainstay in the New Jersey market,” said Black Bear Sports Group Founder and CEO, Murry Gunty. “We appreciate Ron Lombardi’s confidence in our facilities and our operating team, and are thrilled with the leading-edge offerings for physical therapy and athletic training they will be providing to our customers.”

About SportsCare Physical Therapy -  When you have experienced an injury as a result of playing a sport, being on the job, or being involved in a vehicle accident, trust the caring team at SportsCare Physical Therapy to help you recover. Our licensed therapists are experienced in many innovative techniques to help restore your function and return you to your previous level of performance. Since 1997, SportsCare Physical Therapy has been providing high-quality physical therapy and sports medicine services. We maintain a staff of dedicated therapists who are licensed and certified as well as professional athletic trainers. Each of our facilities offers state-of-the-art rehabilitation technology, including the latest testing and exercise equipment. SportsCare is a proud partner and sponsor to the NY Rangers and NY Red Bulls. For more, go to https://sportscare1.com/

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 and 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 has the ability to acquire healthy and stable arenas, but also to turn around under-managed or under-performing facilities. The largest owner/operator of ice rinks in the U.S., Black Bear’s footprint totals 25 facilities across the United States with 47 sheets of indoor ice, three indoor turf fields, 15 youth hockey clubs, one youth hockey league, the Atlantic Hockey Federation, the National Girls Hockey League and three Junior “A” hockey franchises in the United States Hockey League, North American Hockey League and Eastern Hockey League. For more, go to  http://www.blackbearsportsgroup.com/

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 continue to oversee the league and run the day-to-day operations. The NGHL expects to host 10+ events across the country next season inclusive of two divisions and culminating with league championships in Chicago, IL and St. Louis, MO. Black Bear will support the league with use of its 25 ice rinks and provide more ice for girls programming and showcases. 

​“We are excited to partner with Black Bear to grow our league and girls’ programs,” said Kathryn Kehoe, Co-Founder of the NGHL. “We now have the foundation to create more opportunities to grow the game and expand the league to more regions and different skill levels. Sean and I believe this is the best decision for the league and we are thrilled to stay involved in leadership positions. As we grow the sport, more opportunities for women to pursue a career in hockey will materialize which was one of my original motivations for starting this league.”

Black Bear is the largest owner-operator of ice rinks in the U.S. Black Bear’s footprint totals 25 facilities across the United States with 47 sheets of indoor ice, three indoor turf fields, 15 youth hockey clubs and three Junior “A” hockey franchises in the United States Hockey League, North American Hockey League and Eastern Hockey League.
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“Kathryn, Sean and their team add a wealth of knowledge and experience in girl’s hockey to Black Bear,” said Tim Chase, Director of Girls Hockey for Black Bear. “We have recently launched grassroots programs to grow girls’ participation at our rinks and the NGHL provides the infrastructure where dedicated players can compete at a higher level against national competition and be scouted for college hockey. The opportunities to add showcases, scouting events and camps for these girls at Black Bear facilities in the future are endless and we are excited to start planning.”
 
The National Girls Hockey League (NGHL) is dedicated to the promotion and growth of girl’s ice hockey programs across the nation. For the past two years the league has run events, including showcases and clinics, across the country for multi-level programs. The NGHL will release its full schedule of events and showcases for the 2021-22 shortly. Please check our website nghlhockey.com for updated information.
 
 
NGHL Contact:
info@nghlhockey.com