Atlantic Youth Hockey League

Cameron commits to RPI

Release Date : 08/20/2016

HACKENSACK, N.J. – The Atlantic Youth Hockey League and the North Jersey Avalanche are pleased to announce that forward Matthew Cameron (Berwyn, Pa.) has committed to Rensselaer Polytechnic University (RPI) for the 2019-20 season.

Cameron is entering his second season with the Avalanche midget program, joining North Jersey in 2015. The Berwyn, PA native also spent time with the Philadelphia Junior Flyers (2009-12) and the Philadelphia Little Flyers (2012-14).

“I chose RPI because they offered everything I wanted in a college hockey program,” Cameron said. “They have a great coaching staff, an amazing hockey team, and excellent academics.”

“Seeing many different schools helped me figure out what I wanted in a college hockey program,” Cameron added. “I committed now because I really loved RPI and the coaching staff and I knew that was where I wanted to play.”

Joining the Avalanche from the prestigious Little Caesars program, Cameron made an immediate impact on the 2015-16 AYHL Midget 16U National regular-season champion, scoring 19 goals with 19 assists in 28 games, adding 4 goals and 7 assists in the playoffs.

“Matt’s scoring ability and play-making ability is what separates him,” said North Jersey’s 16U National head coach Vinny Smith. “He is a hybrid player, able to play a power forward, physical game, and can also play an elite skill game.”

“He is a pure goal scorer who sees the ice at a high level and plays hard for his teammates,” Smith continued.

In addition to his time in the AYHL, Cameron was a key contributor to the Avalanche’s championship winning team in the Tier 1 Elite Hockey League, scoring 15 goals and eight assists in 30 regular season games, adding an additional goal in the playoffs.

“Away from the ice, he is a program builder,” Smith commented. “Everyone in the Ice House loves seeing Matt. He’s close not only with his teammates, but with a lot of the players on other Avalanche teams. It speaks volumes to how great of a young man he is. Matt is a huge part of the culture we are building.”

Cameron continued his offensive prowess at the 2016 Toyota/USA Hockey Tier I National Championships, scoring three goals with one assist in three round-robin games. His three goals were tied for the fifth-most among all players.

Cameron became the 10^th player from the Avalanche’s 2015-16 midget program to commit to a NCAA Division I program.

“We ant young men who want to play at the next level, but that’s not enough,” Smith offered. “We only want those athletes who want to be humble and treat people the right way. Matt is a great example of that model in the way he carries himself and treats people. We couldn’t be prouder of his and RPI is getting a great young man.”

“I am really excited about the future and I can’t wait to play at RPI!” Cameron said.

The Atlantic Youth Hockey League is the USA Hockey-sanctioned Tier I AAA youth hockey league of the Atlantic District. From Connecticut to Maryland, the AYHL’s membership is comprised of over 100 teams, representing four districts, and is spread across six playing divisions. The AYHL’s mission is to develop young players with competition, fun, and good sportsmanship, and move them on to the next phase of their hockey career. With a distinguished alumni list of players that spent a portion of their playing career in the AYHL, today’s players choose to play in the AYHL knowing that it is a proven stepping stone for those serious in their hockey pursuits.

For more information on the AYHL, log on to http://www.atlantichockey.org/ayhl.php or on Twitter @AYHL or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/TheAYHL