Esmark Expands Global Sports Commitment With Sponsorship of Slovakian Professional Hockey Team

SEWICKLEY, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan 19, 2026--

Esmark Sports Management and Entertainment, a wholly owned subsidiary of Esmark Inc., announced today it is the team sponsor and co-owner of a newly established professional hockey team in Košice, Slovakia. This partnership underscores Esmark’s commitment to supporting sports development and strengthening community connections through the unifying power of athletics.

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The Hockey Club Esmark Košice team began competing in the 2HL division of professional ice hockey in Slovakia in the 2025-2026 season. The roster features players from Košice who have been competing for clubs across Slovakia.

“The creation of this team is more than just hockey. It’s about pride, opportunity and giving the people of Košice a team of their own to cheer for,” said Richard E. Bouchard, President of Esmark Sports Management and Entertainment. “We’re proud to help bring talented athletes back home to represent their city, and to create a foundation that will inspire the next generation of players.”

Jergus Spodniak, the team’s founder, co-owner and goaltender envisioned building a team that unites local talent living in Košice but previously lacked the opportunity to represent their hometown on the professional stage. According to Spodniak, Esmark’s sponsorship ensures the financial stability and professional resources needed for the team to establish itself in Slovakia’s hockey landscape. Beyond the immediate financial support, the partnership reflects a long-term vision of building both a competitive team and a lasting community institution.

“The HK Esmark Košice team will not only provide athletes with the chance to wear their hometown colors but also give fans a team that authentically represents the pride and spirit of their community,” said Spodniak.

By joining the Hockey Club Esmark Košice team, Esmark is building on its established track record in sports development. Esmark became a majority owner of the North American Hockey League (NAHL) Johnstown Tomahawks in 2012 and played a key role in guiding the team’s growth and success. Under Bouchard and Esmark’s leadership, the Tomahawks not only thrived on the ice, but also became a cornerstone of community engagement and youth hockey development.

“Jim [James Bouchard] and Esmark demonstrated an exceptional ability to build a program that was competitive, sustainable and community-focused,” said Mark Frankenfeld, Commissioner of NAHL. “Their work with the Johnstown Tomahawks had a lasting impact on the league, community and growth of the sport, and I’m excited to see that same passion and commitment brought to The Hockey Club Esmark Košice.”

“Esmark and the Bouchard family have a proven track record of investing in sports and enhancing communities. From their work with FC Pittsburgh, to the Esmark Stars and more, they not only invest financially, but also with heart and commitment. It’s really something special to watch and be a part of,” said Mario Lemieux, National Hockey League (NHL) Hall of Fame, former owner of the Pittsburgh Penguins, and arguably one of the greatest hockey players of all time.

Since its founding in 2003, Esmark Inc. has a longstanding history of dedication to athletic advancement. Jim Bouchard formerly co-owned the Johnstown Tomahawks, and the company now representing over 2,000 student athletes, including those affiliated with Esmark Stars, Esmark All-Americans, Quaker Valley Hockey, FC Pittsburgh and Esmark Youth Development.

About Esmark, Inc.

Esmark, Inc. is a diversified, privately-held family company with a portfolio of industrial companies with strong roots in the steel industry. Over the years, Esmark has diversified its interests and operations into a number of businesses engaged in the industrial and commodity sectors. Esmark (a former publicly traded company on NASDAQ: ESMK) has focused on several key industries including steel services, oil and gas exploration, aviation, real estate, professional services, technology and youth sports development. The company is also an active corporate citizen in the communities it serves, having committed more than $10 million in philanthropic support of a wide range of humanitarian, education, family wellness and youth sports programs in Pennsylvania, Illinois and internationally. www.esmark.com

Esmark’s sponsorship of the Košice team ensures the financial stability and professional resources needed for the team to establish itself in Slovakia’s hockey landscape. Beyond the immediate financial support, the partnership reflects a long-term vision of building both a competitive team and a lasting community institution.

Esmark Sports Management and Entertainment, a wholly owned subsidiary of Esmark Inc., is the team sponsor and co-owner of a newly established professional hockey team in Košice, Slovakia.

CONCORD, N.C. (AP) — Kyle Busch died after severe pneumonia progressed into sepsis, resulting in rapid and overwhelming associated complications, according to a statement released by his family.

Dakota Hunter, vice president of Kyle Busch Companies, said in a news release the family received the medical evaluation on Saturday.

Busch, a two-time NASCAR champion, died at 41 on Thursday, a day after passing out in a Chevrolet simulator.

Sepsis is considered a life-threatening medical emergency that occurs when the body has an extreme, overactive response to an infection, causing the immune system to damage its own tissues and organs, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Typically the immune system releases chemicals to fight off pathogens like bacteria, viruses or fungi, but with sepsis the response goes into overdrive. The results can cause widespread inflammation, form microscopic blood clots and make blood vessels leak.

Busch was thought to have had a sinus cold while racing at Watkins Glen on May 10 and radioed in to his team saying that he needed a “shot” from a doctor after the race.

However, he bounced back to win the Trucks Series race at Dover last weekend, and then he finished 17th in the All-Star race on Sunday.

Busch, who was preparing to race Sunday at the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, was testing in the Chevrolet racing simulator in Concord on Wednesday when he became unresponsive and was transported to a hospital in Charlotte, several people familiar with the situation told The Associated Press.

During the emergency call placed late that afternoon, an unidentified caller calmly told the dispatch: “I’ve got an individual that’s (got) shortness of breath, very hot, thinks he’s going to pass out, and is producing a little bit of blood, coughing up some blood.”

The caller said Busch was lying on the bathroom floor inside the complex and told dispatch “he is awake,” according to audio provided by the Cabarrus County Sheriff’s Office. The man then gave directions on where emergency responders should go and asked that they turn off any sirens upon arrival.

NASCAR driver Brad Keselowski said he knew Busch wasn’t feeling well recently.

“Yes, but I won’t go into any specifics," Keselowski said. “But then when he ran the Truck race last week, those (thoughts) were honestly kind of erased in my mind.”

Keselowski said running multiple races on the same weekend can be difficult on a driver's health — but most don't want to miss a race for fear of being replaced.

“There’s no shortage of drivers that would love to take my seat or anybody else’s seat if we weren’t feeling well, and I think every driver feels that pressure,” Keselowski said. “All athletes do. It’s not unique to NASCAR in that sense. We’re all thinking to ourselves, ‘I don’t wanna be replaced.’ ... So you try to power through it the best you can."

Busch won 234 races across NASCAR’s top three series over his two-decade career, more than any driver in history.

All 39 drivers in the field for Sunday’s race will race with a black No. 8 decal on their car to honor Busch.

AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing

An in memoriam photo of former driver Kyle Busch is displayed on the video board of the backstretch at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Friday, May 22, 2026, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Matt Kelley)

FILE - Kyle Busch waits for the start of a NASCAR Xfinity Series auto race Saturday, June 19, 2021, in Lebanon, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey, File)