Forward leaves Avalanche

WASILLA — Forward Alex Young has left the Alaska Avalanche, Alaska head coach Dave Boitz said on Thursday.

Young, who missed the last four games due to injury, has opted to hang up his skates and call it a career in order to pursue opportunities off the ice.

Boitz said Young recently decided to seek full-time employment.

“He’s got to do what’s right for him,” Boitz said. “He’s a good kid and we wish him well.”

Young, an Alaska team captain, finished third on the squad with 39 points last season. The Anchorage native scored 14 goals and added a team-high 25 assists.

This year, Young had a goal and two assists during the first four games of the season.

Young’s scoring will be missed, as will his physical presence and leadership abilities, Boitz said.

“It’s a big loss. We were really counting on him physically,” Boitz said. “… He kind of takes care of things, keeps things honest.”

Despite the loss of Young, the Avalanche are still confident in their ability to contend for the North American Hockey League West Division title.

“We were 3-1 with him and 3-1 without him,” Boitz said of the Avs, who as of Thursday were second place in the division with a 6-2 record, just two points behind first-place Fairbanks. “Other guys will step up for sure. This gives someone else the opportunity to develop.”

Alaska drafted Young prior to the 2007-08 season. The former West Anchorage High School skater played for the Princeton Posse (Princeton, British Columbia) of the Kootenay International Junior League during the 2006-07 season.

Contact Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.