Bethesda, MD – Today, the Tier 1 Hockey Federation “THF” is proud to announce the formation of the THF Western Conference. This conference will compete at the 14U, 15U, 16U, and 18U age levels whereas the Champions at each level will compete in the United States Premier Hockey League “USPHL” Cup in March against winners from the THF South and USPHL North Conferences. As part of the expansion West, the THF has partnered with the Exposure Series which will provide for convenient game play that will count toward the THF league standings.
The THF mission to provide Competition, Exposure and Advancement continues to be at the core of the exciting expansion West “said Black Bear Sports Group CEO and Founder Murry Gunty”, “We are proud to have an outstanding array of inaugural members of the THF West including the Colorado Springs Tigers, Golden State Elite, Northwest Stars, Ontario Jr. Reign, St. Francis (Red Raiders), Tahoe Hockey Academy, Vegas Jr. Knights, and Wasatch Renegades.
“Our formula is simple and unwavering; to provide our members professional, full-time management focused on elite, balanced competition at each birth year level, convenient cost-effective game schedules and a pathway to college for all of our players”, said THF Commissioner Tony Zasowski, “ we are thrilled to be able to support these inaugural clubs that are part of the THF West expansion”.
About the Tier 1 Hockey Federation
The Tier 1 Hockey Federation provides elite-level competition through an unbalanced schedule among Tier 1 and elite clubs on the East Coast. The THF is managed by full-time professional staff and initially has over 100 elite or AAA teams from 9U-18U committed for its inaugural 2022-23 season. The THF brings together clubs from multiple leagues and states and is the only organization whose members operate franchises in the top junior hockey leagues in the US for NCAA Division I commitments: USHL, NAHL, NCDC and the top two junior hockey leagues for NCAA Division III commitments, the USPHL Premier Division and the Eastern Hockey League.
About Exposure Series
The Eastern Exposure Series is a USA Hockey Sanctioned, Tier 1 youth hockey showcase series that provides elite AAA games throughout the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast for Bantam and Midget teams while providing maximum collegiate and junior hockey exposure for its club members and families. The EES is managed by SuperSeries and had over 120 AAA teams during its inaugural 2021-22 season.
About USPHL/THF Collaboration
The United States Premier Hockey League (“USPHL”) and the Tier 1 Hockey Federation (“THF”) began a partnership in March. Teams at all ages from Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania will play in the THF-USPHL South Division (“THF South”). The THF South will continue with its unbalanced schedule in order to eliminate lopsided games and improve national hockey rankings. Midget (15U, 16U and 18U) teams from Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts will play in the USPHL-THF North Division (“USPHL North”), which will be administered by the THF. USPHL North member club youth teams will remain in their current leagues.
About Black Bear Sports Group, Inc.
Black Bear Sports Group, Inc. is a privately held company formed by Murry Gunty and Blackstreet Capital Holdings, LLC in 2015 that seeks investments in sports and entertainment facilities, teams and youth sports events. Black Bear arenas are clean and professionally managed and offer world-class recreational programs. Black Bear focuses on ice arenas in metropolitan areas with compelling demographics, a National Hockey League club presence and arenas with existing youth hockey clubs. The largest owner/operator of ice rinks in the U.S., Black Bear’s footprint totals 30 facilities across the United States with 55 sheets of indoor ice, four indoor turf fields, 23 youth hockey clubs, four youth hockey leagues (Atlantic Hockey Federation, Atlantic Girls Hockey Federation, Tier 1 Hockey Federation and National Girls Hockey League), the nation’s largest adult hockey organization (Foundry Adult Hockey) and four Junior “A” hockey franchises in the United States Hockey League, North American Hockey League, United States Premier Hockey League and Eastern Hockey League.