Minnesota Wilderness Defenseman Young makes NCAA DI Commitment

The Minnesota Wilderness of the North American Hockey League (NAHL) are proud to announce that defenseman Karson Young has committed to play NCAA Division I hockey for University of Minnesota Duluth in the NCHC.

Hometown skater of the Wilderness, Young has committed to skating with the Bulldogs. The 6’0 lefty has laced up in 26 games with the Minnesota team this year. The blueliner made his NAHL debut in September and played 12 games at the beginning of the season before returning to his high school hockey team to play his senior year. While playing for the Cloquet High School varsity team, he appeared in 27 games, scoring seven goals and tallying 21 assists. The ‘06  first-year skater returned to the Wilderness at the end of February. Young hit the ice in 26 games and found the back of the net three times and produced six assists. One of his goals was the decider in the contest and featured a +8 rating on the year.

Young shared his excitement about joining the program on social media. 

“I am extremely honored and proud to announce my commitment to play Division I hockey and further my education at the University of Minnesota Duluth. I’d like to thank God, my family, friends, coaches, teammates, Packy, and everyone else who helped me down this path in life!”

Head coach of the Wilderness, Zach Stepan, shares excitement for Young’s commitment.

“Karson Young is one of those rare players who consistently impacts the game in every zone. His skating is elite — powerful, fluid, and explosive — allowing him to create space offensively and close gaps defensively. He reads the play exceptionally well, sees the ice with great clarity, and processes the game at a high level, which makes him a reliable and dynamic presence shift after shift. Whether it’s moving pucks efficiently under pressure or making the smart play without the spotlight, Karson does the little things right that help teams win.”

Stepan continued and explained more about Young’s character in the locker room.

“Off the ice, Karson is just as impressive. He brings a contagious energy to the rink every day, showing up with a smile and a team-first mentality. He’s coachable, humble, and leads by example in the locker room. Beyond hockey, his commitment to the community—especially the time he devotes to working with kids—speaks volumes about his character. Karson has all the qualities to become a leader at the next level. The University of Minnesota Duluth is getting a tremendous hockey player, but more importantly, they’re getting a young man of exceptional integrity and heart. I’m excited to watch him continue to grow and succeed in the Bulldog program.”

Young is the seventh member of the Minnesota Wilderness to make a Division I hockey college commitment.

Click here for an updated NAHL to NCAA commitment list