All NWHL Teams Now in the Hands of Independent Owners
The National Women’s Hockey League (NWHL) today announced that the Buffalo Beauts and Minnesota Whitecaps have been sold by W Hockey Partners (WHP). The new owner is NLTT Ventures, LLC, an entity that combines NL Sports, led by Andy Scurto, and Top Tier Sports, led by Neil Leibman.
“Since the adoption of the league’s new governance model in October, it has been our goal to attract new owners who are well-capitalized and fully committed to club operations and our vision for this league’s future,†said NWHL Commissioner Tyler Tumminia. “With these two sales, all six teams are now in independent hands and that provides a strong foundation on which to expand opportunities for professional women’s hockey players in North America.â€
As the NWHL transitions from a single entity to a joint venture ownership model, ownership groups are permitted to hold more than one club for a limited period of time. Over time, those owners are required to divest clubs until no ownership group owns more than one team.
Scurto and Leibman have both been involved in the NWHL for several years as WHP investors. Scurto, a member of the league’s Board of Governors, most recently served as WHP President. He’s the founder and former President of San Jose-based insurance software firm ISCS. Leibman, also a member of the Board of Governors, is an original member of the ownership group that purchased the Texas Rangers in 2010 and currently serves as the team’s President of Business Operations and Chief Operating Officer. Scurto will serve as Governor for the Beauts, with Leibman holding the position for the Whitecaps.
“On behalf of NLTT Ventures I want to thank all WHP investors for their support and contributions to the initial development and growth phase of professional women’s hockey,†said Scurto. “Looking ahead, I’m very proud that Neil and I can help advance the NWHL business model and provide Beauts and Whitecaps players with the resources and environment they need to achieve their dreams and be role models for future generations of hockey players.â€
The Beauts are one of the NWHL’s Founding Four teams that competed in the inaugural 2015-16 season and won an Isobel Cup championship in 2016-17. Led by General Manager Nate Oliver, the team has already made their mark this off-season by introducing new head coach Rhea Coad and have announced signings of 11 players to 2021-22 contracts. The Whitecaps captured the Isobel Cup title in their inaugural 2018-19 campaign and advanced to the championship the following two seasons. Program founder Jack Brodt continues to serve as general manager and coaches alongside co-head coach Ronda Engelhardt.
In May the league announced the sales of two other WHP franchises: the Metropolitan Riveters to John Boynton and BTM Partners and the Connecticut Whale to Tobin Kelly and Shared Hockey Enterprises. The sales followed a record-setting Season 6 for league sponsorship activation, broadcast partnerships, and digital fan engagement that led to a doubling of the league’s salary cap. The off-season continues with the 2021 NWHL Draft on June 29 followed by the inaugural NWHL International Draft on July 25.
About the National Women’s Hockey League (NWHL)
Established in 2015, the NWHL was the first professional women’s hockey league in North America to pay its players. The mission of the league is to fuel the continued growth of the sport and brand of pro women’s hockey. The league is made up of the Boston Pride, Buffalo Beauts, Connecticut Whale, Metropolitan Riveters, Minnesota Whitecaps, and the Toronto Six. Visit NWHL.zone and follow on Twitter and Facebook @NWHL and Instagram @NWHL.zone.
Media Contact
Paul Krotz
NWHL Senior Vice President of Communications
647-505-8010
pkrotz@nwhlhq.com
