With the 2024–25 season approaching in the ECHL and AHL, teams across the leagues are signing new or returning players to their rosters. It’s not unusual to see ECHL players inking AHL deals before the season begins. The contracts allow for ECHL players to efficiently be called up and/or actively stay on the roster for long periods of time, while also giving them a higher salary. Previously, on July 23, the Greenville Swamp Rabbits extended Colton Young for next season. But today, August 14, it was announced that he signed a one-year deal with the Ontario Reign, the Los Angeles Kings’ AHL affiliate.
The news comes after Young appeared in his first AHL exposure last season, as he would play with fellow Swamp Rabbits Nikita Pavlychev, Ryan Francis, and Max Martin.
Young, 24, 6’0, and 174 pounds (79 kg), will be entering his third pro season in the ECHL for the Rabbits, and enter his second but full season in the AHL for the Reign. The Calgary, Alberta native had a solid performance last season for Greenville, as he played 39 games, tallying 16 points (6G/10A). Midseason, he got his first AHL call-up to the Ontario Reign, where he played 19 games, earning a tally of 4 points (2G/2A). During the 2024 Kelly Cup Playoffs, Young played six games and earned 3 goals and 4 assists, and was the top point maker during the playoffs for his team. The young forward, who shoots left, started his pro career during the 2022-23 season after finishing his final season for Colgate University — playing only four games with a goal and three assists. Young played five games during the first round exit playoff run for the Rabbits, earning just an assist. For his second professional season, he received his first AHL call-up on January 26, 2024. His last game in a Swamp Rabbits sweater before the call-up was on January 22, and he later returned on April 14 to play the final regular-season game against Savannah prior to the playoffs.
Young’s Amateur Career
Before turning pro in 2023, Young played four seasons for Colgate University (NCAA). His first season for Colgate was in the 2019–20 season, when he played 35 games and tallied 18 points (7G/11A). For his last season in 2022–23, Young played 40 games, recording 11 goals and 17 assists for 28 points, and was an alternate captain. His best-performing season was during the 2021-22 season, in which he accumulated 15 goals and 17 assists for 32 points after playing 38 games. In total, he played 134 games (34G/48A for 82PTS) for the University. Before playing at the collegiate level, Young had an excellent career in the juniors for the AJHL’s Canmore Eagles. He played a total of 176 games, recording 157 points (57 goals and 100 assists). For his final season for the Eagles (2018-19), Young was their Captain.
