Ice Bats Bring Back Hughes

(Team Press Release) The Austin Ice Bats of the Central Hockey League today announced a change on the bench, with Brent Hughes returning to the team as Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations. The franchise’s winningest coach, Hughes guided the Ice Bats for four seasons from 1999 to 2003, compiling a 174-74-22 record and leading the team to consecutive appearances in the President’s Cup Finals.

The 40-year-old Hughes, a native of New Westminster, British Colombia, surpassed the 40-win mark and reached the playoffs in all four seasons as coach. In his final season, 2002-03, the Ice Bats finished 46-14-4 and earned the Governors Cup as CHL regular season champion.

Hughes is also a veteran of 12 seasons as a player in the National Hockey League, American and International Leagues. He spent all or part of eight seasons in the NHL, appearing in 357 games with the Winnipeg Jets, Boston Bruins, Buffalo Sabres and New York Islanders.

Hughes replaces Bill McDonald, who was relieved of his duties after compiling a 50-44-13 record over two seasons.

“I’m excited to get an opportunity to coach in the CHL again,” Hughes said. “Leaving the game after getting so close was a tough thing. I want to win a championship, and that’s the ultimate goal. And while it’s hard to build a team overnight, I believe I can get this team where it needs to be and be competitive.”

“I’d like to thank Bill McDonald for his efforts in leading our team over the past two seasons,” said Jeff Buch, Chairman of the Board of Capital Hockey Ventures, Ltd., the Ice Bats’ parent company. “Unfortunately, while the coach isn’t the one who laces up skates and goes out to play, ultimately he’s responsible for the team’s performance. We believe our team is capable of not only being a playoff team but a championship contender.”

“We’re incredibly fortunate to have the winningest coach in our history back at the helm,” Buch said. “Not only was he able to lead us to the playoffs in all four seasons, but under his guidance we twice reached the league finals. Our team is very much in the hunt, and we believe Brent’s abilities as a motivator and as a winner can push us over the top.”

The Ice Bats are 16-17-10 on the current season, in third place in the CHL Southeast Division. The Ice Bats will play Tuesday in Amarillo, a game rescheduled from New Year’s Eve because of hazardous weather and travel conditions. The Ice Bats will then return home for games this Friday against Rio Grande Valley and Saturday against Arizona.


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