BLACK BEAR SPORTS GROUP HIRES FIRST EVER FEMALE JUNIOR HOCKEY COACH FOR 2021-22

We’re excited to share that our partner Black Bear Sports Group continues to support women in sports.

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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 of 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.”

The League will be using the GameSheet, Inc. app – iPad-based scoring.  Rosters will be uploaded by League Members / team managers.  The team manager for each League Member will gather the rosters for their team and input them directly into GameSheet.

For general information on frequently asked questions for GameSheet, please visit the following links:

• Account Management: https://help.gamesheet.app/category/48-account-management
• Training Videos: https://help.gamesheet.app/article/29-training-videos

STEPS   https://help.gamesheet.app/article/28-team-user-invitation-email-template

Create Account: Create an account by going to https://gamesheet.app/account/new and completing the registration form.

• Open your web browser and navigate to https://gamesheet.app/account/new.
• Complete all the fields in the registration form.
• Click the “Create Account” button to submit the form.
• Check your email for the account verification email.
• Click the link in the verification email to confirm your account and complete the registration process
  • You will need your Team’s Invitation Code. You may share this Invitation Code with others that you want to be able to view completed score sheets, and or manage your team’s roster.
  • If you already have an account, you can update it to include this new team by clicking on your name in the top right corner of the Dashboard and then Accept Invitation.

Managing your Roster. Once you have created your account, follow the links down from Association, to League, to Season, to Season Teams, and click on your team. From this page, you can manage your roster.  For more information on how to manage your roster, see the GameSheet Knowledge Base article on Roster Management.

Roster Upload:  You can add each player manually OR use your team’s USA Hockey Team ID OR upload through the import template.

• Required fields are: First Name, Last Name, Jersey Number, Position, Birthdate, Shot Hand, Country, State, Committed to (if they are,  if not, leave blank), Bio (input the player’s grad year – 4 digit number, ie 2023).
• Manual – input details in the fields provided. Click EXTENDED ATTRIBUTES, under BIO input the player’s grad year (4 digit number, ie 2023)
• Import template attached. https://help.gamesheet.app/article/14-importing-rosters-via-csv Under BIO column, input the player’s grad year (4 digit number, ie 2023).

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.

“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.

This year was riddled with challenges and we at the NGHL are proud to have been able to successfully run events, providing opportunities for the girls to continue to play this season.

It’s hard to believe that spring is finally here. Let’s hope that soon we can put words like “Pandemic”, “New Norm”, “Pivot” behind us. More than likely COVID has touched every household so let’s take a deep breath and assess what we’ve learned from a girls’ hockey perspective.

We’ve put some thoughts in our end-of-season newsletter (attached) and hope you take the time to read it (and share it) with a light heart after such a tumultuous year.

Best regards,
NGHL TEAM
Kathryn, Sean, Leslie, John and Andrew.

Click below to download the 2020-21 Newsletter PDF and read more. Share it with your club and teammates.

2020-21 NGHL SHOWCASE CHAMPS

Division Champions

12U RED Springfield Jr Thunderbirds

12U BLUE Boston Bkd Beans

14U RED CT Northern Lights

14U BLUE Rome Girls Hockey

16U RED Bay State Breakers

16U BLUE NE Wildcats

19U RED Niagara Purple Eagles

19U BLUE Connecticut Ice Cats

Division Champions

14U Naperville Sabres

16U Naperville Sabres

19U Nashville Predators

Division Champions

12U Carolina Jr Hurricanes

14U Red Team Illinois

14U Blue Team Illinois

16U Dallas Stars Elite

19U Florida Alliance

Division Champions

14U Team Colorado

16U St Louis Blues

19U Blue Seattle Lady Admirals

19U St Louis Blues

EXPOSURE CAMP

Training is part of every ice hockey player’s routine and who better to learn from than select D1, D3, and Prep school coaches. The NGHL College Exposure Camp on Thursday, September 3rd brought together competitive female hockey players and college coaches to train and talk hockey.

The athletes ranged from 13 – 18-year-olds, all striving towards the goal of playing hockey in college. During the day, athletes were given the opportunity to sample various coaching styles while on the ice and got to know the coaches on a personal level. The off-ice discussions included “What it takes to be a College Hockey Player”, “Skills & Conditioning” and “Scholarships & Financial Aid.”

Based on the resounding success of this event, the NGHL will present another camp this season. Stay tuned to our social platforms at @nghlhockey for that update.

CONNECTICUT FACE-OFF

This Labor Day weekend the NGHL hosted the 2020 Connecticut Face-Off. Sixty-nine (68) teams across 5 divisions – 12U – 19U – played across three days – September 4-7, 2020 – in the Simsbury area at the International Skating Center of Connecticut (ISCC), Enfield Twin Rinks, and Bolton Ice Palace. We are grateful to have been able to hold this event in the current climate and hope it was a great way for these teams to kick-off their season.

We also want to thank the players, coaches, and families for respecting the protocols that we had to put in place to ensure we all stay healthy and safe. We had very few issues throughout the weekend and that can only be attributed to the leadership of the programs, and the understanding of the parents, players, and families.

Video highlights from this weekend can be seen in our Instagram Stories Highlights at www.instagram.com/nghlhockey .

This year’s division winners were:

12U RED Springfield Jr Thunderbirds
12U BLUE Lady Boston Baked Beans
14U RED Connecticut Northern Lights
14U BLUE Rome Girls Hockey
16U RED Bay State Breakers
16U BLUE New England Wildcats
19U RED Niagara Purple Eagles
19U BLUE Connecticut Ice Cats

Even before COVID-19 came to town, sports gear was a breeding ground for bacteria and odors. With a return to sports on the horizon, it’s never been more important to get into a routine of cleaning and disinfecting your child’s equipment.

Washing Sports Clothes and Uniforms

Unless your child is wrestling in ancient Greece, they are likely wearing some sort of uniform to game and practices. Use the following tips from The New York Times to thoroughly disinfect and sanitize sports clothes:

• More detergent doesn’t mean cleaner clothes. In fact, using too much detergent and laundry boosters like fabric softener can lead to a build-up that actually absorbs more odor.
• Throw a cup of white vinegar in with a half-dose of laundry detergent to eliminate odors and wash away build-up.
• Wash sports clothes inside out in cold water with sports specific detergents. Toss in a quarter or half cup of vinegar or baking soda for the particularly pungent loads.
• Air dry elastic clothing like football and baseball pants.

Washing Pads and Gear

The best way to maintain sterile, odorless gear is to spray and dry it regularly after use. However, everything needs a periodic deep clean.

• Spray gear with Force of Nature, Clear Gear, or a similar product on the EPA’s Disinfectants for Use Against SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) list.
  Allow the gear to air dry.
• Pads and bags can be washed in the washing machine using the detergent guidelines above. Use gentle settings on top load washers, as the mixer may knick or damage equipment. Set the washer for a large load, pre-wash, and heavy soil level.
• Wash football shoulder pads in a pillowcase with the open end tied.
• Do not machine dry sports equipment as it can lead to warping and malfunction. Instead, hang dry or place on a rack and use a fan to circulate airflow.
• Helmets: wipe down and spray regularly, paying close attention to chin guards. To deep clean, fill a bathtub with warm water and baby shampoo and use a sponge or toothbrush to scrub nooks and crannies.
• Skates, cleats, and shoes: Spray and air dry immediately after use. Insoles can be removed and machine washed, and periodically replaced as needed.

Sterilizing Equipment

Some sports require athletes to touch and share the same equipment. If that’s the case, it’s important to have a plan in place to sterilize equipment and the players using it.

• Encourage players to properly wash hands before and after practice, and keep a bottle of hand sanitizer in the dugout, on the bench, or in the locker room.
• Use sprays and wipes on the EPA’s Disinfectants for Use Against SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) list or make your own CDC recommended cleaning solution: 5 tablespoons (⅓ cup) bleach per gallon of water.
• Per CDC COVID-19 guidelines: “Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces … at least daily, or between uses as much as possible. Use of shared objects and equipment (e.g., balls, bats, gymnastics equipment) should be limited, or cleaned between use by each individual if possible.”
• Reduce the need for shared equipment by encouraging each athlete to use their own batting helmets, balls, bats water bottles, towels, etc.
• Clearly label all gear to avoid mix-ups.

Designate a parent volunteer to frequently disinfect shared items at games and practices.

Repost from SportsEngine. Written by Sam Wigness, Contributor at SportsEngine Inc.

TOP TEN (and more!) SHOOTOUTS!

The word for this 2019-20 season is undeniably SHOOTOUTS! Take a look at some of our top shootouts of the season!

We know that everyone across the nation has been facing a difficult challenge with the coronavirus pandemic.  In this climate, we know hockey may not be your first thought but attached is our March 2020 newsletter highlighting events from 2019-2020, announcing new members (more to come), and outlining a tentative showcase schedule for the 2020-2021 season.  We hope that this provides a welcome distraction at this stressful time.  

Our hearts and thoughts go out to the people who have been affected by this virus and we appreciate the rink owners, programs, the various districts, USA Hockey, in addition to those who are on the front line working to contain the coronavirus.

Stay healthy. Let’s take care of ourselves and each other.

NGHL Newsletter March 2020

THE NGHL IS THRILLED TO SHARE THAT THE CT NORTHERN LIGHTS WILL JOIN THE LEAGUE FOR THE 2020-21 SEASON.  

The CT Northern Lights is the only all-girls ice hockey Tier 1 and Tier 2 hockey program in Northern Connecticut and Western Massachusetts. The program is committed to supporting the development of young women as athletes, leaders, and members of society through a competitive hockey environment that instills life values such as teamwork, sportsmanship, a consistent work ethic, and respect for self and others.

The Connecticut Northern Lights Girls Hockey program was founded in 2000 as part of the Avon-Canton-Farmington-Youth-Hockey organization. Connecticut Northern Lights Girls Hockey, then known as Avon Girls Hockey, had only one U-15 team in the 2000 – 2001 inaugural season. In the 2002 – 2003 season, Northern Lights also added an additional U-15 team and launched the Learn-to-Play and Learn-to-Skate (Foundation) program which was the first team called the Northern Lights. The Northern Lights became a standalone program in the 2003-2004 season. The program moved to the Newington Arena in Newington, CT for the 2003 – 2004 season and started a U-12 team and also a High School team. In the 2004 – 2005 season Northern Lights moved to the International Skating Center of Connecticut in Simsbury, CT, where the Northern Lights call home today. The Northern Lights continues to grow and offer programs to girls of all ages and abilities throughout the state of Connecticut.

The Lights have a great history of players who have gone on to play college hockey. Below is a list of their most recent alumnae and some of their current players who have college commits.

• Grace Melanson – Nichols College (2020)
• Nora Birmingham – Assumption College (2020)
• Kori Bartko – Western New England (2020)
• Samantha Kulman – Kings College (2020)
• Ellen Cook – Utica College (2020)
• Maddy Manser – Nichols College (2020)
• Carly Duval – Assumption College (2020)
• Samantha Ostrowski – Sacred Heart University (2020)
• Abby Harris – Manhattanville College (2020)
• Jill Croteau – Western New England (2020)
• Julia Swanson – Assumption College (2020)
• Andy Chancio – UNE tryout offer (2020)
• Luci Alissi – Keene State (2020)
• Audrey McMillen – Bentley College (2020)
• Brigitte Goeler-Slough – Wesleyan University (2019)
• Aishling Cavanaugh – Salve Regina (2019)
• Meghan Stepka – University of Rhode Island (2019)
• Katheryn Pettibone – Nichols (2019)
• Kathleen Olmstead – Grand Valley State University (2019)
• Jacqueline Howlett – Anna Maria College (2019)
• Kelly Worthington – R.I.T. Club (2019)
• Georgia Kraus – Dartmouth (2019)
• Lindsay Madigan – University of Rhode Island (2019)
• Cassie Nevers – Sacred Heart (2019)
• Meredith Mack – University of Delaware (2019)
• Allison DiPrato – Lebanon Valley College (2019)
• Maya Borden – UMass Amherst (2019)
• Tori Amaral – Salve Regina (2019)
• Nikki Herz – UMass Amherst (2019)
• Rachael DeLong – Sacred Heart University (2019)
• Holley Riva – Elmira (2019)
• Stephanie Nevers – Trinity College (2019)

Girl’s ice hockey is far from being sleepless in Seattle.  Just ask the Seattle Junior Lady Admirals.  The National Girls Hockey League is proud to announce its newest member in the Seattle Junior Lady Admirals for the 2020-2021 Season!

The Seattle Junior Hockey Association is a coed club founded in 1974. The association began hosting all-girl teams in the mid-1990’s.  The program has been home to a number of accomplished female hockey players, including:

• Kelly Stephens – 2006 USA Olympic Bronze Medal Winner and Gopher Grad
• Brooke Whitney – 2002 Patty Kazmaier Award Winner and Northeastern Alum
• Molly Doner  – 2011 National Champion at University of Wisconsin
• Lexi Bender – Current Professional with Boston Pride and Boston College Grad

The amount of registered USA girl hockey players has tripled in the state of Washington over the last 4 years.  With the coming of the newest NHL franchise, the number of girls in the region is expected to triple in size again.  Seattle Junior is working closely with the new NHL Seattle franchise to provide opportunities for girls to play hockey and just recently hosted a try hockey for free in collaboration with the NHL Seattle organization.

In addition, to growing the game for the girls, Seattle Junior will be the host of the Pacific Districts female divisions including teams from California, Oregon, Washington, and Alaska this year and Seattle Junior has been host to both an all-girls Veterans Day tournament and Washington State Female District camp.

The Lady Admirals play local coed teams for league play and participate in a number of all-girls tournaments during the season.  The NGHL will allow the Lady Admirals to play on a national stage with some of the best teams in the country while still having time to play league games locally.

“Seattle Junior is excited to join the NGHL league.  We are committed to the growth of girls hockey and giving our girls the opportunities to play nationally that we believe the NGHL will provide.” – Nick Fouts, Seattle Junior Athletic Director.