The Manchester Monarchs, the primary affiliate of the National Hockey League’s Los Angeles Kings, have hired Jim Hughes as head coach and Derek Clancey as assistant coach.
Hughes, 38, served as assistant coach for the Monarchs for the past two seasons. Prior to joining the Monarchs in 2003, Hughes was an assistant coach for the Boston Bruins (2001-03), the Orlando Solar Bears of the International Hockey League (1999-2001) and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (1994-96) and Providence College (1992-94). He was part of the Solar Bears’ 2001 Turner Cup championship team and the R.P.I. Engineers’ ECAC conference title team during the 1994-95 season.
Hughes played four seasons of hockey at Providence College (1985-89) and served as team captain during the 1988-89 season. He was named the Friars’ most valuable player and a Hockey East All-Star that same year.
Clancey, 36, has been the head coach of the Monarchs’ ECHL affiliate, the Reading Royals, for the past two seasons (2003-05). He led Reading to the North Division title during the 2003-04 season and missed the Kelly Cup finals by one win. Prior to joining the Royals, the St. John’s, Nfld., native was the head coach of the ECHL’s Jackson Bandits for four seasons (1999-2003).
As a player, Clancey played for five ECHL teams over eight professional seasons.
