Gary Hughes

Gary Hughes got his start in ice hockey with the Calgary Buffaloes of the Western Canada Junior Hockey League from 1951 through 1953, although he also played over a dozen games with the Kimberley Dynamiters of the Western International Hockey League (WIHL) during that time as well. From 1954 through 1957 he was with the WIHL’s Colorado College Tigers and won a National Collegiate Athletic Association championship with them in his final year, while earning a degree in geology. He then travelled to Europe, where he spent 1958-1960 with the Wembley Lions of the British National League, and 1960-1961 with Kjøbenhavns Skøjteløberforening and the Richmond Ambassadors. With the Lions, he won the Ahearne Cup in 1959. He ended his career with Gislaveds SK in Sweden from 1964-1968.

During his time in Europe, Hughes coached the Polish national team from 1963-1966. Under his leadership, they were 12th and 9th at the 1963 and 1965 World Championships respectively, and also came in 9th at the 1964 Innsbruck Olympics. Follwing the end of his coaching career, he returned to Canada to work as a professional geologist. His brother, Don, also had a brief hockey playing career.