Veteran Ogden Mustangs forward Jake Meure had, by many measures, a strong 2021-22 campaign. He registered 59 points (16-43-59) in 49 games and finished second on the team in scoring. However, headed into this past off-season, something continued to eat away at the Fremont, Calif., product.
“Last year wasn’t my best season and I wanted to prove this year to everyone that I am way better than what last year showed,” Meure started. “I’ve been working for the past few years on goal-scoring ability and I feel I’m finally getting rewarded for it.”
The rewards and accolades have come in bunches in 2022-23. He’s been the Mountain Division Forward of the Week three times, and the Division’s Forward of the Month for October – and December! The in-season accolades have been capped off with the most prized of all, a commitment to Buffalo State College (NCAA Division III) to continue his hockey career.
“After talking with the coaches and friends who have lived in Buffalo, I knew it was the place to be,” Meure said.
Meure becomes just the second Mountain Division player, the other being Northern Colorado goaltender Charles-Anthony Barbeau, to earn an NCAA Division III college commitment for 2023-24 (Barbeau will be at SUNY-Fredonia next year, but has already reported to the team in the second semester of this year).
For Meure, the opportunity and challenge at Buffalo State College was the deal-maker.
“There is an opportunity [at Buffalo State College] to step in as a freshman and earn potentially top line minutes. It was too hard to pass up,” he remarked.
Meure has never taken anything for granted. When he began his ‘Stang career three years ago, it wasn’t a guarantee that top line minutes would come his way. He began his career with the ‘Stangs as one of 16 rookies in 2020-21, their inaugural USPHL Premier season. By the end of that season, Meure had become a lineup staple and has missed just five regular season games in his three-year career.
Meure’s impressive success on the ice, having already shattered his career high in goals with 32 and his meteoric rise up the franchise scoring charts, has in some ways obscured the contributor that he has been off the ice.
“I’ve had the pleasure and honor of doing community work all throughout Ogden over the past three years. We owe the Ogden community that for all of the tremendous support that they give us during the season,” Meure said.
Meure’s work in both the Ogden community at large and the hockey community hold a special place in his heart.
“Working with the Jr. Mustangs [youth] program is always a blast. They are such big supporters of ours,” he added.
The commitment to Buffalo State College underscores that his Ogden career is coming to a close and has eased the mental burden that can affect the final year of junior hockey.
“It’s definitely made me more focused and relieved. I don’t feel like I have to worry about where I’m going to play college hockey and I can just go out there and play,” Meure reflected.
Indeed, play he shall. The ‘Stang star will look to continue his climb in the franchise record books and work to deliver Ogden an elusive division championship this March.
