Goalie for the Laval Rocket, the American Hockey League (AHL) club affiliated with the Montreal Canadiens (NHL), Connor Hughes (28 years old) saw his sporting destiny turned upside down in the middle of the 2024 final of the Swiss championship. While he was defending the Lausanne HC net against Zurich, he received a message from his agent. “Between matches 2 and 3, he told me that a recruiter from the Canadian was observing me and that he wanted to meet me,” relates the Canadian-Swiss in the luxurious locker room at Place Bell, where he regularly plays in front of more than 10,000 spectators. We ate together on the eve of the 4th act of the final and it was probably that evening that I became a member of the Canadian.
His trainer is seduced
Pascal Vincent, head coach of the Laval Rocket, has been coaching in the professional ranks, both in the NHL and the AHL, for fourteen years. When asked if he remembers a goalkeeper from Europe adapting so quickly to the North American style, he thought for a long time. Then responds: “I have no comparison!” Words that sound like compliments. “He’s adapting really well and he’s had a good start to the season.” And to emphasize, to put the last part into perspective: “It’s impossible to maintain this level all the time.”
With a big smile on his face in this venue located 17 metro stations from the Bell Centre, the Canadiens’ ice rink, he underlines: “Unfortunately, we lost the final. But I don’t think it’s because of these contract discussions.”
Even though he had a complicated last match (he was replaced during the game on Saturday in Hartford), Connor Hughes is having a good start to the season across the Atlantic, as evidenced in particular by his 91% save record. So much so that his name is regularly mentioned as a solution for the Canadian, whose No2 goalkeeper (Cayden Primeau) presents the worst card in the NHL with 83.6% of saves. “I try not to think about it too much and play well. Because if I play well, good things will happen.” A credo which is also the summary of his career: wasn’t he playing the fireman in Sierre three years ago? Wasn’t he No. 2 at Gottéron two years ago?
He also makes no secret of his next goal: “Playing with Montreal in the NHL.” While he is only linked for this season with the organization of the Quebec metropolis, Connor Hughes still asked his agent to explore the Swiss market. “There are discussions with a few clubs,” he said.
