MICHAEL YOUNG RETURNS FOR FOURTH STINT

(RAPID CITY, SD) – The Rapid City Rush, proud ECHL affiliate of the NHL’s Minnesota Wild, announced today that long-time Rush defenseman Michael Young will return for the upcoming 2017-18 ECHL season.

Young comes back to the Rush after skating with the club for a second full season, and third time since the team joined the ECHL. The 6’3”, 215-pound blue-liner shattered his career-highs in virtually every statistical category last season, playing in 62 games and registering 13 goals and 20 assists for 33 points, along with a +3 rating. He finished the season as the sixth-leading scorer on the Rush roster, and for his efforts was voted to the ECHL All-Star Team that took on the host Adirondack Thunder in the middle of the season.

“It’s great to be back. Rapid City is my home now, and there’s no other place that I’d want to play,” Young said of his return to the Rush. “I’m very happy with the changes that the organization has made, as well as the decisions Coach Tetrault has made in bringing in a new crop of players to make this tenth year anniversary season one to remember.

“Personally, I want to continue to give everything I have night in and night out, whether it’s scoring, playing physically, or simply being a two-way defenseman,” Young continued. “I have high hopes and expectations for this upcoming season, as I’m sure the fans will as well once they see the group that has been put together for this historic season.”

“We’re so excited to have Michael back for the upcoming season. He had a great year last year, being an ECHL All-Star, and I expect a big year out of him,” said Rush Head Coach Daniel Tetrault on Young’s return to the Rush. “He skates extremely well and has a great shot, and will be a key factor on our power play again. If he can play to his All-Star level on a consistent basis every night, then he can be one of the premier defensemen in this league. I expect him to be a leader, both on and off the ice as well. If he plays with an edge like we know he can, then he will be an important piece to our back-end.”

A native of Calgary, Alberta, Young, now 28, returns to the Rush for his third full season and fourth stint with the team. Young originally joined the Rush for the last 8 games of the 2014-15 ECHL season via a re-assignment by the Providence Bruins, with who he was originally on an AHL contract with. He made an immediate impact in the 2015 Kelly Cup Playoffs, kick-starting the postseason with the second-fastest goal in Rush history 29 seconds into Game 1 of the Central Division Semifinals against the Quad City Mallards. Young notched 6 points (2g-4ast) in 12 playoff games that postseason, and ultimately stretched that success into the regular season and established himself as one of the most consistent defensemen in recent Rush history. Ultimately, he’s played in a total of 105 games with the Rush and registered 17 goals, 35 assists, 52 points, and a +11 rating. Prior to turning pro, Young played four years of college hockey with the University of Nebraska-Omaha in the NCAA where he captained the Mavericks and registered 68 points (15g-55ast) in 148 games.

REMINDERS:

• The 2017-18 ECHL Schedule is OUT! Head to www.echl.com to see where the Rush play during their 10th anniversary season!

• For more information on Season Ticket Memberships for our 10th anniversary, call 716-7825.

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