Young Selected as CHL's Most Outstanding Defenseman
March 22, 2013 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Wichita Thunder News Release
Wichita, KS (March 22nd) - The Central Hockey League announced today that defenseman Kevin Young has been selected as the 2012-13 CHL's Most Outstanding Defenseman. Young becomes the third Thunder player to be selected for the award and second one in the last three years. He joins teammate Travis Wight as Thunder players that have earned end of the year honors. Wight was named CHL Man of the Year earlier this week.
The CHL's Most Outstanding Defenseman is "Ëpresented annually to the Central Hockey League defenseman who has demonstrated the greatest all-round ability in the position' and is determined through balloting of CHL head coaches, communications departments and selected media members in each market.
Young earns his second end of the year honor as he was selected earlier in the week to the All-CHL Team. The White Rock, British Columbia native won more than half of the 44 votes cast (25 votes) beating out Allen's Tyler Ludwig who finished second with nine votes. Other finalists for the top defenseman award were Quad City's Matt Duffy, Missouri's Dave Pszenyczny and Fort Worth's Ross Rouleau.
The eight-year veteran leads all defensemen in scoring with 53 points and is also tops with 20 goals scored. The 6-foot-2, 195-pounder is a +12 and is tied for the lead among blue liners with 10 power play goals. He is nearing a single-season Thunder record. The single-season mark is held by Paul Esdale with 22 goals in 2004-05, who also won Defenseman of the Year that same season. Young moved into a second place tie all-time with Dave Doucette, who had 20 tallies in 1994-95.
Young, 30, joins Andrew Martens (2010-11) and Paul Esdale (2004-05) as previous Wichita blue liners to win the award. Prior to joining Wichita last season in the playoffs, Young had spent most of his career overseas. He did join Bossier-Shreveport in 2010-11 for eight regular season games and helped the Mudbugs to a CHL Championship that season. Out of his 79 career CHL regular season games, 71 of them have been in the Air Capital.
CHL Most Outstanding Defenseman (previous winners, since 2001)
2012-13 - Kevin Young (Wichita)
2011-12 - Riley Weselowski (Rapid City)
2010-11 - Andrew Martens (Wichita)
2009-10 - Aaron Schneekloth (Colorado)
2008-09 - Aaron Schneekloth (Colorado)
2007-08 - Vladimir Hartinger (New Mexico)
2006-07 - Brad Williamson (Colorado)
2005-06 - Serge Dube (Laredo)
2004-05 - Paul Esdale (Wichita)
2003-04 - Bernie John (Indianapolis)
2002-03 - Michel Periard (Laredo)
2001-02 - Daniel Tetrault (Austin)
2012-13 CHL Awards that have already been announced are:
CHL Athletic Trainer of the Year - Vince Fedorowich, Arizona Sundogs
CHL Gunner Garrett Equipment Manager of the Year - Romeo Vivit, Rapid City Rush
CHL All-Rookie Team - Aaron Dell (ALN), Greger Hanson (WIC), Mike Hellyer (QDC), Matt McCready (ARZ), Sy Nutkevitch (FTW) and Daniel Spivak (FTW)
All-CHL Team - Aaron Dell (ALN), A.J. Gale (DEN), Mickey Lang (QDC), Tyler Ludwig (ALN), Sebastien Thinel (MIZ) and Kevin Young (WIC)
CHL Man of the Year - Travis Wight, Wichita Thunder
CHL Rookie of the Year - Mike Hellyer, Quad City Mallards
CHL Coach of the Year - Dan Wildfong, Fort Worth Brahmas
Wichita returns to home-ice tonight in a battle for first place against the Allen Americans. For tickets, call 755-SEAT, visit the INTRUST Bank Arena box office or online at www.selectaseat.com .
Wichita Thunder playoff packages are on sale now. There are many ways to get involved, so be a part of the Blue Revolution and the Thunder's quest for a CHL Title. Contact the Wichita Thunder Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. at (316) 264-4625 or visit the fan relations table behind section 120 at any Wichita Thunder home game for more information. Join the Blue Revolution today!
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