Maryland Black Bears Hockey (NAHL)

What Maryland Black Bears Hockey (NAHL) does

Maryland Black Bears Hockey is a privately held junior ice hockey organization founded in 2018 that competes in the East Division of the North American Hockey League (NAHL). The franchise is based in Odenton, Maryland, plays its home games at Piney Orchard Ice Arena (8781 Piney Orchard Pkwy), and is owned by Black Bear Sports Group, Inc., founded by Murry Gunty. The organization fields one team of approximately 26 employees, drawing roster talent via the NAHL Entry Draft, Futures Draft, and a multi-region scouting network spanning the US Midwest, Canada, and Europe.

The company operates a hybrid revenue model combining live event entertainment, player development services, and community-based fundraising. Ticketed products include single-game, season, group, and promotional packages; ancillary revenue streams include Bruno's Party Packages for birthdays, a Hockey FUNdraising program (20% of ticket revenue back to organizations selling minimum 20 tickets), youth development camps (Main Camp, Goalie Camp, High Performance Summer Training with Pro Motion Hockey), team merchandise, and the Host A Black Bear billet family program. Corporate sponsorships are sold through a dedicated account manager and include MedStar Health, Atlantic Coast Charters, Raising Cane's, and Perfect Plumbing.

The business is structured around a vertical player development pathway linking AAA affiliates (Team Maryland, Mercer Chiefs, Flyers Elite), an EHL affiliate (Philadelphia Revolution), and a USHL affiliate (Youngstown Phantoms), with shared hockey operations leadership under VP Keith Primeau. Distribution combines direct-to-consumer ticket sales via a proprietary platform, box office, group sales, NAHL TV streaming, and multi-channel social engagement (Facebook, X, Instagram, TikTok). The 2025-26 season produced franchise records (49-6-4, 102 points, 16-game win streak, +112 goal differential, league-best power play and penalty kill), culminating in the franchise's first Robertson Cup Championship on May 22, 2026.

Name

Maryland Black Bears Hockey (NAHL)

Legal name

Maryland Black Bears

Website

https://marylandblackbears.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Maryland Black Bears are a privately held NAHL junior hockey franchise based in Odenton, Maryland, founded in 2018 and owned by Black Bear Sports Group, Inc. They deliver live game entertainment at Piney Orchard Ice Arena, youth player development camps, corporate sponsorships, and a multi-tier affiliate player pathway serving aspiring junior hockey players aged 16-20 and the Central Maryland community.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Junior Ice Hockey (Sports Entertainment)

NAICS

Sports Teams and Clubs (711211)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

Winter Sports Teams/Clubs (Ski, Snowboard, Bobsleigh, etc.) (MPAKABAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Ice Rinks & Winter Sports Facilities (MPAKAEAG), Local Amateur Clubs & Community Sports Organizations (MPAKACAE)

Keywords

• Junior hockey league
• Ice hockey team
• Youth hockey development
• Hockey training camps
• Sports entertainment tickets

Headquarters

HQ city

Odenton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Revenue from single game tickets, season tickets, group tickets, and promotional packages sold to fans attending games at Piney Orchard Ice Arena
2. Sponsorships: Corporate sponsorship deals with local and regional businesses including Atlantic Coast Charters, MedStar Health, Raising Cane's, Perfect Plumbing, and others
3. Youth Camps and Training Programs: High Performance Summer Training program and Main Camp generating revenue from player registration fees
4. Fundraising Services: Hockey FUNdraising program where organizations earn 20% of total ticket revenue through unique purchase codes (minimum 20 tickets)
5. Birthday Party Packages: Bruno's Party Packages offering birthday experiences at games

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Maryland Black Bears operate a junior ice hockey franchise competing in the NAHL East Division, delivering live game entertainment at Piney Orchard Ice Arena in Odenton, Maryland. Core offerings include single-game and season ticket sales, group tickets, youth hockey development camps (Main Camp, Goalie Camp, High Performance Summer Training), fundraising programs for community organizations, birthday party packages, and merchandise sales through an online team store. The team also operates a billet (host family) program to house players during the season.

Product overview

The Maryland Black Bears are a junior ice hockey team in the NAHL East Division, offering a portfolio of live event entertainment and player development services. The core offering is game attendance through single-game tickets, season ticket packages, and group bookings, complemented by fundraising programs for organizations. The team generates additional revenue through Bruno's Party Packages for birthday celebrations and operates a Team Store for merchandise sales. Player development services include Main Camp, Goalie Camp, and a High Performance Summer Training Program in partnership with Pro Motion Hockey. The team also facilitates billet housing for players through its Host A Black Bear program.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Single Game Tickets Individual game admission tickets for home games at Piney Orchard Ice Arena, sold to fans and families attending NAHL games.
• Season Tickets Full-season ticket packages providing admission to all home games with benefits including priority seating and exclusive access.
• Group Tickets Discounted bulk ticket purchases for groups attending games, with fundraising options available for organizations.
• Hockey FUNdraising Fundraising program where organizations earn 20% of total ticket revenue through unique purchase codes, requiring minimum 20 ticket sales.
• Bruno's Party Packages Birthday party experiences at games, including party registration and special accommodations for young fans.
• Goalie Camp Annual goaltender-specific training camp held June 16-17 for players born in 2006-2010.
• Main Camp Multi-day player development camp held June 18-21 for selected goalies, forwards, and defensemen born in 2006-2010.
• High Performance Summer Training Program Intensive off-season training program in partnership with Pro Motion Hockey featuring daily on-ice and off-ice training for elite players born 2003-2010.
• Team Store Online merchandise shop offering team apparel and collectibles.
• Host A Black Bear (Billeting Program) Host family program placing junior hockey players with local families during the season.

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Youngstown PhantomscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUSHL affiliate team. Black Bear Sports Group ownership acquired stake in the Youngstown Phantoms. Keith Primeau serves as President of Hockey Operations for both organizations. Provides developmental pathway for players to advance from NAHL to USHL.
• Philadelphia RevolutionminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAffiliate organization for player development and pathway support.
• Team Maryland AAAcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTier 1 AAA hockey program affiliate providing youth development pathway. Russell Smith coaches 2007 and 2010 birth years. Austin Luboff serves as Bantam Assistant Coach and Player Personnel Liaison.
• Mercer Chiefs AAAcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAAA hockey program affiliate. Rob Broderick serves as General Manager of Mercer Chiefs hockey program and Ice Land Arena. Chris Barceless serves as Mercer Chief's Hockey Director.
• Flyers Elite AAAminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAffiliate organization for player development.
• Piney Orchard Ice ArenacoreOthersHome arena facility located at 8781 Piney Orchard Pkwy, Odenton, MD 21113. Primary venue for all home games, practices, and team operations.
• MedStar HealthcoreOthersProvides Head Athletic Trainer Amber Radtke MS, LAT, ATC, NASM-CES. Sports medicine partnership through MedStar Sports Medicine. Radtke also serves as Head Athletic Trainer for USA Lacrosse Women's 6's team.
• Pro Motion HockeycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for High Performance Summer Training program. Professional coaching staff comprised of former NHL, AHL, and European professional hockey players. Provides customized daily on-ice and off-ice training program.
• Atlantic Coast ChartersminorOthersOfficial team charter bus partner for team travel.
• Chesepiooc Real Ale BreweryminorOthersHost location for away game watch parties and community viewing events.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Northeast Generals: NAHL franchise in the Northeast, comparable in size, league economics, and team-based revenue model. Direct competitor in the same junior hockey talent and sponsorship ecosystem.
• Lone Star Brahmas: NAHL team that defeated Maryland in the 2024 Robertson Cup final. Same league, similar junior hockey operation, comparable size and franchise structure as a basis for benchmarking performance and economics.
• Johnstown Tomahawks: NAHL East Division peer with regional geographic overlap in the Mid-Atlantic. Competes for the same player-recruitment funnel, billet families, and regional sponsorship dollars as Maryland.
• Minnesota Wilderness: NAHL opponent that Maryland defeated for the 2026 Robertson Cup. Operates as an NAHL junior hockey franchise with a similar team-based revenue model, development pathway, and league-level economics.
• Philadelphia Rebels: NAHL peer with overlapping Mid-Atlantic geography. Operates the same junior hockey franchise model, competes for the same pool of draft-eligible players and regional sponsorships.
• Janesville Jets: NAHL franchise operating with the same junior hockey team structure and revenue model. Comparable headcount scale and franchise size to the Maryland Black Bears.
• Bismarck Bobcats: Established NAHL franchise in the Central Division. Directly comparable as a same-league junior hockey team with similar revenue streams and operational scale.
• New Jersey Titans: NAHL East Division rival and geographic neighbor. Plays in the same league, same division, with a comparable junior hockey model serving a nearby Mid-Atlantic market; natural head-to-head competitor for draft-eligible players and regional sponsorships.
• Fairbanks Ice Dogs: Long-established NAHL franchise. Operates the same league structure with comparable revenue model and junior hockey franchise economics to the Maryland Black Bears.

Emerging players

• Youngstown Phantoms: USHL affiliate owned by Black Bear Sports Group. Operates a higher-tier junior hockey league (USHL) with comparable team structure and is part of Maryland's official player-development pathway.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/BlackBearsNAHL
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@NAHLTV
• Facebookfacebook.com/BlackBearsNAHL
• Instagraminstagram.com/blackbearsnahl
• TikToktiktok.com/@nahlblackbears
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/maryland-black-bears-hockey

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Maryland Black Bears Hockey (NAHL)