While Spencer Hughes may have grown up in the Greater Toronto Area, he has embraced playing in smaller communities and has developed an appreciation for the diehard fans in those towns.
The 19-year-old’s resume includes stops in Northern Ontario (with the French River Rapids of the NOJHL), Saskatchewan (with the Humboldt Broncos of the SJHL), and Alberta (with the Grande Prairie Storm of the AJHL).
Hughes has also played triple-A hockey in Mississauga and gained high school experience in Quebec with Stanstead College. Now closer to home with the Trenton Golden Hawks, the left-shooting forward has 26 points, including seven goals, in 33 games.
Even though Hughes has seen hockey in a variety of environments, he is still impressed by the support and enthusiasm in Quinte West.
"It's amazing," he said. "We have such a great group here and a fantastic fan base. Coming from the big city, you see how a community like this can be such a great place to play. We get so many fans coming out to our games, it's awesome. The things we've been able to do around the community over the last couple of months have been really special."
Although there are many opportunities in his hometown, Hughes has found significant experience and playing time by travelling a little farther afield.
Hughes started his career close to home with the Mississauga Rebels of the GTHL. In triple-A, Hughes was good enough to capture the attention of the Mississauga Steelheads, who took him in the OHL Priority Selection Draft in 2021.
He credited his experiences in Mississauga with developing his play and strengthening his bond with one of his current teammates.
"I played there pretty much my whole minor hockey career. It's really a great spot to develop and grow your game," he said. "There are so many players who have come out of there over the years. We even have a couple on our team. I played against Taeo (Artichuk) growing up. It's really cool to eventually come back and be playing with a guy I used to play against."
After several years of travelling, Hughes is enjoying playing against competitors he knows and in familiar arenas in the OJHL.
"You have so many guys you played against your entire life who now play on different teams. In a sense, we've all kind of grown up together."
"Last weekend we were in Mississauga, and that rink is five minutes from my house. I grew up playing there. You make so many memories as a kid, and it’s nice to go back especially as a more mature player now and maybe make some new memories in those places."
Hughes attributes much of his success to the experiences he had at various stops. He believes his time at Stanstead College was crucial to both his academic and athletic growth.
"It was awesome. I only went there for a year, but we played against a bunch of really good teams," he said. " The schooling is great, and you live around your teammates and classmates, so it’s really cool. You make memories and friends that last a lifetime. I played with Jaxon (Pierce) at Stanstead, so it's nice to play with him again."
"Their primary focus is that you're a student first and a hockey player second. You have to multitask because you're on the road a lot, but it prepares you for what's to come if you play university sports or anywhere in the future. It teaches you to stay disciplined and on top of everything."
Hughes continues to take high school courses, recognizing the growing importance of balancing academics and hockey as he looks toward future opportunities.
"I'm still taking high school courses right now to stay on top of my studies," he said." At the end of the day, that's what gets you into school. Your hockey helps, but focusing on both school and playing the best I can is all I can do at this point."
Before joining the Golden Hawks, Hughes split a season between the Humboldt Broncos and the Grande Prairie Storm.
Playing for the Broncos was especially meaningful for Hughes, as the community and organization continue to honour the victims of the 2018 bus tragedy that claimed 16 lives, including 10 players and six staff members.
Hughes was impressed with the city's and fan base's commitment to remembering those lost in the crash.
"The community there is incredible they’ve really come together," he said. "It’s hard to put into words. It was just kind of surreal. I remember being a kid and seeing that, and it was so tough to watch. To get the chance to play there was really cool. Every game, you go into that rink, you think about the ceremony they had on TV. It was awesome to wear that jersey and honour the legacy."
Now in Trenton, Hughes continues to thrive in a community that shares a similar passion for hockey and a strong bond between players and fans.
For Hughes, playing in Trenton has been a rewarding experience. He believes the strong connection with his teammates has contributed to their impressive performance this season, which includes a 29-4-2 record and a spot in the CJHL Top 20 national rankings.
"It's really cool being around the guys," he said. "It's a great atmosphere, and I think that's reflected in how we've been playing. We’ve got a really special group of guys this year."
With the stretch drive approaching, Hughes and his teammates are hoping for continued success.
Comments