In addition to Abbotsford playing a solid team game, Young noticed the work he put in over the summer was showing up in preseason play.
Normally spending his offseasons at home in Calgary, he opted to stay in Abbotsford and train this summer. He skated every week with Arshdeep Bains and trained with Chase Wouters, and he felt a difference in his game against the Wranglers.
“Reading the play and the fast triggers I think; trying to be there before the puck even gets to the guy's stick they're trying to pass to,” Young said. “Trying to stay ahead of it felt decent, and then also just staying loose, not being too stiff and just having fun with the game.”
With the help of Abbotsford’s Head Strength Coach Jackson Banman, Young also changed his approach in the gym, focusing on his strength. Last offseason he dedicated more time to body control and his movement in the crease, whereas this offseason focused on heavier weightlifting. The 6’3” goaltender added eight pounds of muscle and Young feels more powerful moving around the crease.
He also spent time on the mental side of his game, which is something he’s always working on. The last couple of seasons he’s learned how to manage the demands that come with playing professional hockey. After going 6-10-1 with Abbotsford last season and spending part of the year with the Kalamazoo Wings, he came away with a better understanding of how to manage the inevitable ups and downs.
“Last year was tough. Our whole team was off to a shaky start, and I was a part of that,” Young said. "I went to Kalamazoo for a bit and came back and was able to put some good games together. So, I think the big thing was just the mental side of it, and not trying to overplay and not try too hard and overthink it.”
That meant getting back to what made him love hockey and goaltending in the first place. He has learned how to block out the added pressure, whether that comes from expectations he puts on himself, results, or outside noise, and instead focus on enjoying the game.
“I’ve played hockey my whole life, so you just kind of go back to that feeling you had as a kid, just having fun with it,” he said.
That mindset is something Young took into Vancouver training camp. Having already spent time around many of the same faces, he feels more comfortable and confident.
That familiarity extends to the crease, where Young has the opportunity to learn from goaltending coaches Marko Torenius and Justin Pogge. He sees the two as complementary voices and having different perspectives has been valuable for growing his game. He says Torenius brings a quieter, structured approach and focusing on mechanics, while Pogge emphasizes competition, energy, and technique.
Young got on the ice with the goalie coaches at the end of August, and he took a lot away from his time with Pogge before Canucks training camp.
“We did some skates, which is awesome to get some summer training with him. I think it was nice having the people around here that I knew in the offseason. Being able to do our strength and conditioning workouts at the rink [too] was really good,” Young said.
With the regular season on the horizon, Young is ready to put all his summer training together, and his goal is to be a steady presence in net.
“My goal is to have a consistent year. Try to solidify myself within a spot and create a role for myself and build on that, so they know exactly what they're getting from me day in and day out,” Young said.
The 40-save shutout was a strong first step. Now, Young is looking to turn that performance and everything he’s learned along the way into the foundation for his season ahead.
