An affiliate of Black Bear Sports Group Inc. has acquired its 13th ice arena in Stockholm, the Chevy Chase, Maryland-based sports investment company announced on Friday.
Skylands Ice World houses two NHL-sized ice rinks, an athletic training gym, a dance studio and is home to a youth hockey club and various local high school and recreational hockey teams.
“Skylands is a fantastic complement to our east-coast, and in particular our Mid-Atlantic, rinks,” Murry Gunty, CEO and founder of Black Bear. said. “The Arena has been a staple in its community as a safe and fun gathering place for local children and families. We plan to invest in the rink and continue to grow hockey and ice sports participation in the area. Skylands is truly a community rink and we are thrilled to become the steward for this important local asset.”
Skylands is Black Bear’s fourth acquisition in New Jersey, it said. The company also owns and operates the Ice Land Skating Center in Hamilton, The Jersey Shore Arena in Wall and Aspen Ice in Randolph.
“The Skylands Kings are a strong youth hockey club focused on player development,” Ryan Scott, vice president of Black Bear, said. “Through our network of coaches and junior hockey teams within the Black Bear portfolio, we offer players in our ice rinks unique opportunities to advance from youth hockey to junior hockey and to college and beyond.”
