Seventh Circuit Slashes Rink Owner’s Antitrust Claims over Amateur Hockey Affiliation

By Robert E. Freeman, Jonathan Mollod, Melissa Felcher, of Proskauer   In the most recent face-off between ice rink operator Black Bear Sports Group, Inc. ("Black Bear") and affiliate regulator Amateur Hockey Association of Illinois ("AHA" or "the Association"), AHA won the drop and secured the puck. Black Bear had alleged an antitrust injury based on its argument that multiple AHA requirements precluded it from obtaining a charter that would have allowed it to sponsor a Tier II amateur hoc