The way the 160-pound former Western Kings forward sees it, the game has evolved to the point that smaller players can hold their own if they have skill and speed on their side.
“Speed is more of a factor now in hockey, so I think my speed will help me,” Young said Monday afternoon.
Young, a Stephenville Crossing native who is five-foot-11 on skates, is excited about finding out how he stacks up on the mainland as a member of the Nepean Raiders of the Canadian Central Hockey League and its CCHL Tier 2 affiliate Ottawa West Golden Knights.
“It’s a good opportunity and a lot of exposure,” Young said of his decision to head east this year in his pursuit of a college hockey gig in the United States.
Young graduated from the Kings at the end of last season and immediately began pondering his future when it comes to hockey. He was afforded an opportunity to try and crack the Raiders roster at an open tryout and he did enough to get invited to the team’s main camp and eventually earned a spot with the team. Young was told he is the team’s 13th forward so he will be the first one to get called up from the Golden Knights in case of injury or if he happens to play well enough to be inserted into the lineup.
He will practice with both teams when he can in an effort to get lots of time on the ice
and he’s going to do what he can to earn his way.
The 18-year-old is a tenacious player who has always played bigger than he is so he has no plans to change the aggressive style of play that made him a valuable performer for the Kings for three years.
