Hughes signs with Sea Dogs

Twitter/John Moore

SAINT JOHN - Simon Hughes has signed with the Saint John Sea Dogs.

According to radio broadcaster John Moore, the 16-year-old forward will be joining the Dogs after starting the year with Rhode Island-based prep school Mount St. Charles Academy.

Rhode Island hockey reporter Mark Divver reported earlier this week that Hughes had returned home after continuous stops and starts in the prep school schedule due to COVID-19.

Hughes was a second-round pick of the Sea Dogs in this year's QMJHL Entry Draft and many thought he had a strong chance of making this year's team. He did not attend the team's training camp, which featured a much smaller roster than usual due to COVID (in a normal year he may have attended and stayed for 48 hours).

The Stratford, PEI native registered 17 goals and 42 points in 38 games with the Charlottetown Knights last season.

"One of the most underrated players in the draft," Sea Dogs assistant general manager Anthony Stella wrote in June about Hughes. "Very smart, skilled and has size to add to his tools. We couldn’t believe he was there at 38 and it was a no-brainer pick for us. For a player with so much talent and is still so raw, Simon has the potential to be one of the better players in this entire draft."

Hughes was ranked 60th by HockeyProspect.com for the QMJHL Entry Draft while Central Scouting had him 34th.

"When he’s on his game, he’s a dominant player with his skills and great vision," wrote HockeyProspect.com.

Hughes joins forward Leighton Carruthers and defensemen Nathan Drapeau and Hunter Gartley as 16-year-olds on the Sea Dogs.