(The Athletic) – In 2023, John Wroblewski, head coach of the United States women’s national hockey team, sat down with USA Hockey assistant executive director John Vanbiesbrouck for a state of the union of the program at their world championship selection camp in Blaine, Minn.
“Wrobo,” as he’s known to players and staff, felt the women’s program was missing one piece: a liaison who could work with the players and be a buffer between him and them. Somebody they would trust to talk to about their game, their life. Somebody who would always be a phone call away.
And he knew the perfect person.
Once upon a time, Wroblewski had coached not one, not two, but all three of Ellen Hughes’ boys, Quinn, Jack and Luke, with the U.S. National Team Development Program.
Hughes was a tremendous hockey player back in the day, a college star and captain who played in the second-ever IIHF Women’s World Championship in 1992, winning a silver medal.
“Ellen and I hadn’t talked in probably a year at that point, maybe even more,” Wroblewski said. “We were friendly, but Jim (Hughes) and I probably handled more of our interactions when it came to their boys. But I loved talking hockey with Ellen, loved her history with the sport and loved watching her interact with people.
