Canadiens: Hughes' Sons Carving Out Own Hockey Legacies

While Kent Hughes runs the Montreal Canadiens in the NHL, his two sons, Riley and Jack, are carving out their hockey legacies in college and the minors while trying to reach the game's highest levels.

Montreal Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes has two boys in hockey, and both have had a busy 2024-25 season. 

First, his oldest son, Riley, a seventh-round draft pick of the New York Rangers in 2018, is playing in the ECHL with the Savannah Ghost Pirates. He is tied for the team lead, scoring 14 points in 12 games. 

After five seasons in the NCAA with Northeastern University and a stint with Ohio State University, he played in the ECHL last season with the Iowa Heartlanders. 

Although the right-winger is not known for his point production—he scored just four points in 12 games last year—he earned his first AHL call-up this season, skating a game with the Charlotte Checkers on Oct. 19. 

Since returning to the Ghost Pirates, he's had several multi-point games, leads the team in goals (eight), and is tied with Reece Vitelli for the team lead with 14 points.

Meanwhile, Riley's younger brother, Jack, is playing his second season at Boston University. The Los Angeles Kings drafted him in the second round in 2022, but he remains unsigned and has three points in 11 games. 

Last year, the former United States National Team Development Program skater had a personal best season in the NCAA, scoring 19 points in 38 games and being named to the NCAA (Hockey East) All-Rookie Team. 

However, the Hughes brothers are not the only ones looking to continue their careers in professional hockey. Their first cousin, Callum Hughes, was recently in the news for leaving the BCHL West Kelowna Warriors to join the OHL Erie Otters.

Callum has scored nine goals and 14 points in 20 games this season. Last year, the undrafted center scored 23 goals and 42 points in 54 games. He remains committed to Boston University, where he could play with Jack someday.

As many fans know, Kent never played professional hockey. He last skated in NCAA Div III with Middlebury College from 1988 to 1992. His brother Ryan (Callum's dad) played several seasons in the AHL and IHL, dressing for three games with the Boston Bruins in 1995-96 after being a second-round pick of the Quebec Nordiques in 1992.

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