We lost one of the good guys: Gil Hughes passes away at 82

In junior hockey, there are a handful of guys you could always count on seeing almost anywhere, any time.

Gil Hughes was one of those guys.

The long time Wolves scout and lifelong hockey man passed away on May 6 at age 82.

I had the pleasure of knowing Gilly during his nine years as a Wolves scout, but I got to know him even before I came to Sudbury during his time as a scout for the Oshawa Generals.

He was a guy who always had time for a conversation and it didn’t always have to be about hockey, but there was no question where his passion was.

Hughes was a legend in Oshawa.

He coached the Oshawa Kiwanis Midget AAA team to championships in 1987, 1988, 1990 and 1992. Over his seven years behind the bench he had a record of 339-132-57.

For his many years of dedication and service, Hughes received a lifetime membership certificate from the Oshawa Minor Hockey Association in 2013.

His involvement in hockey in the Motor City as a coach and a scout dates back to 1977, which includes more than 20 years as a scout for the Oshawa Generals.

In recognition, he was inducted into the Oshawa Sports Hall of Fame in 2014.

Scouts have this unique ability to see things in a player that most of us don’t. It’s easy to recognize the talent in some players. A good scout not only does that, but also sees things that might not appear on the surface.

I had many conversations with Gil over the years about players and I was always amazed at how he described his thought process on what would make or break that player.

One of his main criteria was not always what the player did on the ice, but what that player was like off the ice. He went out of his way to get to know the player, his family, everything about him.

Hughes told me once that good character off the ice would always translate on the ice.

It’s funny, but that was a good description of Huges himself.

“Gil was a terrific mentor,” said Blaine Smith, the president and GM of the Sudbury Wolves. “He did his best to reach out and offer his support and advice, and he was extremely loyal, dedicated and cared deeply about the entire Sudbury Wolves organization, and every player that we drafted.”

Everyone will miss his infectious laugh, his unique sense of humour and above all, his passion for the game of hockey”.

Even at the age of 82, Hughes showed no signs of slowing down.

During the 2014-15 season, Hughes attended and reported on more than 200 midget games and was actively involved in the selection of a number of Wolves' drafted players including: David Levin, MacCauley Carson and Ben Garagan.

Gil was also recognized in 2008 with the OHL's Bill Long Award for Distinguished Service.

The Wolves, the Ontario Hockey League and the hockey world in general have lost one of the good guys.

Stew Kernan is the radio and television voice of the Sudbury Wolves, and the News Director at KiSS 105.3 and Q92.