Port Alberni – The Port Alberni Junior Hockey Society and the Alberni Valley Bulldogs hockey club are pleased to announce that they have hired Matt Hughes as head coach and general manager of the Alberni Valley Bulldogs. It is a two-year agreement with an option for a one-year renewal.
Hughes comes to the Bulldogs from the highly respected Pursuit of Excellence hockey academy in Kelowna, B.C. where he was the head coach of the U18 Midget Prep team. Pursuit’s emphasis on hockey development, academic excellence and community service deemed Hughes an excellent fit for the Alberni Valley Bulldogs core beliefs. He has helped more than 30 of his past players obtain NCAA Division 1 scholarships.
“I would like to thank the Bulldogs organization for this opportunity. The Alberni Valley is an amazing community with a knowledgeable and enthusiastic fan base,” said Hughes. “I’m looking forward to the work we have ahead of us.”
Prior to the Pursuit of Excellence academy, Matt spent 11 years coaching competitive junior hockey in the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL), North American Hockey league (NAHL), and BCHL. Matt coached the AJHL Grande Prairie Storm as assistant coach, head coach and general manager from 2012 to 2014. He also served as assistant coach and assistant GM of the NAHL Dawson Creek Rage from 2010 to 2012. Prior to the Rage, Hughes served as head coach and assistant GM of the BCHL Salmon Arm Silverbacks.
In 2008 and 2009, Hughes was the assistant coach and video coach for the Hockey Canada World U17 program, winning silver in 2009 and helping develop young player such as Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Mark Pysyk and Brendan Gallagher. Hughes’ career started in 2003 with coaching stints with the Summerland Kings and Columbia Valley Rockies of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League and the BCHL Quesnel Millionaires.
“Our search for a new head coach saw an overwhelming amount of interest in the Alberni Valley Bulldogs,” said Port Alberni Hockey Society President Ron Paulson. “It speaks volumes to the reputation of the Alberni Valley Bulldogs franchise, and the reputation of the BCHL.”
Over 100 resumes were received for the Bulldogs head coach/GM position.
Hughes starts work immediately, recruiting for the 2017/18 season. He will be overseeing the Bulldogs Osoyoos spring identification camp along with assistant coach Alex Even and the rest of the Alberni Valley Bulldogs scouting staff.
