Hughes hopes to be latest Hound to earn unexpected success - Ruicci
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SAULT STE. MARIE - There was Brad Good and Andrew Desjardins.
Then came Tyler Cuthbert.
One year later, Andrew Campbell arrived.
Beginning in 2002, the Soo Greyhounds have had a very-favourable relationship with players taken near the end of the Ontario Hockey League draft.
And I’m taking very end.
Typically, those are throw-away picks.
But one team’s dregs might just be another team’s diamonds.
Good, Desjardins, Cuthbert and Campbell were all taken in either the 13th, 14th or 15th (and last) round.
Yet all grew into solid OHLers, regulars who made big contributions to this city’s favourite hockey team.
Not only that, Desjardins has gone on to play the last three seasons in the NHL, while Campbell has spent the last five seasons in the AHL.
Brandon Hughes isn’t familiar with any of them.
But the Oakville, Ont., native has a chance to join their unconventional troop.
The Hounds rookie left-winger, taken in the 14th round in 2012, has certainly turned some heads as this team prepares to begin the 2013-2014 regular season.
He looked good in training camp and hasn’t skipped a beat through four exhibition games.
What jumps out first about Hughes, a 17-year-old (1996 birth year) is the way in which he always seems to be around the puck.
When he has it, he’s either protecting it or making a play with it.
Saturday, in the Soo’s 4-3 preseason loss to Sudbury here, Hughes, standing a shade under six feet and tipping the scales at 190 pounds, assisted on all three Greyhound goals.
He was patient with the puck and made smart decisions with it.
“I see myself as a play-maker who can produce goals,” Hughes said. “I’ve been trying to settle in and get used to the speed of the game here.”
Hey, so far, so good.
And get this: With his three assists, Hughes actually wound up leading the team in preseason scoring.
Head coach Sheldon Keefe called Hughes “a great find,” and “an incredibly smart kid who just makes plays.”
Hughes spent the 2011-2012 season with the Oakville AAA Minor Midgets.
In cases such as this, I always wonder how a kid like Hughes lasted until the 14th round?
“Oakville wasn’t a very good team and his numbers weren’t that great,” said Hounds general manager Kyle Dubas. “But every time we watched him he just stood out.”
And how was it the Soo managed to grab him and not somebody else?
“Luck,” Dubas answered. “He’s a really strong kid with deceptive speed. He has great instincts and I really like how he always has the puck.”
Hughes spent last season playing with the Oakville AAA Major Midgets and Dubas credits that organization for providing him with “a great year of development.”
Coming into training camp with the Hounds, Hughes said he felt that as a 14th-rounder, he had little to lose.
“I saw that as an opportunity and not as a disadvantage,” he added.
While he still needs work on his defensive game, as almost all young players do, Hughes has done more than just win a spot on the Soo’s roster.
He’s also won a spot in the lineup.
He and overage centre Tyler Gaudet have looked good together. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see Hughes on Gaudet’s port side in Friday’s opener in Sudbury.
And beginning that night, this 14th-rounder will commence the task of trying to join Good, Desjardins, Cuthbert and Campbell as Soo Greyhounds who bucked the odds.
Tolchinsky back
with greyhounds
Soo Greyhounds talented forward Sergey Tolchinsky returned from the Carolina Hurricanes training camp Monday and will be available to the team for their season opener Friday in Sudbury.
In other Greyhound news, the team announced Monday they have reduced their roster to 26 with the release of forwards Chris King and Deric Boudreau. The team also placed veteran Landon Schiller on waivers.
Then came Tyler Cuthbert.
One year later, Andrew Campbell arrived.
Beginning in 2002, the Soo Greyhounds have had a very-favourable relationship with players taken near the end of the Ontario Hockey League draft.
And I’m taking very end.
Typically, those are throw-away picks.
But one team’s dregs might just be another team’s diamonds.
Good, Desjardins, Cuthbert and Campbell were all taken in either the 13th, 14th or 15th (and last) round.
Yet all grew into solid OHLers, regulars who made big contributions to this city’s favourite hockey team.
Not only that, Desjardins has gone on to play the last three seasons in the NHL, while Campbell has spent the last five seasons in the AHL.
Brandon Hughes isn’t familiar with any of them.
But the Oakville, Ont., native has a chance to join their unconventional troop.
The Hounds rookie left-winger, taken in the 14th round in 2012, has certainly turned some heads as this team prepares to begin the 2013-2014 regular season.
He looked good in training camp and hasn’t skipped a beat through four exhibition games.
What jumps out first about Hughes, a 17-year-old (1996 birth year) is the way in which he always seems to be around the puck.
When he has it, he’s either protecting it or making a play with it.
Saturday, in the Soo’s 4-3 preseason loss to Sudbury here, Hughes, standing a shade under six feet and tipping the scales at 190 pounds, assisted on all three Greyhound goals.
He was patient with the puck and made smart decisions with it.
“I see myself as a play-maker who can produce goals,” Hughes said. “I’ve been trying to settle in and get used to the speed of the game here.”
Hey, so far, so good.
And get this: With his three assists, Hughes actually wound up leading the team in preseason scoring.
Head coach Sheldon Keefe called Hughes “a great find,” and “an incredibly smart kid who just makes plays.”
Hughes spent the 2011-2012 season with the Oakville AAA Minor Midgets.
In cases such as this, I always wonder how a kid like Hughes lasted until the 14th round?
“Oakville wasn’t a very good team and his numbers weren’t that great,” said Hounds general manager Kyle Dubas. “But every time we watched him he just stood out.”
And how was it the Soo managed to grab him and not somebody else?
“Luck,” Dubas answered. “He’s a really strong kid with deceptive speed. He has great instincts and I really like how he always has the puck.”
Hughes spent last season playing with the Oakville AAA Major Midgets and Dubas credits that organization for providing him with “a great year of development.”
Coming into training camp with the Hounds, Hughes said he felt that as a 14th-rounder, he had little to lose.
“I saw that as an opportunity and not as a disadvantage,” he added.
While he still needs work on his defensive game, as almost all young players do, Hughes has done more than just win a spot on the Soo’s roster.
He’s also won a spot in the lineup.
He and overage centre Tyler Gaudet have looked good together. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see Hughes on Gaudet’s port side in Friday’s opener in Sudbury.
And beginning that night, this 14th-rounder will commence the task of trying to join Good, Desjardins, Cuthbert and Campbell as Soo Greyhounds who bucked the odds.
Tolchinsky back
with greyhounds
Soo Greyhounds talented forward Sergey Tolchinsky returned from the Carolina Hurricanes training camp Monday and will be available to the team for their season opener Friday in Sudbury.
In other Greyhound news, the team announced Monday they have reduced their roster to 26 with the release of forwards Chris King and Deric Boudreau. The team also placed veteran Landon Schiller on waivers.