Centennial's Gabbie Hughes Strives for Greatness in Senior Season

Centennial's Gabby Hughes In Action Tuesday Night Against Irondale. Photo: Giles Ferrell

“I think that is what separates her from other kids is she has a heart for the game like no other. You can tell every time she steps onto the ice she loves it.”

That was how Centennial girls hockey head coach Kristi King best described Cougars senior forward Gabbie Hughes. “She’s a playmaker, she’s a goal scorer, she pushes her teammates to be better, she wins battles, she does everything,” King added.

‘Everything’ is just about what Hughes has accomplished in her five seasons with the Cougars. As an eighth-grader, Hughes registered 31 points in 27 games to lead Centennial that season.

Think about that for a minute. She was the team’s leading scorer as an eighth grader (!!!).

Hughes continued to put up the points over the next three seasons, including back to back 70-plus point seasons in her sophomore and junior seasons. She entered her senior season this year just 35 points away from 300 in her high school career. As of Jan. 24, Hughes sat just four away with 296 points.

“She has left a legacy over the past five years. She has made a huge impact both off and on the ice,” said King.

While her list of individual accomplishments in high school hockey is a distinguished list, she doesn’t even give it a thought.

“I don’t pay attention to [the scoring totals] much. It’s more of a team thing for me. People are always reminding me though,” said Hughes.

But while Hughes was racking up points in her time with Centennial, she had committed to continue her hockey career at the University of North Dakota. While committing to the Fighting Hawks in the summer of 2016, Hughes still had two seasons left of high school hockey before her move to Grand Forks.

Not even a year after Hughes had committed to the University, the unthinkable happened. North Dakota cut their women’s hockey program — along with men’s and women’s swimming — as part of budget cuts.

“It was a little disappointing. My stomach dropped as soon as I heard it. I don’t want to say ‘shocked’ to be dramatic, but I was [shocked]. I thought, “Wow, this is not good for girls hockey.””

Like the rest of the North Dakota team and fellow recruits, Hughes found out of the axing to the program via social media. “I got told by a friend in school because it got leaked on Twitter. Then I called my coaches and they were confused.”

Hughes did not go without a college commitment for long, as the University of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs quickly stepped in to get her aboard. The list of schools she considered was not long, and UMD was the front-runner right from the start.

“Coach King asked on what schools I would be interested in and I listed a couple,” Hughes said. “She said Duluth had already talked to [her] about it. It just seemed like wow, if they’re already noticing it and caring about it then they are a good school to go to.

“UMD got to me right away and it just felt like home.”

With a chip on the shoulder feeling now with the Bulldogs, Hughes said, “Many former North Dakota [players] are at Duluth now, and they are sending a message. I want to contribute to that.”

With her final month of high school hockey ahead, Hughes wants to go out on top in the team category.

The ultimate goal being the state tournament at the end of February. “One of our things this year is having the highest possible expectations for each other and holding each other accountable,” she said. “Our end goal is obviously section champs and state.”

Getting to state has been easier said than done for Centennial the past two years, as they have suffered defeat in the section playoffs both times.

“A couple years ago we were in the section final and last year we only got to the semis,” King said. “Coming into this year I think a goal for us was to get better every single day and be where we need to be (state tournament) come end of season.”

But with Hughes leading the way, King believes this year could end a bit differently for the Cougars. “[Hughes] has brought her game to the next level,” King said. “She is realizing its now or never for high school. Its either get the job done or regret it and she knows what she has to do to get better.”

In the entryway way of Centennial Arena, a couple of trophy cases holds Centennial Hockey’s trophies throughout the years — including the 2003-04 Boys’ High School State Championship Trophy. Also found in that case are a few trophies with the name Gabbie Hughes on them, from her days with the Cougars’ 12U teams.

“There is always room in there for another,” Hughes said.

Adding one — or even two — before the year ends would certainly be a cherry on top of what has been a spectacular high school career.


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