Cole Hutson delivered in a huge game for the no. 9 ranked Boston University Terriers on Monday night. The 18-year-old defenseman scored the game-winning goal in BU’s 4-1 Beanpot Championship victory over their bitter rivals, Ryan Leonard’s no. 1 ranked Boston College Eagles.
Hutson’s game-winner, which delivered a record 32nd Beanpot title to the Terriers, came 6:53 into the second period. The Washington Capitals prospect found a soft spot in BC’s defense and fired a wicked wrister past goaltender Jacob Fowler from the left faceoff circle to put BU up 2-1.
The clutch goal came just 1:10 after BU’s Brandon Svoboda capitalized on a Gabe Perreault turnover and tied the game 1-1.
Leonard had set Perreault up for the game’s opening goal 6:13 into the first period. The 20-year-old winger finished the game with that assist, 12 shot attempts, six shots on goal, one blocked shot, and a roughing minor penalty.
The Terriers got an insurance marker from Cole Eiserman 13:52 into the third period and later a nearly full-ice empty-net goal from Gavin McCarthy.
Hutson was named the midseason tournament’s MVP after recording five points (3g, 2a) in two games. Since returning from the 2025 World Juniors, where he was the first defenseman to ever lead the tournament in scoring, he has 14 points (4g, 10a) in his last 10 NCAA games.
Hutson now has 28 points (8g, 20a) in 26 games this season. He leads all freshmen defenders in scoring and is fifth in overall scoring among first-year players.
Terriers goaltender Mikhail Yegorov also took home the Eberly Award winner as the goaltender with the best save percentage in the tournament. He made 69 of 71 stops in two games, including 43 saves in Monday night’s final.
Hutson’s older brother, Lane Hutson of the Montreal Canadiens, and Macklin Celebrini of the San Jose Sharks, both BU alumni, were in attendance to watch the big win. The NHL is currently on break for the 4 Nations Face-Off.
Cole went over to both during the celebrations while holding his MVP trophy.
The win was BU’s first against BC this season after the Eagles took two prior games from the Terriers in January by a combined 8-2 score.
The two teams could meet up two more times this season depending on seeding and how far they both advance in the Hockey East tournament and later the NCAA tournament.
