He joined the Quebec Nordiques in 1992 and stayed with the franchise for five seasons and was a vital part of the Avalanche's 1995-96 Stanley Cup championship team. He recorded 60 points (21 goals, 29 assists) in 81 regular-season games that season and added three goals and 12 assists in 22 playoff games to help the Avs win the Cup.
Later that same year, he won the gold medal with Team USA at the World Cup of Hockey.
"That was a tremendous time," Young said during his speech. "It happened to be the year that we won the Cup in '96 with the Avalanche, turned around and won the World Cup."
He also won a silver medal with Team USA at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City and represented the United States at three different Olympic Games (1988, 1992, 2002). The forward was also part of the national team at three IIHF World Championships (1987, 1989, 1994). Young also wore the red, white and blue sweater at three World Junior Championships (1985-87).
The Avalanche alum was selected 11th overall in the 1986 NHL Entry Draft by the Hartford Whalers and joined the team for his first professional season in 1987-88. In 1990-91, he was traded midway through the season to the Pittsburgh Penguins where he won his first Stanley Cup title later that spring.
After his time in Colorado, Young spent eight more seasons in the NHL, playing with the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, St. Louis Blues and Dallas Stars before retiring from the league following the 2005-06 campaign.
Other members of the 2017 U.S. Hall of Fame class include former coaches Jack Parker, Ben Smith and Ron Wilson and retired NHL linesman Kevin Collins.
