YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Youngstown Phantoms (the “Phantoms”) of the United States Hockey League (“USHL”) and Black Bear Sports Group are pleased to announce the immediate hiring of Jason Deskins and Ryan Kosecki as Co-General Managers and Co-Vice Presidents of Hockey Operations for the Phantoms. Jason joins the Phantoms from his role as Assistant General Manager and Director of Scouting with the Omaha Lancers, also of the USHL. Ryan is currently Assistant General Manager and Scout for the Maryland Black Bears (the “Black Bears”) and will continue with the dual roles.
Jason joins the Phantoms after helping lead the Lancers to a second-place overall finish in the Western Conference in the 2021-21 season. Jason previously was the Assistant GM and Head Scout of the Black Bears and is also the current head coach of the Honeybaked Midget Minor program in Detroit where he has led the team to a National Championship. He was also a very successful collegiate player at Miami University and completed his college career as Captain of the Redhawks. Jason will also help oversee scouting and player recruiting for the Black Bears.
Ryan is expanding his role after helping lead the Black Bears to their first ever playoff appearance, series win and appearance in the Eastern Conference Finals. Previously, Ryan was an assistant coach with the Muskegon Lumberjacks of the USHL. Ryan also currently coaches the highly ranked Fox Motors 2005 team.
The Phantoms are also pleased to announce that they have installed a new, dedicated fitness and workout room in their home rink, the Covelli Center. This new training area represents the first full-time fitness facility in the history of the Phantoms; it will allow the players to enhance their development in the same building where they practice and play games. In addition, Black Bear Sports Group has hired former professional hockey coach, Oktay Armagan, as skills coach for both Junior teams.
“We wish to thank Coach Patterson for the fine work he did the past two years while performing the role of Head Coach and General Manager,” said Keith Primeau, President of Hockey Operations for the Phantoms. “We are thrilled to have Jason and Ryan on board so Brad can return full-time to coaching where he has achieved great success over the years for the Phantoms.”
“Given our poor performance on the ice the past two years, particularly on the defensive end where we were consistently among the worst in the league, we felt we owed it to our players, fans and our whole organization to make meaningful changes to our staff, our recruiting team and our overall player development process,” said Murry N. Gunty, Co-Owner of the Phantoms and CEO of Black Bear Sports Group. “Jason and Ryan have achieved great success in both Junior and Youth Hockey and we believe that they will do great things for the Phantoms going forward.”
“I am thrilled to join Black Bear Sports Group to lead the Youngstown Phantoms and assist with the Maryland Black Bears,” said new Co-GM, Jason Deskins. “The Phantoms have a rich history. The USHL is the finest Junior League in the country and I look forward to working with Keith, Andrew and Brad to lead them back to success on the ice.”
“I am excited to build on our success with the Black Bears by expanding my hockey role inside of Black Bear Sports Group with the Phantoms,” said Co-GM, Ryan Kosecki. “Jason and I have known each other for a long-time and I look forward to working with him to help bring the Phantoms back to the top of the Eastern Conference.”
“Jason and Ryan will be huge assets to both the Phantoms and all of the Junior Hockey operations at Black Bear Sports Group,” said Andrew Goldman, President of Junior Hockey for Black Bear and President of the Youngstown Phantoms. “They are proven winners with deep connections throughout the hockey world. They will be able to bring together the entire Black Bear Youth and Junior Hockey network to continue our ascension program and recruit elite players to join our Junior teams.”
Assistant coaches Jeff Potter and Justin DiMartino along with head scout Casey Kesserling have been relieved of their duties effective immediately.
About the Youngstown Phantoms
The Youngstown Phantoms are a Tier I Junior ice hockey team that plays in the Eastern Conference of the United States Hockey League. The team plays home games at the 5,200-seat Covelli Centre in Youngstown, OH. The team is Co-owned by Bruce Zoldan, Founder and CEO of Phantoms Fireworks, the largest retail fireworks business in the United States and Murry Gunty, CEO of Black Bear Sports Group, the largest youth hockey and ice rink business in North America.
About the Maryland Black Bears
The Maryland Black Bears are a Tier II junior ice hockey team that plays in the Eastern Conference of the North American Hockey League. The team plays home games at Piney Orchard Ice Arena in Odenton, MD and are owned by Black Bear Sports Group. Founded in 2018, they are the first Junior Hockey team to be based out of Maryland.
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 targets ice arenas in metropolitan areas with compelling demographics, existing youth hockey clubs and a National Hockey League club presence. The largest owner/operator of ice rinks in the U.S., Black Bear’s footprint totals 27 facilities across the United States with 50 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.
