Yup ….teammates at CEGEP Saint-Laurent
The two men played together with the Cégep Saint-Laurent Patriotes in 1987-1988. It was Hughes who sold Montgomery, who played for four years in Maine, on the idea of taking the American university route. When he left to play in Vermont, he continued to help his friend in his efforts. Several years later, when Montgomery was commuting between the National League and the American League, he called his old accomplice to ask him if he would like to take charge of his career again.
“What I always admired about Kent is that he works hard and is so intelligent. He is a student of the game and he always thought outside the box. In his career as an agent, I think that is why his clients loved him so much. He helped them develop as a player as well as a person, and that is because of the communication he had with each of them.” He’s an honest guy who values character as much as what you can do on the ice.”
After his playing career ended, Montgomery quickly climbed the coaching ladder. At every step, he continued to rely on his old pal’s advice.
“When I was coaching in Dubuque or the University of Denver, he would call me and tell me to go see this power play or that power play, that he had found something very advanced. And he was right. He would travel to see clients and if there was a coach at a college who was doing something different that he thought would help a team win, he would tell me and I would go see videos. He was always right.”
Whenever a tough question loomed or a difficult decision came his way, Montgomery called upon the wisdom of Kent Hughes. He always wanted his friend to know he could do the same.
“But life is always beautiful when you talk to Kent. That’s why I think he’s tailor-made for what he’s just undertaken. Of course, there will be tough days. Working hard and struggling, that’s life in the NHL. But Kent loves working hard, he lives for these kinds of challenges. I’m not surprised he accepted the Canadiens’ offer because it’s an opportunity for him to add something to his life experience.”