April 2016 marked the official launch of Neutral Zone (https://neutralzone.net), a first-of-its-kind amateur hockey scouting website. Since the organization was formed over a year ago, Neutral Zone staff have worked to build a robust database of men’s NCAA – Division 1 and 3 – and Canadian Hockey League prospects from throughout North America.
The site has since become a one-stop-shop for scouting reports, player rankings, player profiles and feature stories on the top amateur hockey prospects in the United States and Canada, and is quickly becoming a valued resource to college, major junior and professional coaches and scouts from a variety of leagues.
In an effort to help promote the continued development of women’s ice hockey, assist collegiate coaches and recruiters in identifying and evaluating top women’s hockey prospects, and provide players and parents with quality, credible information, Neutral Zone will begin providing in-depth coverage of women’s hockey beginning in early 2017 when the women’s side of the website is launched.
The opportunity to expand the business and bring a brand new tool to women’s hockey is a natural move for the organization, and one that has Neutral Zone staff excited for the future.
“What we are bringing to girl’s hockey, both at the youth and college levels, has never been done before and we take this task very seriously,” said Jessica Cameron, Neutral Zone’s recently-hired Director of Women’s Hockey. “We believe that the Neutral Zone women’s page will fill a critical information void that currently exists in women’s hockey and will serve as an important tool for coaches and players alike.”
Cameron was most recently an NCAA All-American goaltender for Castleton University. Prior to her time at Castleton, she was a member of the 2010 Junior Women’s Hockey League Champion’s the Warner Warriors, and also played New England Prep School hockey at Brewster Academy.
“We interviewed several candidates for the women’s director role to spearhead this endeavor, but it was very clear that Jess was the right person given her passion, experience and skill,” said Steve Wilk, president of Neutral Zone.
Joining Cameron on Neutral Zone’s women’s hockey staff is Tim Manastersky, who will manage the group’s Ontario scouting staff. Manastersky, a former head coach for York University (CIS) and the Mississauga Chiefs, brings a wealth of experience to his role with Neutral Zone.
Neutral Zone will be kicking off its women’s hockey scouting efforts on June 2 at the Rush hockey tournament in Brampton, Ontario.
Neutral Zone is currently seeking knowledgeable and experienced hockey scouts to evaluate female players ages 14 to 18 in New England, Michigan, New Jersey, Illinois, Minnesota, and Western Canada. Experienced scouts would include current/former hockey scouts, current/former coaches, and former players.
To apply for a scouting opportunity with Neutral Zone, please email your resume, a brief written description of your hockey experience, and an explanation of why you would be an asset to the Neutral Zone scouting team, to Jessica Cameron jcameron@nz2.wpengine.com.
