The Soo Greyhounds Hockey Club, in conjunction with the Hartford Wolfpack (Affiliate of the NHL’s New York Rangers) announced Monday, August 29th that Jamie Tardif will join the American Hockey League team as an Assistant Coach for the 2022-23 season and Brent Hughes will be the new assistant coach to replace Tardif, a native of Welland Ontario recently completed his fourth season as Assistant Coach with the Hounds after originally being hired on July 26, 2018.
Hughes, a native of Toronto, Ontario joins Head Coach John Dean and fellow Assistant Coach Brendan Taylor behind the bench for the 2022-23 season.
‘In my first conversations with Brent, it was his attention to detail and passion for coaching that stood out to me. With his time as both head and assistant coach in major junior and pro hockey we feel he will be a great addition to John’s bench staff’ explained GM Kyle Raftis.
‘Brent’s role is massive in terms of the development of our players and with his background and experience we feel like it will give us a great fit as we continue to push the next wave of Soo Greyhounds’ he continued.
Hughes, 40, joins the Hounds after most recently guiding the Espanola Express as head coach in 2020-21. Prior to that Brent spent three seasons as an Assistant Coach of the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles (QMJHL) and while there had an opportunity to join Hockey Canada U17 as an Assistant Coach as well.
His coaching career also includes head coach of the North York Rangers (OJHL) and head coach of the ECHL’s Brampton Beast.
The Toronto, Ontario native’s playing career spanned nine seasons split between both North America and Europe.
A four-year Central Hockey League career culminated with a championship with the Colorado Eagles in 2007. From there Hughes headed overseas and capped off his career with the Dundee Stars of the EIHL in 2011-12.
He is the owner/head instructor of BH Hockey Development.
‘Im extremely excited to join such a historic franchise. Thank you to Kyle Raftis and John Dean for this opportunity. I can not wait to get to work commented Hughes.
