The art of recruiting prospective players? That’s a whole different craft to master.
“I’ve had to work really hard at this,’’ said Young, who had guided St. Mark’s to a 14-6-1 record (7-4-1 Independent School League) this season.
“My background has definitely helped - it helped right away, there’s no question about that. But families and students, they’re smart.’’
In just his second year at St. Mark’s, his first full-time coaching gig after retiring from the NHL in 2006, Young has started to get a feel for the art of recruiting, and he appears to be mastering it almost as fast as he did the game of hockey.
Other area Independent School League coaches have differing opinions on how the presence of Young and fellow former-NHL-players-turned-coaches Shawn McEachern (Rivers School in Weston) and Tony Amonte (Thayer Academy in Braintree) have altered the recruiting scene. But they all agree that it has changed drastically.
The most talented young players always have multiple offers. Coaches make their pitch, each one usually a little different. But for these “cream-of-the-crop’’ players, the goals are high, and that’s been known to entice some coaches or recruiting coordinators to make bold promises.
The top players “all want to go out and play in college,’’ Young said. “But individual success and moving on’’ to the next level, he said, “that will take care of itself. People will notice if you’re a team player; the type of leader you are. College scouts recognize that. Some part of the challenge is, so many kids we know, their focus is on something that hasn’t happened yet.’’
Young has no promises to make. He’s been around the block himself, gaining a lot of attention as a high school player and skating with Team USA in the World Junior Ice Hockey Championship in 1985 before committing to Boston University for the 1986 season.
So Young has tried to find his niche as a recruiter by offering a somewhat different approach.
