Royals’ ALCS Game 4 starter Chris Young has familial ties to hockey

TORONTO – Kansas City Royals pitcher Chris Young spent Monday morning immersed in the history of another sport.

Young took his wife Elizabeth and their youngest son to the Hockey Hall of Fame prior to Game 3 of the American League Championship Series against the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre.

The trip had special meaning for Elizabeth, the great-granddaughter of former New York Rangers coach and Hall of Famer Lester Patrick.

“It was a wonderful experience,” said Young, who’ll start Game 4 of the best-of-seven series on Tuesday. “It’s an amazing place, the tradition, the family history for her. It was fun for both of us to experience.”

Young said both he and his wife had visited the Hockey Hall of Fame in the past, but Elizabeth, who has four family members recognized there, hadn’t been since she was a child.

“For her to go back today, she was able to take a picture next to the statue of her great-grandfather, she saw her grandfather’s name (Lynn Patrick) etched on the Stanley Cup,” Young said.

“So it was a great experience for all of us and certainly I appreciate the hockey heritage that much more.”

Lester Patrick, inducted in 1947, is the namesake behind the Lester Patrick Trophy, awarded for “outstanding contributions” to hockey in the United States.

He also is known for being the oldest goaltender to appear in a Stanley Cup Final. That happened in 1928 when, at 44-years, three-months, nine-days old, he stepped off the Rangers bench to replace injured goalie Lorne Chabot in a game against the Montreal Maroons.

While Young appreciates his familial ties to Canada’s most popular sport, he doesn’t think it will gain him any fans in Toronto — at least not while the ALCS is going on.

“I think the fact that I’ll be wearing a Royals uniform probably means the support will be limited,” he said with a smile. “But it’s a great sport. I love watching hockey.”