USHL'S PHANTOMS & NAHL'S BLACK BEARS JOIN JUNIORHOCKEY.IO The Phantoms and Black Bears are both operated by Black Bear Sports Group.

The United States Hockey League’s (USHL) Youngstown Phantoms and the North American Hockey League’s (NAHL) Maryland Black Bears have accepted invitations to join JuniorHockey.io as Development & Content partners. The Phantoms and Black Bears, both operated by Black Bear Sports Group, are the premier clubs of an eight-team affiliated junior program.

The Youngstown Phantoms are thrilled to partner with JuniorHockey.io, said Director of Junior Hockey and President, Andrew Goldman. JuniorHockey.io's mission to ensure Junior Hockey Teams are adhering to the highest standards is aligned with our philosophy with both The Youngstown Phantoms and Maryland Black Bears and we look forward to helping convey this message alongside JuniorHockey.io by sharing our methods and ideology.

“We are excited to have two teams, representing the top two tiers of USA Hockey’s junior structure, making a decision to contribute to what we are trying to do with JuniorHockey.io,” Stephen Heisler said over the weekend. “Both clubs have shown their commitment to not only maintaining operational standards for their level of play, but also exceeding them. Both organizations operate with a high degree of professionalism and are benchmarks for other clubs to follow.”

The Youngstown Phantoms are part of the United States Hockey League (USHL). The USHL is the country’s top junior hockey league, classified as Tier I. Prior to the 2009 season, the Phantoms were a member of the North American Hockey League (NAHL) for six seasons. The Phantoms have seen over 150 players commit to NCAA Division I schools, and 29 Phantom Players have been drafted into the NHL. Multiple alumni have signed NHL contracts including Brett Murray, Scott Mayfield, Jiri Sekac, Andrej Sustr, Nathan Walker, and Kyle Connor. The Youngstown Phantoms are co-owned by Bruce Zoldan and Murry Gunty. Zoldan is CEO of Phantom Fireworks; America’s largest fireworks company. Gunty is the founder and CEO of Black Bear Sports Group, Inc.

Black Bear Sports Group, Inc. is a private company founded by Murry Gunty that acquires and manages ice arenas and junior hockey franchises throughout North America. Black Bear is focused on creating world-class ice facilities and junior hockey programs while promoting the development of players at all levels. The organization currently owns and operates multiple junior hockey teams, including the Youngstown Phantoms (USHL) and Maryland Black Bears (NAHL), and is dedicated to elevating the sport through excellence in coaching, development, and community engagement.

JuniorHockey.io is a premier digital platform dedicated to the latest news, developments, and content surrounding junior hockey in North America. Through strategic partnerships with top junior hockey teams and organizations, JuniorHockey.io delivers unparalleled coverage and insight into the sport’s dynamic landscape. Our Development & Content Partnerships provide junior hockey clubs with opportunities to collaborate on content creation, share developmental insights, and engage with a dedicated fan base while promising to maintain operational standards set for each club’s level of play.