YOUNGSTOWN — Laila Edwards, who captured an Olympic Gold Medal as a member of the U.S. National Women’s Ice Hockey Team last February, will drop the first puck at Saturday night’s game between the Youngstown Phantoms and the Fargo Force at the Covelli Centre in Youngstown. Media interested in attending Saturday’s game can RSVP by contacting press@blackbearsportsgroup.com.

Edwards, a Cleveland Heights native, returns to the Buckeye State after capturing an Olympic Gold Medal in Italy last February and becoming the 4th overall pick in the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) last June. The versatile two-way player will join PWHL San Jose this November when the expansion team’s preseason officially begins.

Saturday’s game between the Youngstown Phantoms and the Fargo Force will be held at 6:00 PM at the Covelli Centre, located at 229 E Front Street in Youngstown.

Full details are as follows:

WHAT: 2026 Olympic Gold Medalist Laila Edwards to drop first puck for Youngstown Phantoms game

WHEN: Saturday, October 3rd at 6:00 PM

WHERE: Covelli Centre

229 E Front Street

Youngstown, OH 44503

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The Black Bear Youth Hockey Foundation (BBYHF) announced that Round Two of its 2026-27 scholarship applications has opened, with need-based awards available to youth hockey players across the country. Applications are open to any eligible player 18 and under, regardless of rink or club affiliation.

“Hockey teaches lessons that kids will carry with them long after they stop playing. No family should be priced out of that,” said Kevin Kuby, CEO of Black Bear Sports Group. “If your family didn’t get a chance to apply the first time, or you’re just hearing about this program now, this is your opportunity. We know what it takes to keep a community rink alive and accessible, and we want every family there to know this support exists.”

Since its inception, BBYHF has provided more than $250,000 to over 300 youth hockey players across 21 states.

Round Two applications are now open and will close September 30, 2026. Families can apply at blackbearsportsgroup.com/scholarship.

Founded in 2015 by lifelong hockey enthusiasts, Black Bear Sports Group is a premier owner and operator of ice arenas and youth hockey leagues across the United States. Dedicated to strengthening hockey communities and expanding access to the sport, Black Bear manages dozens of rinks, teams, and leagues, including the Atlantic Hockey Federation, the Atlantic Girls Hockey Federation, and the Tier 1 Hockey Federation. Black Bear also offers elite training programs, tournaments, and Black Bear TV, a dedicated streaming platform that increases visibility for athletes. By preserving community rinks and creating development opportunities, Black Bear ensures that hockey and other ice sports remain accessible, competitive, and positioned for long-term success.

For more information, visit http://www.blackbearsportsgroup.com/.

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PORT HURON, MI – Black Bear Sports Group, one of the nation’s premier operators of ice arenas and youth hockey leagues, today announced that it has purchased Glacier Pointe Ice Complex, preserving an important resource for hockey players and ice skaters in the Blue Water Area. Every club, league and program currently skating at the rink will open the 2026-27 season on schedule, with the same ice times.

Black Bear Sports Group is a long-term investor, owner, and operator of ice arenas across the Northeast and Midwest, with a commitment to protecting and expanding access to hockey and ice sports. Black Bear reinvests virtually all available funds directly into its rinks and teams – more than $20 million across its rinks over the past three years alone – and by preserving community rinks, supporting player development, and fostering strong skating communities, seeks to ensure that hockey, figure skating, and other ice sports remain accessible, competitive, and thriving for generations to come.

“Glacier Pointe is a home base for hockey and skating families across the Blue Water Area,” said Kevin Kuby, CEO of Black Bear Sports Group. “We’re proud to support that tradition and do the essential work that will keep this rink safe, open, and accessible for families throughout the region. Our focus is on ensuring that the next generation of hockey players and ice skaters in Port Huron has a great place to learn, compete, and grow.”

Generations of Port Huron families have learned the game at Glacier Pointe, and Black Bear will introduce new programs to ensure the next generation does as well, including Take a Shot at Hockey, which helps first-time players ages 4 to 9 learn the game at zero cost; Learn to Play Hockey, which provides free equipment for kids to keep as they play; and Get in the Game, which is the largest co-ed adult learn-to-play hockey program in the country. Each of these new initiatives is designed to widen the pipeline into a sport the Port Huron community already knows well, so the rink is as full a decade from now as it is today.

Beyond these new offerings to grow the game, which will roll out during the 2026-2027 season, all current programming is slated to continue on schedule, without interruption, including the Port Huron Minor Hockey Association, the Port Huron Figure Skating Club, Glacier Blades Learn to Skate, and Glacier Pointe’s adult leagues.

About Black Bear Sports Group
Founded in 2015 by lifelong hockey supporters, Black Bear Sports Group is a premier owner and operator of ice arenas and youth hockey leagues across the United States. Dedicated to strengthening hockey communities and expanding access to the sport, the company manages dozens of rinks, teams, and leagues, including the Atlantic Hockey Federation, the Atlantic Girls Hockey Federation, and the Tier 1 Hockey Federation. Black Bear also offers elite training programs, tournaments, and Black Bear TV, a dedicated streaming platform that increases visibility for athletes. By preserving community rinks and creating development opportunities, Black Bear ensures that hockey and other ice sports remain accessible, competitive, and positioned for long-term success. For more information, visit www.blackbearsportsgroup.com.

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The post SportsCare Arena Celebrates Jets Fest Season Kickoff with a Day of Hockey, Family Activities, and Free Health Screenings first appeared on Black Bear Sports Group.

and free BIGGBY® COFFEE sampling to kick off the 2026-27 season

BRIGHTON, MI— Local youth hockey players, coaches, and families gathered this past Saturday, August 8, for the 2nd Annual BIGGBY® COFFEE Hockey Club Season Kickoff Extravaganza at BIGGBY® COFFEE Ice Cube in Brighton. 

The daylong celebration kicked off the 2026-27 hockey season with an outdoor ball hockey tournament played by 10 teams, a coaches clinic and skills competition that 87 young players participated in, and an afternoon celebrity game featuring 17 stars, including Olympic Gold Medalist Kirsten Simms and Winnipeg Jets player Vlad Namestnikov.

“Days like this are exactly why we got into youth hockey. Seeing this rink packed with kids, families, and coaches, all excited for the season ahead reminds us about what matters: connecting with our hockey community and growing the game,” said Mike McFall, Co-Founder and CEO of BIGGBY® COFFEE. “Getting to share it with athletes like Kirsten and Vlad made it even more special, and we’re proud to keep investing in moments like this for Michigan.”

Families in attendance also took part in drink sampling from BIGGBY® COFFEE, hands-on craft stations, and merchandise sales throughout the event at the rink, with door prizes announced at halftime of the celebrity game.

Now in its second year, the Season Kickoff Extravaganza has grown into a signature community event for The BIGGBY® COFFEE Ice Cube Hockey Club, bringing together new and returning hockey families ahead of the upcoming season. The event reflects BIGGBY® COFFEE’s ongoing commitment and collaboration with Black Bear Sports Group to support youth hockey and keep the sport accessible for players and families across Michigan. 

Special thanks to the following partners and individuals for making this event possible: Michigan Elite Sports Academy, BIGGBY COFFEE STORE of Brighton, BIGGBY COFFEE STORE of South Lyon and New Hudson, Kensington, our volunteers, Black Bear Sports Group, the celebrities who participated in our game, youth hockey coaches, parents of the participants, and of course, all of our participants. 

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KALAMAZOO, MI — Local families, coaches, and hockey and skating enthusiasts gathered this past Saturday, August 22, for a Fall Program Review and Open House at BIGGBY® COFFEE Ice Cube – Kalamazoo, celebrating the re-opening of the facility after over a year and showcasing programming ahead of the 2026-27 season.

Hundreds of community members came through the doors over the course of the day to take part in free public skate sessions, Take a Shot at Hockey (TASH) class previews, learn-to-skate sessions, and drop-in programs. Families also had the chance to sample and enjoy food and beverage from CD Top Shelf Sports Bar and Concessions and Chop Detroit, and browse the OYG pro shop.

“This rink sat closed for nearly a year, and days like this are why we invested in bringing it back,” said Bryce Goulah, General Manager of BIGGBY® COFFEE Ice Cube – Kalamazoo. “Seeing families walk through, try a class, and ask questions about the fall season is exactly what this open house was for. Keeping hockey accessible and affordable for this community is the whole point.”

Throughout the day, attendees had direct access to arena staff and management to ask questions about fall programming, including youth and adult hockey, skating classes, birthday parties, and drop-in offerings.

“We’ve loved building this partnership with Black Bear Sports Group and this community,” said Mike McFall, Co-Founder and CEO of BIGGBY® COFFEE. “Getting to be part of bringing this rink back to life, and back to families who missed it, is exactly the kind of investment in Michigan we want to keep making.”

The event reflects Black Bear Sports Group’s investment in restoring the rink’s cooling systems, ice resurfacing, lighting, and safety infrastructure after nearly a year of closure, as well as its ongoing commitment, in partnership with BIGGBY® COFFEE, to keeping hockey and skating accessible for families across Kalamazoo and Michigan.

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Learn to Play Hockey Participation Surges at Black Bear Michigan Arenas

Sunrise, FL, May 11, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Black Bear Sports Group, one of the nation’s premier operators of ice arenas and youth hockey leagues, today announced continued progress in expanding access to youth hockey across its Michigan arenas, where free and low-cost entry-level programming continues to welcome new players to the sport during the 2025-26 season.

From July 2025 through February 2026, Black Bear’s Michigan arenas introduced more than 850 first-time players to hockey through the company’s free Take a Shot at Hockey (TASH) program, which is in its inaugural year. Over the same stretch, year-over-year participation in Learn to Play Hockey at Black Bear’s East Lansing arena climbed more than 200%.

Click here to read the full article.

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Free ‘Take a Shot at Hockey’ Program Has Brought More Than 3,200 New Players to the Sport in Inaugural Season

SUNRISE, Fla., May 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Black Bear Sports Group, one of the nation’s premier operators of ice arenas and youth hockey leagues, today announced significant momentum across its growth of the game programming, with 10,000 kids participating in free and entry-level hockey programs at Black Bear arenas so far this season.

More than 3,200 first-time players have been introduced to the sport through BBSG’s free Take a Shot at Hockey (TASH) program in its inaugural year. BBSG’s entry-level player development programs are also thriving, with more than 5,600 players currently building their skills in Black Bear’s Learn to Play Hockey programs and managed clubs, and an additional 1,100 players progressing through NHL/NHLPA Learn to Play programming hosted and supported at Black Bear arenas.

Click here to read the full article.

The post Black Bear Sports Group Introduces 10,000 Kids to Hockey This Season Through Free and Entry-Level Programs at Arenas Nationwide first appeared on Black Bear Sports Group.

Sunrise, FL, April 08, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Black Bear Sports Group, one of the nation’s premier youth and junior hockey development organizations, is celebrating the 2025-26 junior hockey regular season as the most successful in its history. Three of its teams—the Youngstown Phantoms of the United States Hockey League (USHL), the Maryland Black Bears of the North American Hockey League (NAHL), and the PAL Jr. Islanders of the National Collegiate Development Conference (NCDC)—delivered record-setting performances at the team and individual levels, and saw top program alumni make their mark on NCAA Division I Ice Hockey and the National Hockey League (NHL). The Phantoms and Black Bears also each captured regular season championships in their respective leagues.

Full story – click here.

The post Black Bear Sports Group Celebrates Banner Year Across Junior Hockey Programs first appeared on Black Bear Sports Group.

NASHUA, N.H., March 13, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The United States Premier Hockey League (USPHL), the largest junior hockey league in North America, announced today that seasoned Deputy Commissioner Tony Zasowski will take over as Commissioner effective on March 23rd. Mr. Zasowski replaces Murry N. Gunty, Founder of Black Bear Sports Group (BBSG) and current Interim Commissioner. Mr. Zasowski brings a wealth of hockey experience as a player and as an operating executive. Mr. Zasowski manages all leagues and tournaments for BBSG overseeing more than 1,000 teams and operating hundreds of events throughout the country.

“I have enjoyed my tenure as Commissioner of the USPHL, but it was always my intention that my role was transitional,” said Commissioner Murry N. Gunty. “I took over the league at a critical moment in the evolution of Junior Hockey and I believe I now leave the league in its strongest position in its 12-year history.” Mr. Gunty spent two years as the interim commissioner.

“I am honored to take over as Commissioner of the USPHL,” said Tony Zasowski. “What Mr. Gunty did to transform the USPHL was extraordinary, particularly helping to reposition the NCDC into one of the strongest Tier 2 leagues operating throughout North America, with teams in both the US and Canada. I speak for the League in thanking him for taking over during a turbulent period in the league’s history, bringing critical leadership and stability to the League. I look forward to building upon his legacy.”

“We would like to thank Mr. Gunty for his guidance and leadership over the past two years in helping guide our league,” said Bobby Reiss and Jim Ford, Executive Committee Members. “Mr. Gunty helped transform our League into the number one Junior Hockey League at both the Tier 2 and Tier 3 levels in North America.”

About The United States Premier Hockey League
Founded in 2012, the United States Premier Hockey League (USPHL) is comprised of over 150 teams, fielding more than 20,000 players aged 8-21 in more than 100 organizations across the North, South, Midwest, West, and Canada. Our Junior Divisions consist of the National Collegiate Development Conference (NCDC), a tuition-free junior hockey division, and our Premier and Elite Divisions, all geared toward college and pro placement. Our youth and midget divisions (operated through the Tier 1 Hockey Federation) field full season 8U through 18U teams. The USPHL has sent over 8,000 players to all levels of college hockey all-time including over 4,200 into NCAA college hockey, with more than 550 advancing to NCAA Division I hockey. The USPHL has also had 18 players who played in the NCDC drafted by NHL teams. For more information, visit usphl.com.

https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/03/13/3255539/0/en/United-States-Premier-Hockey-League-Announces-Tony-Zasowski-as-New-Commissioner.html

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