Jersey Phillips, a four-star prospect, recently committed to Mercyhurst. The ’02 currently plays for the Buffalo Regals and is slated to play for the Lakers in 2020. Neutral Zone caught up with Jersey Phillips to talk about her youth hockey experience and her recruiting process.
Neutral Zone: When did you start playing? What drove your interest in the game?
Jersey Phillips: I began my hockey career at five years old with the Buffalo Regals. At first I didn’t enjoy the game because I couldn’t skate well and had never had any skating experience. My parents kept pushing me to play and get
NZ: What programs have you played for? How have they helped your development?
JP: I have played house and travel with the Buffalo Regals my whole life and played in tournaments with East Coast Selects. It was to my advantage that I stayed with the same organization because I never felt out of place at a new organization or having a new coach.
NZ: Did you know you were a Division I player before your first call from a DI school, or was it the call that confirmed that?
JP: Before a college coach reached out to my head coach, I didn’t think that I was a Division I hockey player. In fact last summer I didn’t make a camp I tried out for, and all my hopes of playing DI hockey were gone. This past season after our first tournament, my head coach had explained to my father that colleges were interested in me.
NZ: You are living the dream of many other young players. Explain how it feels to achieve this goal of a DI commitment.
JP: It was a dream of mine since the beginning to play Division I college hockey. The fact that it finally came true is unbelievable and gives me a little extra confidence boost moving forward.
NZ: Tell us about your recruiting experience. When did you start receiving interest? Who reached out? Where did you visit?
JP: The first college that was interested in me and contacted my coach was Cornell University in November 2016. I didn’t end up visiting there until late January. Other colleges that reached out included Dartmouth, Princeton, and Harvard.
NZ: How did you make your final decision to play at Mercyhurst? Tell us about some of the factors you and your family evaluated.
JP: When I was younger I had played at Mercyhurst for a few games before, so going into the tour I knew what to expect as far as the rink goes. That made me a little more comfortable, and then when I met the coaches and some of the professors, I knew it was the place for me. Everything on campus was within walking distance and there was a smaller population of students, which was what I was looking for. It also worked out so that my parents would be able to make a game at home because it wasn’t that far of a drive from home.
NZ: There is some misunderstanding with early recruiting amongst the hockey community. Being a player who went through it, give us an idea of what this looks like for you.
JP: Considering I committed in late March of my freshman year, I have a lot of high school and travel hockey left. There is a lot that can happen between now and then. Personally I think that this is more of a motivator than anything and will keep my standards up high for myself.
NZ: What advice do you have for other players who are going through the recruiting process now, or will be soon?
JP: The best advice I can give to anyone going through the recruiting process is to not be scared to ask questions to anyone you know has knowledge on college hockey. Asking questions can only help you further understand. My other tip is to not be scared when making a phone call or talking to a coach. They are trying to sell their school to you as best as they can, so make sure to retain as much information as you can.