B. J. Young

Jerry Franklin "B. J." Young II (July 23, 1977 – November 30, 2005) was an American professional ice hockey right winger. He was drafted by the Detroit Red Wings in the sixth round, 157th overall, of the 1997 NHL entry draft. He played one game in the National Hockey League with Red Wings.

Young played junior hockey with the Tri-City Americans and Red Deer Rebels of the Western Hockey League (WHL). While with Red Deer he led the WHL in goal scoring during the 1996–97 season and was named to the WHL East First All-Star Team. Young spent the majority of his career in the minor leagues playing for the Adirondack Red Wings and Cincinnati Mighty Ducks of the American Hockey League, the Manitoba Moose of the International Hockey League, and the Anchorage/Alaska Aces in both the West Coast Hockey League and ECHL. Born in Anchorage, Alaska Young represented the United States at the 1997 World Junior Championships, winning a silver medal.

Career

Amateur Young began playing hockey at age four, and by age eight, he was playing travel ice hockey for the Alaska All-Stars. During the 1994–95 season, his second, with Tri-City Young was traded to the Red Deer Rebels. Though he only scored 23 points in 51 games between the two teams, Americans' general manager Dennis Beyak stated it was a deal that could come back to haunt them. In the off-season Young was drafted by the National Hockey League's (NHL) Detroit Red Wings in the sixth round, 157th overall, of the 1997 NHL entry draft.

Professional After being drafted Young signed three-year two-way contract with the Red Wings. He played in six preseason games for the Red Wings, but with Detroit being the defending Stanley Cup champions he was unable to make the team out of camp. He began his professional career with Detroit's American Hockey League affiliate, the Adirondack Red Wings. Young played two seasons in Adirondack scoring 67 points in 123 games. He also made his NHL debut during the season playing one game for the Red Wings. He played two shifts in the game without registering a point. It was the only NHL game of his career. He returned to Cincinnati but after 42 games Detroit moved Young to the Manitoba Moose in the International Hockey League (IHL). Young finished the year scoring 22 goals and 51 points in 75 games between the two teams. He made the team due in part to making an impression on the coaching staff after not quitting on a difficult conditioning skate. He recorded 13 goals and 35 points in 48 games in his final professional season.

International

Young represented the United States at the 1997 World Junior Championships in Geneva, Switzerland. Young scored two goals and four points in six games helping the US win the silver medal.

Death Young was killed in a single-car accident in Vancouver, British Columbia on November 30, 2005, when the car he was driving veered off the road, struck a tree and hit a light pole.

Career statistics Regular season and playoffs Regular seasonPlayoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 1993–94 Tri-City Americans WHL 54 19 24 43 66 2 1 1 2 2 1994–95 Tri-City Americans WHL 30 6 3 9 39 — — — — — 1994–95 Red Deer Rebels WHL 21 5 9 14 33 — — — — — 1995–96 Red Deer Rebels WHL 67 49 45 94 144 8 4 9 13 12 1996–97 Red Deer Rebels WHL 63 58 56 114 97 16 8 14 22 26 1997–98 Adirondack Red Wings AHL 65 15 22 37 191 3 0 2 2 6 1998–99 Adirondack Red Wings AHL 58 13 17 30 150 3 1 0 1 6 1999–00 Cincinnati Mighty Ducks AHL 71 25 26 51 147 — — — — — 1999–00 Detroit Red Wings NHL 1 0 0 0 0 — — — — — 2000–01 Cincinnati Mighty Ducks AHL 42 14 22 36 111 — — — — — 2000–01 Manitoba Moose IHL 33 8 7 15 47 13 4 2 6 14 2001–02 Anchorage Aces WCHL 26 10 10 20 159 4 2 0 2 20 2002–03 Anchorage Aces WCHL 52 17 25 42 233 — — — — — 2004–05 Alaska Aces ECHL 48 13 22 35 94 14 1 7 8 31 AHL totals 236 67 87 154 599 6 1 2 3 12 NHL totals 1 0 0 0 0 — — — — —

International Year Team Event GP G A Pts PIM 1997 United States WJC 6 2 2 4 4 Junior totals 6 2 2 4 4 Awards Western Hockey League East First All-Star Team - 1997