Scouting Reports

Stoney Creek Bantam Showcase Report

Posted on September 10, 2016

Neutral Zone spent the day at the Stoney Creek Bantam Showcase, focusing specifically on Gateway Arena. The weekend from an organizational stand point was run very smoothly. No scheduling issues and an overall very scout-friendly event. As for the talent, both individual and team performances ran the spectrum. Below are the players whose on-ice effectiveness…

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“Not Big Enough”: The Drew DeRidder Story

Posted on September 9, 2016

  Don’t tell Drew DeRidder that he’s not big enough to stop the puck. The “undersized” goalie has accomplished more as a sixteen-year-old than most youth players do in their whole career. Hockey is a way of life in the DeRidder household as both his father and grandfather played and coached the game. For Drew,…

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Home Grown: The Joey Strada Story

Posted on September 6, 2016

  At 5’3” and 130 lbs Joey Strada doesn’t look like a hockey player. He certainly doesn’t look like a division one talent…until the puck drops. The fast, cerebral playmaker displays an up-tempo game with slick hands and quick feet. For Strada, who grew up in Scottsdale, AZ, ice hockey was not the state pastime,…

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Beantown Classic Pro Division: Top 100

Posted on September 6, 2016

NZ headed to Marlboro, Massachusetts for the Summer Beantown in mid-August with a focus on the futures and pro divisions. The showcase was very well done. Teams had jerseys with matching socks, numbers and names that were visible and respected coaches on the bench. Each team had 16 skaters and the games were all

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Beantown Classic Summer Showcase: Futures Division Top 85

Posted on September 4, 2016

The Beantown Classic is one of the premiere hockey tournaments in New England and provides scouts and coaches the opportunity to see some of the best players in the region play against one another in a single setting. It also jumbles up rosters and ages which is nice to see. Due to conflicts with

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From the Backyard: The Brian Halonen Story

Posted on September 2, 2016

  Most fans know Minnesota is a special hockey community, and Brian Halonen’s parents demonstrated the unique dedication to the game that defines the region by building a rink in their yard every year for Brain and his older brother. Brian’s pride in his home state is clear “I played my youth hockey in my…

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Samantha Smigliani Commits to Colgate for 2019

Posted on September 2, 2016

California Wave standout and current 10th grader, Samantha Smigliani, recently committed to Colgate University (2019). Neutral Zone has had an opportunity to watch Samantha throughout the year, including at the Stoney Creek Midget Tournament. Samantha caught our eye, and certainly others, as she earned an invitation to the U18 Player Development Camp in St. Cloud, MN….

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