Kevin Young Named 2012-13 CHL Most Outstanding Defenseman

[chilly666]

GLENDALE, AZ – The Central Hockey League (CHL) announced today that Kevin Young of the Wichita Thunder has been named the recipient of the 2012-13 Central Hockey League’s Most Outstanding Defenseman award.

The honor is ‘presented 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 was named a member of the All-CHL team earlier this week and now takes home the top individual honor for league defensemen. 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.

Young leads all defensemen in scoring with 53 points and is also tops with 20 goals scored. On the season, the 6-2, 195-pound d-man is a +12 and is tied for the lead among blue liners with 10 power play goals.

The 30-year-old defenseman joins Andrew Martens (2010-11) and Paul Esdale (2004-05) as previous Wichita players to win this award.

Of his 79 career CHL regular season games, 71 of them have been with Wichita and eight were with Bossier-Shreveport (2010-11). Young played in 14 games during the Mudbugs 2011 Championship Run and last season played in 16 post-season games for the Thunder who made it all the way to the CHL Finals. Most of Young’s eight year pro career has been spent playing overseas.


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)