OTTAWA, ON – Selected in the 6th round, 56th overall in the 2021 Central Canada Hockey League Bantam Protected Draft by the Nepean Raiders, Ottawa, ON native Will Hughes put together a strong HEO U18 AAA rookie season in 2021-22 which concluded with both a league championship and him being taken in the 5th round, 96th overall by the Guelph Storm in the 2022 Ontario Hockey League Priority Selection.
Now in his second full season of U18AAA, Hughes has stepped into a much larger role both as an offensive contributor and as a leader with him being named captain for Nepean. He is known to be an electrifying two-way Center that uses his speed, offensive instincts, and his motor to dominate games. Whether he is creating offence, playing responsible defensively, killing penalties, winning key face-offs, or simply leading by example for his teammates through his all-in mentality and tenacious work-ethic, he is without a doubt one of the leagues top players and will continue to progress as the season unfolds.
He currently sits 2nd on the Raiders with 14 points (6G, 8A) through 9 games of action.
Prediction. ‘06 Ottawa, ON native Will Hughes will have a big year. A wrap-around for his 2nd of the game. @RaidersU18AAA lead OHA White 2-0 in the first period. pic.twitter.com/QHYDxgmpWs
— HEO U18 AAA (@HEOU18AAA) September 24, 2022
Prior to his time in U18AAA, Hughes came up through both the Ottawa Jr 67’s AAA and Ottawa Sting AA programs.