At same time, BBSG participation continues to grow, in large part due to availability of free and low-cost entry programs for kids

BETHESDA, MD — New data from the Aspen Institute’s Project Play demonstrates the importance of Black Bear Sports Group’s (BBSG’s) work to bring more children into the game of hockey even as overall youth hockey participation continues to decline. BBSG, a national owner and operator of ice arenas and youth hockey leagues, grew total player participation 9% from the 2024-25 season to the 2025-26 season. Yet, a new Aspen Institute Report demonstrates that core participation in ice hockey among children fell 16.7% in children ages 6-12 and 15.4% among teenagers ages 13-17 nationally between 2019 and 2025.

“At a time when youth hockey participation is trending in the wrong direction, we’re seeing the opposite,” said Andrew Goldman, Co-President of Hockey at Black Bear Sports Group. “That isn’t a coincidence. It comes from making the game more affordable and more accessible, whether that’s through Take a Shot at Hockey, Learn to Play, or scholarship support through our Foundation. We want every kid who wants to play this game to have a real path to do it, and that commitment extends directly to girls hockey, where we’ve kept growing our programming right alongside national momentum.”

In the markets where it operates, participation at Black Bear Sports Group rinks increased from 5,515 to 6,008 players last season. BBSG’s mission is to make hockey more accessible for the next generation of hockey players and create new and improved pathways for hockey players to achieve their goals at the junior, collegiate and professional levels of the sport. The organization points to its free and low-cost entry programs as key drivers of its growth.

In 2025, BBSG launched Take a Shot at Hockey (TASH), which helps first time players ages 4-9 learn the game at zero cost. In its inaugural season (2025-2026), TASH had over 3,700 kids complete its program. Once a player graduates from TASH, they can enroll in BBSG’s Learn to Play Hockey (LTPH) program, which provides free head-to-toe hockey equipment for players to keep as they learn the game. More than 7,800 kids were helped by BBSG’s Learn to Play program and the NHL/NHLPA’s Learn to Play programming that is hosted and supported at BBSG arenas. BBSG has also pioneered similar products for adults, allowing them to try hockey for the
first time at little to no cost.

Girls’ core participation rose from 33% in 2019 to 38% in 2025, the highest level since at least 2012 and the fourth consecutive year of growth, narrowing the gender gap with boys to within five percentage points for the first time. BBSG considers growing girls hockey a cornerstone of its mission, currently hosting 11 girls’ clubs.

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.

The post Even As Youth Hockey Participation Declines Nationwide, Black Bear Sports Group Continues to Grow the Game first appeared on Black Bear Sports Group.

Each year, BBYHF scholarships are open to any eligible player 18 and under, regardless of rink or club affiliation. This year’s recipients represent a wide range of youth hockey associations, development programs, and competitive teams nationwide. They come from 21 states, from Florida to Wisconsin to Nevada, and a majority of recipients skate at rinks that are not affiliated with Black Bear Sports Group.

“Every one of these families made the decision to keep their kid in hockey, and the Foundation exists to make that decision a little easier,” said Kevin Kuby, CEO of Black Bear Sports Group. “Hockey teaches lessons that kids carry with them long after they stop playing, and no family should be priced out of that. We’re proud to support 73 players this season, and we’ll keep looking for ways to grow the game and make it more accessible.”

The Black Bear Youth Hockey Foundation, a 501(c)(3) established in 2020, is part of Black Bear Sports Group’s broader effort to remove cost as a barrier to the game, alongside free entry-point programs like Take a Shot at Hockey, which introduces kids ages 4-9 to hockey at no cost, and Learn to Play Hockey, which has provided 5,600 kids across the United States with free equipment as they learn the game. Families can learn more about the Foundation and future scholarship opportunities at blackbearsportsgroup.com/scholarship. The names and home rinks of this year’s recipients are embedded below. Where a player chose to remain anonymous, only their home rink is identified.

2026-27 Black Bear Youth Hockey Foundation Scholarship Recipients

Virginia
Ada Arias – Capital Clubhouse
Fabian Jessel – Ashburn Ice House
River Morrow – Richmond SkateNation

Nevada
Caleb Green – Hylo Arena
Nicolette Gentile – City National Arena
America First Center Player

Colorado
Charlee Tschida – Sports Stable
Sebastian Gallegos – River City Sportsplex
West Virginia
Finnley Satake – Spencer Family YMCA Ice Rink
Annelise Satake – UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex

California
Alyssa Lee – Great Park Ice & FivePoint Arena

Florida
Liam Kearney – Pines Ice Arena

Indiana
Joey Wilk – Midwest Training and Ice

Kentucky
Chyna Taylor – Lovell Arena

Massachusetts
Ares Renner – Enfield Twin Rinks

North Carolina
Scarlett Renkosiak – Chilled Ponds Ice Sports Complex

Oklahoma
Grayson Sandoval – Ford Ice Center Bellevue
South Carolina
Carolina Ice Palace Player

Texas
Taylor Floyd – Plano

Wisconsin
Ara Landskroner – Madison Ice Arena

Pennsylvania
Zachary Chiffens – Bucks County Ice Sports Center
Daniil Koshlachev – Ice Land Skating Center
Michael Edelstein – ProSkate Ice Arena
Chase Hughes – Tarken Rec Center
Colten Tencer – Printscape Arena
Bentley Sadowski – Printscape Arena

Tavin Simonik – cfsbank Event Center / Palmer Imaging Arena
Madison Mankus – Steel Ice Center
Tyler Mankus – Bucks County Ice Sports Center
Chase Mankus – Bucks County Ice Sports Center

Nathan Mankus – Steel Ice Center
Yahor Putau – Pennsauken Skate Zone
Samuel Mecchia – Frozen Pond Arena
Tyler Volgraf – Revolution Ice Garden
Taylor Volgraf – Revolution Ice Garden
Shaun Kolczynski – Pittsburgh Ice Arena
Marcus Duffy – Roy McKnight Hockey Center
Victor Demaio IV – Pennsauken Skate Zone
Kolby Brightbill – Steel Ice Center
Jack Burke – Lancaster Ice Rink
Arona Jones – Oaks Center Ice
Northeast Skate Zone Player

New Jersey
Russell Brunkovsky – ProSkate Ice Arena
Brayden Houser – Iceland
Igloo Ice Rink Player
Maye Carney – SportsCare Arena – Randolph
Bucks County Ice Sports Center Player
East Brunswick Arena Player

Illinois
Haydn Warfel – Canlan Ice Rink – Romeoville
Vincent Liss – Center Ice of DuPage
Matteo Velazquez – Center Ice of DuPage
Gavin Allen – Seven Bridges Ice Arena
Patty Braudy – Rosemont Ice Arena
The Edge Player
Darien Sportsplex Player

Maryland
Joey Escobar – Piney Orchard Ice Arena
Michael Poresky – Ice Works
Two Piney Orchard Ice Arena Players
Maksim Zabrodotskii – The Gardens Ice House
Kenzie Correa – Columbia Ice Rink
Logan Correa – Columbia Ice Rink

Michigan
Jacob Napier – Toledo Ice House

Maddox Lamb-Venecia – Holland Ice Arena
Vincent Lamb-Venecia – Holland Ice Arena
Charlotte McEwan – BIGGBY® COFFEE Ice Cube – East Lansing
BIGGBY® COFFEE Ice Cube – East Lansing Player
Greyson Gill – BIGGBY® COFFEE Ice Cube – Ann Arbor
Braeden Knoph – Wexford Civic Center

Ohio
Fox Stoll – Deep Freeze Ice Arena
Goggin Ice Center Player New York
Julien Peever – City Ice Pavilion City Ice Pavilion Player

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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.

The post Black Bear Youth Hockey Foundation Awards Dozens of Need-Based Scholarships for Youth Hockey Players first appeared on Black Bear Sports Group.

EAST LANSING, MI — Players from the Michigan State University Women’s ACHA Division 1 Hockey Team are serving as on-ice instructors for Take a Shot at Hockey (TASH) class at BIGGBY® COFFEE Ice Cube – East Lansing, introducing 60 girls ages 4-9 to the game at no cost. The classes are part of a new partnership between Black Bear Sports Group (BBSG) and the MSU program to grow girls hockey in East Lansing.

The partnership builds on a development pipeline already connecting the two programs: nine current MSU players spent time on BIGGBY® COFFEE Girls rosters, and MSU Head Coach Deb Bolino serves as BIGGBY® AAA Girl’s Hockey Director.

“Nine of the players on our roster developed in the BIGGBY® COFFEE AAA Girls program, and they know firsthand what it means to have a place to start in this game,” said Bolino. “Now they get to be that start for the next group of girls in East Lansing. Our players loved being on the ice to teach TASH classes when they aren’t playing in their own games and give back to the local community that supports us.”

Take a Shot at Hockey, Black Bear’s free introductory program, introduces kids ages 4-9 to the game of hockey at no cost, and pairs with Learn to Play, which has provided 5,600 kids with free equipment as they learn the game.

“When young girls step on the ice and their instructors are college hockey players who started exactly where they are, that’s how a game grows,” added Scott Branovan, Senior Director of Sales and Marketing for Black Bear Sports Group. “This partnership is what our girls hockey pipeline is all about — players developing in our programs and then turning around to grow the game for the next generation.”

The partnership reflects Black Bear Sports Group’s ongoing commitment to growing girls hockey across Michigan and keeping the game accessible and affordable for families.

###

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.

The post Michigan State Women’s Club Hockey Team Partners with Black Bear Sports Group to Grow Girls Hockey in East Lansing first appeared on Black Bear Sports Group.

CROMWELL — Black Bear Sports Group has signed a long-term agreement with Ivy Rehab Physical Therapy to bring an on-site clinic to Champions Skating Center in Cromwell, Connecticut, opening in early October. The new partnership will give athletes and families at Champions direct, on-site access to physical therapy and sports medicine support, all without having to make another appointment across town. Ivy Rehab Physical Therapy has also become the official physical therapy partner of Champions Skating Center as part of the naming rights of one of the ice rinks at the arena.

“We’re excited to bring Ivy Rehab’s physical therapy services directly into Champions Skating Center,” said Bryan Baker, Clinic Director at Ivy Rehab Physical Therapy. “Being on-site means we can support these athletes earlier and more consistently, whether that’s treating an injury, helping a player return to the ice safely, or simply teaching families how to prevent injuries before they happen.”

The new clinic will operate alongside Champions’ existing partnership with Middlesex Orthopedic and Spine Associates, giving families at the rink access to two experienced sports medicine providers under one roof. Together, these partnerships will allow athletes to get injury assessments, treatment, rehabilitation support, player screenings, and injury prevention education without needing to schedule an appointment elsewhere.

“Our goal is always to make sure our athletes and families have what they need right here at the rink,” added Scott Branovan, Senior Director of Sales and Marketing for Black Bear Sports Group. “Partnering with Ivy Rehab means our players at Champions can get expert care and guidance without adding another stop to an already busy schedule, and that makes a real difference in helping our players be their best.”

This partnership builds on similar sports medicine relationships Black Bear Sports Group has established at rinks across the country, including MSU Healthcare Sports Medicine in East Lansing, MI; University of Michigan Physical Therapy in Ann Arbor, MI; UPMC in Delmont and Southpointe, PA; Access Sports Medicine and Orthopedics in Exeter, NH; SportsCare Physical Therapy at Skylands, Randolph, and Jersey Shore, NJ; and Total Spine and Orthopedics in Randolph, NJ. Together, these partnerships reflect Black Bear’s ongoing effort to give players and skaters access to first-class sports medicine care when they need it, at the rinks where they already spend their time.

The post Black Bear Sports Group Announces New Partnership with Ivy Rehab Physical Therapy at Champions Skating Center first appeared on Black Bear Sports Group.

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

The post Olympic Gold Medalist Laila Edwards to Drop First Puck at Youngstown Phantoms Game first appeared on Black Bear Sports Group.

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/.

The post Black Bear Youth Hockey Foundation Opens Round Two of Scholarship Applications for Families first appeared on Black Bear Sports Group.

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.

The post Black Bear Sports Group Acquires Glacier Pointe Ice Complex in Port Huron first appeared on Black Bear Sports Group.

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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. 

The post BIGGBY® COFFEE Hockey Club Celebrates 2nd Annual Season Kickoff Extravaganza at BIGGBY® COFFEE Ice Cube- Brighton first appeared on Black Bear Sports Group.

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.

The post BIGGBY® COFFEE Ice Cube – Kalamazoo Celebrates Fall Program Review and Open House Ahead of the 2026-27 Season first appeared on Black Bear Sports Group.