Green Beret veteran returns to civilian life as a UNC club hockey player

Posted Feb 14, 2024
Throughout UNC’s club hockey season, a camo helmet with flashes of gold can be seen moving in and out of the goal. Under the mask is Joel Hughes, an Army veteran and junior at UNC. Hughes enlisted in the Army out of high school, following the 9/11 terrorist attack. Now 39, he’s earning his college degree, playing hockey, and running a household. (UNC Media Hub)

Related: Campus Connections

Video: IC Podcast - Touch 'Em All with Larry Keith
"Touch 'Em All: My Life and Career at Sports Illustrated" is Larry Keith's memoir about an accomplished writer and editor who began his career at...
Wed Nov 5, 2025

A guide to Chapel Hill's live music scene
Chapel Hill’s live music scene is bustling and evergreen. Music venues in Chapel Hill and Carrboro have shows almost every single night. Student musicians make...
Wed Nov 5, 2025

Ghosts of UNC's past and present
Every October, the whispers of UNC’s past seem to echo a little louder. For decades, students and staff have swapped legends of spirits that are...
Mon Nov 3, 2025

Residents flock to spooktacular Halloween celebration on Franklin Street
Hundreds of people flocked to Franklin Street on Friday to celebrate Halloween in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The college town has been a popular spot...
Sat Nov 1, 2025