Ellen Weinberg-Hughes (née Weinberg; born July 8, 1969) is an American former ice hockey player. She competed internationally for the US women's national team at the 1992 Women's World Championship, capturing a silver medal while being named to the tournament's all-star team. She played collegiate hockey, lacrosse and soccer for the University of New Hampshire. She was inducted into the UNH Athletic Hall of Fame in 2012. After her playing career was over, she served as an assistant coach at UNH for the soccer and ice hockey teams, while attending graduate school. She also served as an advisor to Norway's women's hockey team in 1994. == Early life == Weinberg-Hughes was born on July 8, 1969, in St. Louis, Missouri, and was raised in Dallas, Texas. She is the daughter of Penny (Klamon) and Dr. Warren Abraham Weinberg, who was a pediatric neurologist, faculty member, and medical researcher at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School. Her brother is sociologist Adam S. Weinberg, the president of Denison University. Her family is Jewish. Weinberg-Hughes stated that due to there being no girls teams in the Dallas area she began playing ice hockey with the boys teams, and told a local TV station at 12-years-old her goal was to become a professional hockey player. In 1984, Weinberg-Hughes competed and won an international tournament with her high school club soccer team, the Dallas Stings in Xi'an, China. During her time with the Stings, she played with Carla Overbeck and Mia Hamm and roomed with Brandi Chastain. == Athletic and professional career == Weinberg-Hughes competed in three sports (ice hockey, soccer, and lacrosse) at the University of New Hampshire (UNH) during her collegiate career. As a lacrosse player, Weinberg-Hughes was a member of the UNH women's team that made it to the national semi-finals in 1987. As a soccer player, Weinberg-Hughes played midfield and forward. As a freshman, she was named to the All-New England Team, and helped her team to the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) final game. She finished her soccer career at UNH having played in 70 games, recording 11 goals and 16 assists. As an ice hockey player, Weinberg-Hughes played defense, and was noted to be a smooth skater and good passer. In 1991, she was named to the ECAC All-Star Team. In her UNH ice hockey career, Weinberg-Hughes scored 6 goals and added 32 assists in 79 career games. In 2012, she was inducted in the University of New Hampshire Athletic Hall of Fame. After completing her collegiate eligibility, Weinberg-Hughes stayed at UNH to pursue a graduate degree. During this time, she served as an assistant coach to the women's ice hockey and soccer teams. In 1992, Weinberg-Hughes was named to the US women's hockey team for the 1992 Women's World Championship. She played in five tournament games, recording 4 assists. Team USA captured a silver medal at the tournament, and Weinberg-Hughes was named to the tournament all-star team at its conclusion. While training for an international tournament Weinberg-Hughes injured her knee requiring ACL, MCL, and meniscus surgery in 1996 ending her playing career. In 1994, Weinberg-Hughes was serving as an adviser to Norway's national team. After her athletic career, Weinberg-Hughes worked in broadcasting, covering soccer and hockey. During the 1999 Women's World Cup, she worked for ESPN as a sideline reporter. She also worked covering soccer for the Big Ten Network, but stepped back from her career when her sons' playing careers got too busy. In 2023, Weinberg-Hughes began working as a player development consultant for the US Women's Ice Hockey national team and was credited with helping the team win gold during the 2023 and 2025 World Championships. During the 2026 Winter Olympics Weinberg-Hughes served as a player development consultants for the US Women's Ice Hockey team. == Personal life == Weinberg-Hughes' husband, Jim, is a former ice hockey player and coach who has worked in the Toronto Marlies and Toronto Maple Leafs organizations. They have three sons, all of whom were drafted in the first round of their respective National Hockey League drafts. Quinn was drafted seventh overall in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft by the Vancouver Canucks and currently plays for the Minnesota Wild. Jack was drafted first overall in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft by the New Jersey Devils. Her youngest son, Luke, was drafted fourth overall by the New Jersey Devils in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. Weinberg-Hughes taught all three of her sons how to skate. Her children were all born in Orlando, Florida, due to Weinberg-Hughes' husband's work, but they were largely raised in Mississauga, Ontario. == See also == List of select Jewish ice hockey players == References == == External links == Biographical information and career statistics from Eliteprospects.com