Meyer signs to play at West Point

Players are taking the next step toward achieving their goals.
SPECIAL TO THE VINDICATOR
BOARDMAN -- Mahoning Valley Phantoms left winger Owen Meyer has signed a letter of intent to play college hockey at West Point.
"I came here to get a college scholarship and the chance at a quality education," Meyer said. "My main goal was to become well-rounded. From that, you improve everything about you, both on and off the ice."
Meyer is the third Phantoms player to commit to an NCAA program this season and the second to commit to West Point.
Last month, defenseman Bret Larson declared his intention to join the Cadets, who play in the Atlantic Hockey Association (AHA).
Larson will know next month whether he will join Meyer this fall or head to New York in 2007. On the same day as Larson's announcement, Marc Menzione committed to Bentley College.
"They're the best place in the country to get an education; they're up there with Harvard," said Meyer of the U.S. Military Academy. Meyer is considering majoring in either business or law.
"Many leaders in the business world come from the Army. I know that I want to be in a leadership role. I don't want to be working in a cubicle for a living."
Athletically, West Point offers an environment that was hard for Meyer to pass up.
"I took a visit to their facility and it was mind blowing," he said. "They have a state of the art facility and great people. I watched them practice; their work ethic is unbelievable and their competitiveness is something I really liked."
Meyer, whose family splits time between Littleton, Colo., and Sioux Falls, S.D., joined the Phantoms last season and recorded 10 goals and 12 assists for 22 points in 51 games.
Midway through this season, he eclipsed those numbers. Entering this weekend, Owen has 17 goals and 18 assists for 35 points in 50 games to rank fifth on the team in scoring. But all of his 17 goals have been scored at even strength, which is tied for 16th in the North American Hockey League, and a very impressive total for a second line forward.
Tough to classify
"He's tough to classify. Owen is a strong five-on-five player. He's created a lot; he draws a lot of penalties because of his size and skill and he can dictate the flow of the game," Phantoms coach Bob Mainhardt said. "He's developed so much as a player and a young man. We expect a lot from him in the playoffs. I couldn't be more pleased with his development."
Meyer said he has other parts of his game that he would like to polish before entering college.
"I used to think too much. But I worked hard on being consistent night after night. Now, I want to work on finishing my scoring chances," he said. "As you get older in hockey, they get harder to come by. The best college players only get one or two a night. I also want to get more weight in the off-season and get some added strength."