After spending over 25 years as a National Hockey League agent, Kent Hughes ’92 was named general manager of the Montreal Canadiens on Jan. 18. Hughes takes charge of a struggling franchise that currently sits eighth in the Atlantic Division.
Hughes led Middlebury to a national championship in 1991 as a junior before captaining the team his senior year. Over the course of his final three seasons, the Panthers were 65–13–2. Hughes remains the top assist provider (140) and top points scorer (194) in program history, while also setting the single-season record in both categories in 1992. He was inducted into the Athletics Hall of Fame in November 2020.
Hughes’ former coach, Bill Beaney, who now coaches the men’s golf team at Middlebury, was full of praise for his former player.
“If you spend long enough coaching you might be fortunate and lucky to have a player like Kent,” Beaney said in a news release. Beaney went on to describe Hughes as a “literal game changer, a transformative influence.”
Hughes now faces the steep task of turning things around for the Canadiens, who return to action against the Anaheim Ducks at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 27.
Charles Crounse '24 (he/him) is the senior sports editor for the Campus. He has previously worked as a writer and staff editor for the section. Charles is pursuing a major in environmental policy and a minor in French, and in his free time he enjoys biking, hiking, and exploring Vermont. He is also a member of the club soccer team on campus.
