University of Toronto Athletics

An accomplished dual sport intercollegiate athlete, Karen Hughes is an equally impressive coach and mentor. This Varsity Blues stalwart of the 1980s played for championship soccer and ice hockey teams.

A member of five OWIAA championship ice hockey teams from 1983-85, 1987 and 1989, Hughes served as captain for two years 1986-88. During this time, she earned recognition as an Athlete of the Week in 1984-85 and 1987-88 for hockey and in 1986 for her soccer accomplishments; three provincial all-star soccer team nods (1985-87), as well as a CIAU all-star team position. Hughes was the first Varsity Blues women’s soccer player to earn CIAU All-Canadian status in 1987, and is a double T-Holder Award recipient.

As impressive as this component of Hughes’ career has been, her coaching success is even more remarkable. Hughes began her coaching duties with the Varsity Blues Women’s Ice Hockey Team as an assistant to fellow Hall of Fame inductee Dave McMaster in 1991, helping the Blues to three OWIAA championships. She became head coach in 1993, when McMaster retired.

Under Hughes’ the Blues finished in first place every season and won three OUA championships. She helped to guide the team to the CIAU championships on three occasions, earning a bronze medal in 1998, a silver in 1997 and a fourth place finish in 2000. In 1998, Hughes joined the Canadian National Team as an assistant coach. To date, the team has won the world championships (1999), won the coveted Three Nations Cup twice (1998-99, 1999-2000), as well as the TSN Challenge Cup in 1998-99 and 1999-2000. Hughes has also coach numerous junior, provincial, and national junior hockey teams. In the early 1990s she served as an assistant coach for local and provincial soccer teams. Her coaching abilities were recognized with the 3-M Coaching Award in 2000.

A quiet leader, Karen Hughes has made an indelible impression upon the history of sport and the University of Toronto. Her accomplishments in both soccer and hockey are second to none.