The path to college hockey starts in youth AAA and primarily runs through the four American junior hockey leagues with the most commitments: the USHL, NAHL, USPHL. Black Bear Sports Group owns and operates franchises in each league: USHL – Youngstown Phantoms; NAHL – Maryland Black Bears; NCDC – Mercer Chiefs, Seacoast Spartans, and PAL Jr Islanders, USPHL Premier – Mercer Chiefs and PAL Jr Islanders; and USPHL Elite – PAL Jr Islanders. Black Bear Sports Group is committed to advancing its youth AAA players through its system to gain college exposure.
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YOUNGSTOWN PHANTOMS - USHL
2023 Clark Cup Champions
- Member of the United States Hockey League (USHL), the only Tier I Junior "A" league in the U.S.
- 400+ college committed players in 2022-23 and 557 all-time NHL alumni
- 57 players drafted in the 2022 NHL draft
- All travel and player expenses paid by the club
MARYLAND BLACK BEARS - NAHL
2023 East Division Champions
- Member of the North American Hockey League, a Tier II Junior "A" hockey league with 29 teams across 17 states
- 300+ NCAA commits each season (~70% Division I)
- All travel and most player expenses paid by the club
MERCER CHIEFS - NCDC AND USPHL PREMIER
- Members of the National Collegiate Development Conference (NCDC), an East-coast based Tier II Junior "A" hockey league and the USPHL Premier
- 52 NCAA commits in 2021-22
- All travel and most player expenses paid by the club
SEACOAST SPARTANS - NCDC
- New member of the National Collegiate Development Conference (NCDC)
- All travel and most player expenses paid by the club
PAL JR ISLANDERS - NCDC, USPHL PREMIER, USPHL ELITE
- Members of the NCDC, the USPHL Premier and Elite Leagues , East-coast based Tier III Junior "A" hockey leagues
- Previous 5 Seasons: 232 NCDC NCAA Division 1 Commitments, 43+ NCDC Alumni drafted in the NHL
- 2022-23 season: 38 college commitments to date total at Premier and Elite (NCAA Division III and ACHA)
The 2024 Futures Camp provides younger players exposure to Junior ‘A’ scouts and coaches from the USHL, NAHL, NCDC and select NCAA Division I and III coaches. Take the ice with junior and college coaches and experience high-intensity practices at the next level. Off the ice, attend an informational session on the path to college hockey through American Junior Hockey leagues and pick the minds of the best coaches in the nation. All Futures participants will receive written evaluations from junior and college coaches at the conclusion of the weekend.
Each camp will have four on ice sessions and one off ice presentation. The schedule below is approximate and start times may vary at each location based on ice availability.
Friday
7:00 pm - 9:00 pm Ice Session
9:30 am - 11:00 am Ice Session
1:30 pm College and Junior Hockey Presentation
3:30 pm - 5:30 pm Ice Session
Sunday
PITTSBURGH
Date: June 7th-9th
Location: Printscape Arena in Canonsburg, PA
Birth Years: 2009-2011
Coaches Attending: Paul Kirtland (Ohio State Assistant Coach) and Andy Contois (Youngstown Phantoms Associate Coach)
Price: $399 (Includes jersey and player evaluations)
MARYLAND
Date: June 21st-23rd
Location: Piney Orchard Ice Arena in Odenton, MD
Birth Years: 2009-2011
Coaches Attending: Karlis Zirnis (RPI Assistant Coach), Clint Mylmok (NAHL Maryland Black Bears Head Coach), Jason Deskins (Youngstown Phantoms GM), and Ryan Kosecki (Youngstown Phantoms GM)
Price: $399 (Includes jersey and player evaluations)
NEW JERSEY
Date: July 26th-28th
Location: Ice Land Skating Center in Hamilton Township, NJ
Birth Years: 2009-2011
Coaches Attending: Shane Talarico (Princeton University Assistant Coach) and Rob Broderick (NCDC Mercer Chiefs Head Coach)
Price: $399 (Includes jersey and player evaluations)
BUFFALO
Date: August 2nd-4th
Location: LECOM Harborcenter in Buffalo, NY
Birth Years: 2009-2011
Coaches Attending: Brandon Gotkin (Youngstown Phantoms Assistant Coach)
Price: $399 (Includes jersey and player evaluations)
LONG ISLAND
Date: August 9th-11th
Location: The Rinx in Hauppauge, NY
Birth Years: 2009-2011
Coaches Attending: Mike Marcou (NCDC PAL Jr Islanders Head Coach)
Price: $449 (Includes jersey and player evaluations)
MICHIGAN
Date: August 9th-11th
Location: Southside Ice Arena in Byron Center, MI
Birth Years: 2009-2011
Coaches Attending: Don Elland (Carolina Hurricanes Scout), Current AHL Assistant Coach, Sam Shaheen (Maryland Black Bears Assistant Coach), Ryan Kosecki (Youngstown Phantoms GM)
Price: $399 (Includes jersey and player evaluations)
CONNECTICUT
Date: August 23rd-25th
Location: Enfield Twin Rinks in Enfield, CT
Birth Years: 2009-2011
Coaches Attending: Karl Linden (Youngstown Phantoms Player Development Director)
Price: $399 (Includes jersey and player evaluations)
WHAT YOU GET
EXPOSURE TO NCAA, USHL, NAHL, AND NCDC SCOUTS AND COACHES
GAIN VALUABLE ON AND OFF ICE HOCKEY KNOWLEDGE
ALL PLAYERS RECEIVE INDIVIDUAL EVALUATIONS FROM COACHES
CAMP ISSUED MERCH AND GEAR
Please note camps are non-refundable
Questions? Email our camp staff at: camps@blackbearsportsgroup.com