United States Premier Hockey League Announces Tony Zasowski as New Commissioner

USPHL • Elite Conference • United States Premier Hockey League Announces Tony Zasowski as New Commissioner

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Former Notre Dame Goalie and Current Deputy Commissioner to Take Over March 23, 2026. 

The United States Premier Hockey League (USPHL) has announced that Deputy Commissioner Tony Zasowski will become the league’s new Commissioner, effective March 23, 2026. Zasowski replaces Murry N. Gunty, Founder of Black Bear Sports Group (BBSG), who has served as Interim Commissioner for the past two years.

Zasowski brings extensive experience both as a former player and as a hockey operations executive. In his role with Black Bear Sports Group, he has overseen leagues and tournaments involving more than 1,000 teams and hundreds of events across the country.

Gunty said he always viewed his time as commissioner as a transitional role, stepping in during a critical moment in the evolution of junior hockey. He noted that the league is now in the strongest position in its 12-year history.

Zasowski said he is honored to take on the role and credited Gunty for helping transform the league, particularly for strengthening the National Collegiate Development Conference (NCDC) into one of the top Tier II junior leagues in North America with teams in both the United States and Canada.

USPHL Executive Committee members Bobby Reiss and Jim Ford also thanked Gunty for his leadership, noting that the league has grown into the leading junior hockey league at both the Tier II and Tier III levels in North America.

Founded in 2012, the USPHL includes more than 150 teams and over 20,000 players aged 8-21 across more than 100 organizations in the United States and Canada. The league’s junior divisions include the tuition-free NCDC along with the Premier and Elite divisions, all focused on advancing players to college and professional hockey. The league’s youth and midget teams operate through the Tier 1 Hockey Federation.

The USPHL has sent more than 8,000 players to college hockey, including over 4,200 to NCAA programs and more than 550 to NCAA Division I. In addition, 18 former NCDC players have been selected in the NHL Draft.