MICHAEL YOUNG RETURNS TO THE RUSH

(RAPID CITY, SD) – The Rapid City Rush, proud ECHL affiliate of the NHL’s Arizona Coyotes and AHL’s Springfield Falcons, announced earlier today that second-year pro defenseman, Michael Young, has re-signed with the Rush for the upcoming 2015-16 ECHL season. Young becomes the fourth defenseman signed to the Rush, joining Brett Kostolansky, Kirill Tulupov, and his former college teammate announced earlier this afternoon, Brian O’Rourke.

Young spent last season on an AHL contract with the Providence Bruins, and started the year with the South Carolina Stingrays, competing in 33 games while notching 2 assists with just 15 PIM. The 6’3”, 215-pound blue-liner was then assigned to the Rush in the final moments of the regular season and became an immediate impact player on the ice, recording a lone assist in the final 8 games of the regular season. He followed this with a 12-game playoff run that saw him record 6 points (2 G, 4 Ast), including the second-fastest playoff goal in Rush history 29 seconds into the start of Game 1 against Quad City in the first round of the Kelly Cup Playoffs.

“It feels unbelievable to be back and be a part of such a hard-working organization. I knew after my first full week in Rapid that I didn’t want to play anywhere else,” Young said on his return to the Rush. “My expectation for the team is that everyone will come to camp ready to win and continue on the success we finished off with last season. Personally, I don’t want to miss a beat. I want to continue to play as physically as I did when I first came here and hope my game will be consistent and reliable.” When asked about playing with his former college teammate and defense partner, Brian O’Rourke, Young concluded: “He’s a great all-around player, a strong leader, and a close friend. I’m ecstatic that we’ll both be wearing a Rush uniform. He’ll fit in well and bring so much to our success next season.”

“When the opportunity came to acquire Michael last season, we didn’t know what to expect. We knew we were getting a player that was eager to play and contribute,” Associate Coach Mark DeSantis said of Young. “When we first played him in Brampton last season, we realized we had a great defenseman on our hands. We slowly built his confidence leading into the playoffs, and as he got comfortable he shined on the ice, becoming one of our best players in the postseason. It was a no-brainer to bring him back. We’re excited to have him for a full season with the Rush.”

A native of Calgary, Alberta, Young, now 26, enters his second season of professional hockey in both his career and the ECHL. Prior to turning pro, he spent four seasons at the University of Nebraska-Omaha in the NCAA, where he recorded 68 points (13 G, 55 Ast) in 148 games with his alma mater.

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