“We made it to the tournament and lost to a pretty good team in overtime in the first round. “We learned and realized what we can do as a group,” he said. His team also had a respectable season, returning to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2019 and narrowly missing out on their first tournament victory since the 1980’s, with a narrow, overtime defeat against Western Michigan. Hughes posted very respectable totals for a player who turned 18 two months into his time as a college student, with 16 points (7-9-16) from 39 games played. And, with an early elimination for the Americans during the summer tournament, Hughes now hopes to be a part of a redemption story and a medal contender come the tournament in December.īetween now and then, however, Hughes will return to Northeastern University, as he looks to grow both individually and as a part of a team.

His play during that week alone won’t make that final determination, but it certainly helped to make an impression. “I’ve watched that tournament every Christmas since I can remember and it’s something I’ve always wanted to be a part of.” “I definitely want to be on that team,” Hughes said. A big part of his week with USA Hockey was an opportunity to see old teammates and old friends, but more importantly to strut his best stuff for inclusion on the final roster come December. The Massachusetts native previously spent two seasons with the USNTDP, geared towards the top pre-draft players from around the country. With the aim of extending his representation of the United States to the under-20 level, adding to his time with the under-17 and under-18 programs, Hughes had positive takeaways from his time with USA Hockey this summer. While the camp featured two tournaments worth of hopefuls, Hughes’ sights were set on the winter edition to be held in Nova Scotia come December. Skating with players in contention for places at the rescheduled 2022 tournament, which ended last night from a USA perpective, as well as this winter’s 2023 tournament, Hughes was on the ice for an 11-day event as one of 63 players invited to participate. “If someone tells me I might have to play a different role, then you know, then I’ll play that way and I’ll change a little bit of what I do, but for the most part going into camps, or whatever it is, I’m going to do the same thing and play my game.” “No matter where I’m playing or trying out, I want to do the same thing, I’m going to play my game,” Hughes said. While most returned to their summer preparation after the conclusion of the camp, Hughes flew to Michigan, where he took part in USA Hockey’s 2022 evaluation camp.Ī wide array of events for the 18-year-old centerman, who went into each showcase opportunity with the same approach. “All the years previously I’ve visited Montreal, we usually aren’t really in the city much, so it was nice to kind of experience the other side of it and get to do it with friends and family.”įrom Quebec, it was off to Southern California, where he went from being selected during the draft on Friday to being on the ice Monday at Toyota Sports Performance Center, as a part of development camp with the Kings. “My family and both my parents grew up in Montreal, so I got to visit my grandparents, cousins and stuff like that, it was a fun overall trip,” Hughes said. Both of his parents grew up in Montreal and he had friends and family with him, both at the Centre Bell and at nearby homes, throughout the course of the event. Hughes has personal connections to Montreal, home of the 2022 NHL Draft, which made his selection and the location that much more special. “Whenever somebody sees the name and I don’t know them, there’s always a couple of questions about that,” he said with a smile.Īn LA Kings prospect, who is the son of the general manager of the Montreal Canadians and also shares a name with a New Jersey Devils star. Immediately following? Participation in two summer camps, week-long events with both the Kings and USA Hockey respectively…….all while frequently being asked if he plays for the New Jersey Devils. It’s been a whirlwind summer for 2022 second-round selection Jack Hughes.Īfter he concluded his season at Northeastern University, as the youngest player in college hockey, Hughes began to prepare for the NHL Draft, where the LA Kings promptly made him the organization’s top selection at the event.

Jack hughes