Gillette forward Young makes NCAA commitment
Declan Young played in both the 2021 and 2020 NA3HL Top Prospects Tournaments.
The Gillette Wild of the NA3HL are pleased to announce that forward Declan Young has committed to play NCAA Division III hockey for The College of St. Scholastica.
Young, 20, is in his third and final season playing junior hockey for the Wild in the NA3HL. The 6’0/180 lbs. native of Fergus Falls, MN, has put together one of better careers in recent NA3HL history.
Young currently leads the NA3HL in scoring with 84 points in 45 games played to date. His 48 goals are also tops currently in the NA3HL.
“I'm really excited and grateful that Coach Williams is giving me the opportunity to extend my hockey career for four more years at the NCAA level. It's been my personal goal to play NCAA hockey since I started my junior career, and my goal came true. I will be studying to get my business degree,” said Young.
Young has also taken part in two different NA3HL Top Prospects Tournaments in 2021 and 2020.
“We're excited for Declan. He has put in three really good years with the Wild Organization, and I’ve been lucky enough to be here for two of them. He is always one of the hardest workers on and off the ice. He has been a huge help in building this program into what it is today. He has great character, great work ethic, and holds himself to a standard that will definitely help him have continued success at the next level,” said Wild head coach Ethan Hayes.
During his rookie season in 2019-20, he was named the Frontier Division Rookie of the Year and named to the NA3HL All-Rookie 1st Team and the All-Frontier Division team.
Last year, he made the All-Frontier Division Team and was named to the All-NA3HL 3rd team.
In 130 career NA3HL regular season games, Young has recorded 239 points (130 goals, 109 assists). His 239 career points currently ranks him 3rd on the all-time NA3HL scoring list and his 130 goals currently ranks him 2nd all-time.
“We are very excited to add Declan Young to our 2022-23 St. Scholastica Saints freshman class. Declan is a highly skilled player with great offensive instincts and hockey IQ. He has consistently posted impressive numbers throughout his junior career and we are confident he is ready to make a smooth transition into the NCAA. We are very happy to have Declan on board and look forward to guiding his development on the ice and in the classroom for the next four years,” said St. Scholastica head coach Dave Williams.
Click here for an NA3HL college commitment list
