Riley Hughes is hoping the path less traveled will help him continue to pave the way toward a roster spot on one of the top programs in Hockey East and maybe a chance to someday play professional hockey at the highest level.
Hughes, a Westwood, Mass., native, is leaving St. Sebastian’s ahead of his senior season to play for the Victoria Grizzlies in the BCHL. It’s not that players from New England haven’t gone to Canada to play junior hockey before or that players from the BCHL can’t succeed at the next level. However, it’s not often a player from around here will head to the BCHL before finishing prep school.
It was a decision that Hughes wrestled with for a long time. The Northeastern commit and seventh-round pick of the New York Rangers had to weigh the pros and the cons of staying at St. Sebastian’s vs. going to the BCHL to play in the top Junior A league in Canada.
Hughes will miss out on the opportunity to play with younger brother Jack at St. Sebastian’s, but he’ll gain an experience of a lifetime and the chance to develop his game further against older and better competition.
“I moved on from prep because I didn’t feel like I could go straight into Northeastern. I have some improving and growing to do as a hockey player. Things I need to improve on, like strength and battling with bigger players, I couldn’t do in prep,” said Hughes. “I really wanted to go back. I fought it for a while, but I came to terms with it being what’s best for me. The coaches at Northeastern and the Rangers thought it was best for me.”
Victoria, the capital of British Columbia, is a beautiful city on Vancouver Island, away from interior British Columbia. It’s a city steep in its British Colonial roots. Having the opportunity to play in Canada, where both his parents grew up, was another enticing aspect to moving north of the border.
“I’m a dual citizen. My parents grew up in Canada. I thought it would be cool for me to live in Canada since I don’t get a chance to visit there with school and hockey. Victoria is a beautiful spot. The experience of going to Canada was one that I might not have later in life. It’s something I can take advantage of and I’m looking forward to it,” Hughes explained.
The BCHL wasn’t the only junior league coveting Hughes for the 2018-19 season. The Sioux Falls Stampede were hoping Hughes would play for them in the USHL. He played in two games for Scott Owens’ team following the conclusion of the prep season.
“I went up there during spring break. I loved the coaches and I loved the program. The billet family was great. The rink was great. I went back for the main camp. I was thinking about it as an option. Both leagues have proven to be good paths,” said Hughes.
Broadway Lights
Hughes was selected in the seventh round, 216th overall, by the Rangers in this summer’s NHL draft. One of the Rangers’ top amateur scouts, director of European scouting Nikolai Bobrov, had watched Hughes play several times, in part due to a special connection with his father.
Bobrov and Kent Hughes, Riley’s father, were teammates at Middlebury College, a Division 3 powerhouse. Bobrov, along with director of player personnel Gordie Clark and amateur scout Brendan Clark, had all seen Hughes play on several occasions.
“(Bobrov) was at a lot of our games. I talked with him a couple of times and met with him in person. I talked to Gordie a little bit, too. They expressed some interest,” said Hughes, pointing out that he had an inkling the Rangers might be the team to draft him.
“By the time it got to the late seventh round, I knew there was a chance that if I got drafted it would be by the Rangers,” said Hughes, who was not in Dallas to hear his name called. Receiving the text message from his dad that he had been drafted was a special moment that he’ll never forget.
“It was exciting. It was a dream come true, but it wasn’t something I was expecting, which made it even better,” said Hughes, who was listed as the 113th best North American skater in NHL Central Scouting’s final rankings prior to the draft.
“I knew there was a chance I’d get drafted, but I also knew there was a chance I wouldn’t get drafted. I wanted to get drafted, but I didn’t want to be overly concerned about it. I knew it would be cool if I got drafted. I just tried to keep my mind off it,” said Hughes of his mindset leading up to being selected.
While the Bruins were his favorite team growing up, Hughes admitted the appeal of being drafted by an Original Six franchise that plays in historic Madison Square Garden in the busiest city in the world.
“It would have been exciting to get drafted anywhere, but a place like New York is pretty unbelievable. It’s close to home. It’s always been a good team since I’ve been watching. The Bruins were my favorite team, but the Rangers, Tampa and Chicago were other teams I liked watching,” said Hughes.
Hughes was able to meet his fellow prospects and many of the Rangers’ personnel at the organization’s development camp earlier this summer.
“It was cool going to camp and meeting the staff and the other players. It was a great experience,” said Hughes.
What exactly did the Rangers see in Hughes? They saw a tall, lanky right wing who can really skate and shoot the puck. His vision in the offensive zone is also elite, which makes him a good passer as well. The only knock on Hughes has been his strength and inability to play within the circles.
“I’m a good skater. I’m tall and working on getting bigger and stronger. I’m a smart player. I make good passes and have a good shot,” said Hughes when asked to describe his style of play.
Unlike many prospects who can easily answer the NHL player they like to emulate, Hughes was stumped when asked the question by NHL scouts.
“I had a hard time finding an answer to that, but after talking to a bunch of scouts, I’ve come to the conclusion that I play a little bit like Evander Kane or Blake Wheeler,” Hughes commented.
Family Pedigree
After a year in the BCHL, it will be off to Northeastern for Hughes, who eventually will get the opportunity to play with his younger brother, a fellow Husky commit, for the first time in their lives.
“I never had the chance to play with him. Obviously I won’t get to next year, which makes me wish I didn’t have to leave prep,” Hughes began.
“It’s nice to see him commit to Northeastern. That wasn’t his only option. He was visiting all the Boston schools, but he chose Northeastern. Originally he wasn’t leaning toward Northeastern, but it’s pretty great that he did. I can’t wait to play with him,” continued Hughes.
The brothers always have had a brotherly bond and have enjoyed many battles that have stretched beyond the ice surface. “We have a really good relationship. We’re really close. We skate together. We work out together. We’re competitive with everything, whether it’s hockey, playing one-on-one, basketball or XBox,” said Hughes, who also has a sister, Morgan.
“Having an older brother, he’s always been quick picking things up. He started playing hockey when he was 2 years old to keep up with me. I have to keep up with him in some aspects. It’s pretty cool having him to push me to get better,” Hughes added.
Hughes committed to Northeastern last November. While there were many factors involved, that tournament that’s played the first two Mondays of every February played a role.
“Growing up as a Boston hockey player, like most kids, we want to play at one of the Boston schools and play in the Beanpot. I wasn’t specifically looking at Boston schools. I was looking elsewhere, too, but I wanted to play here,” said Hughes.
Additionally, Hughes noted the recent trend of success for Jim Madigan’s program as well as the development of recent alums who didn’t come to St. Botolph Street as highly regarded prospects.
“Northeastern is having tons of success lately. It’s an up-and-coming program. (Assistant coach) Jerry Keefe was recruiting me all along. Jim Madigan is a great guy and a great coach. When I visited there the first time, I got a great feel for it and liked it a lot,” said Hughes.
“It was one of my top two schools, but what set me over the top was the coaching. I think Jerry and Jim do a great job. Their games are always high scoring and they’ve had the best power play in the country the past few years. They’ve had players come in who weren’t necessarily the best, but they grow as players,” said Hughes, alluding to Adam Gaudette, Dylan Sikura and Zach Aston-Reese, who all have gone on to the NHL.
Riley’s father grew up in Beaconsfield, Que., and went on to play college hockey at Middlebury from 1988-1992. He put up gaudy numbers for the Panthers and is now a well-known NHLPA agent with MFive Sports Management. He’s still found the time to coach Riley and Jack with the Junior Eagles.
“He’s coached me my whole life. He’s helped me so much. He’s taught me everything. He’s told me not to focus on stats, committing early, being drafted or on other players. He told me it’s a marathon and not a sprint. Being the best player when you’re young doesn’t mean you’ll be the best player later. Just try to improve and don’t bother concerning yourself on other players. Just focus on yourself and the rest will figure it out,” said Hughes of the best advice his father has given him.
It’s advice that has worked fairly well so far. What the future holds is still in doubt, but there’s no denying Hughes will have an opportunity of a lifetime playing junior hockey north of the border this winter.
