Tim Young (ice hockey)

Tim Young
Born	(1955-02-22) February 22, 1955 Scarborough, Ontario, Canada
Height	6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight	190 lb (86 kg; 13 st 8 lb)
Position	Centre
Shot	Right
Played for	Minnesota North Stars Winnipeg Jets Philadelphia Flyers
NHL draft	16th overall, 1975 Los Angeles Kings
WHA draft	13th overall, 1974 New England Whalers
Playing career	1975–1986

Timothy Michael Young (born February 22, 1955) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey forward who played ten seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Minnesota North Stars, Winnipeg Jets and Philadelphia Flyers.

Playing career

As a youth, Young played in the 1967 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with the Toronto Shopsy's minor ice hockey team.

Junior hockey

Young began his junior hockey career with the Ottawa 67's of the Ontario Hockey Association (OHA) in 1973–74. Young had a very solid rookie season, earning 106 points in 69 games, helping the 67's to the playoffs. In seven playoff games, Young had five points. After the season, Young was drafted by the New England Whalers in the 1974 WHA Amateur Draft with the 13th overall pick.

Rather than join the Whalers, Young returned to Ottawa for the 1974–75 season, in which he led the league with 106 assists, and the second highest point total at 163, behind only Bruce Boudreau of the Toronto Marlboros. In the playoffs, Young had seven points in five games as the 67's lost to the Sudbury Wolves in the first round. Young was then selected 16th overall by the Los Angeles Kings in the 1975 NHL Entry Draft. He would not stay a King for long, as on August 15, 1975, the Kings traded Young to the Minnesota North Stars for Minnesota's second round choice in the 1976 NHL Entry Draft.

Professional career

Minnesota North Stars

Young began the 1975–76 season with the New Haven Nighthawks of the American Hockey League (AHL), earning 20 points in 13 games before being called up to the North Stars. He had a solid rookie season in Minnesota, earning 51 points in 63 games to lead the team in scoring. The North Stars failed to reach the playoffs.

Young had a breakout season in 1976–77, as he once again led the North Stars in scoring with a career high 95 points, as he scored 29 goals with 66 assists, and played in the 30th National Hockey League All-Star Game. Young helped the North Stars reach the preliminary round of the playoffs, however, Minnesota was swept in two games by the Buffalo Sabres. Young had a goal and an assist in the series.

The 1977–78 season saw Young's numbers slip, as he recorded 58 points in 78 games, and finished second in team scoring. Minnesota struggled throughout the season, and failed to make the post-season. The 1978–79 season was more of the same, as Young had 56 points in 73 games, as Minnesota once again missed the playoffs.

The highlight of Young's season came on January 15, 1979 when he scored five goals in a game at the New York Rangers. It was his first career hat trick and he also added an assist for a six-point night. In doing so, he became just the second player in NHL history to score five goals on five shots. [1]

In 1979–80, Young had his highest point total since 1976-77, as he earned 74 points in 77 games, helping the North Stars to a record over .500 for the first time since he joined the team, and a playoff berth. In the post-season, Young had seven points in 15 games, as Minnesota lost in the third round to the Philadelphia Flyers.

Young continued to play good hockey in the 1980–81 season, as he had 66 points in 74 games to finish second in team scoring, as Minnesota made the playoffs again. The North Stars had a long playoff run, advancing to the 1981 Stanley Cup Finals, before losing to the powerful New York Islanders in five games. Young missed some time in the playoffs, however, he had a strong playoff performance, earning 17 points in only 12 games.

Young had an injury plagued 1981–82 season, a season in which he was named captain of the North Stars, appearing in only 49 games, in which he earned 41 points. In the playoffs, Young had two points in four games. In 1982-83, Young stayed relatively healthy, as he played in 70 games, earning 53 points, however he appeared in only two playoff games, earning two assists.

On August 3, 1983, the North Stars traded Young to the Winnipeg Jets for Craig Levie and Tom Ward.

Winnipeg Jets

In Young's only season in Winnipeg in 1983–84, he appeared in only 44 games, earning 34 points, as the Jets snuck into the playoffs. Young appeared in only one playoff game, earning an assist.

On October 16, 1984, Young was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers for future considerations.

Philadelphia Flyers

Injuries continued to take a toll on Young's career, as he split the 1984–85 season between Philadelphia and the Hershey Bears of the AHL. In 20 games with the Flyers, Young had eight points before finishing the season with the Bears. Young was productive with Hershey, earning 48 points in 49 games, however, he decided to retire at the conclusion of the season at the age of 30.

Career statistics

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1973–74	Ottawa 67's	OHA-Jr.		69	45	61	106	161		7	4	1	5	6
1974–75	Ottawa 67's	OMJHL		70	56	107	163	127		5	3	4	7	8
1975–76	New Haven Nighthawks	AHL		13	7	13	20	16		—	—	—	—	—
1975–76	Minnesota North Stars	NHL		63	18	33	51	71		—	—	—	—	—
1976–77	Minnesota North Stars	NHL		80	29	66	95	58		2	1	1	2	2
1977–78	Minnesota North Stars	NHL		78	23	35	58	64		—	—	—	—	—
1978–79	Minnesota North Stars	NHL		73	24	32	56	46		—	—	—	—	—
1979–80	Minnesota North Stars	NHL		77	31	43	74	24		15	2	5	7	4
1980–81	Minnesota North Stars	NHL		74	25	41	66	40		12	3	14	17	9
1981–82	Minnesota North Stars	NHL		49	10	31	41	67		4	1	1	2	10
1982–83	Minnesota North Stars	NHL		70	18	35	53	31		2	0	2	2	2
1983–84	Winnipeg Jets	NHL		44	15	19	34	25		1	0	1	1	0
1984–85	Hershey Bears	AHL		49	19	29	48	56		—	—	—	—	—
1984–85	Philadelphia Flyers	NHL		20	2	6	8	12		—	—	—	—	—
NHL totals				628	195	341	536	438		36	7	24	31	27

External links

• Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or Hockey-Reference.com, or The Internet Hockey Database