Cole Hutson picked up right where he left off in the NCAA last spring.
The 19-year-old defender made his season debut for Boston University against Long Island University on Saturday night, notching his first two points (1g, 1a) of the year in a 4-2 win. Hutson, a 2024 second-round pick of the Washington Capitals, scored the game-winning goal, a highlight-reel tally with 12:49 remaining in the third period.
After receiving the puck at the blueline, Hutson made a head-fake move around an advancing LIU forward and fired a blistering wrister to the top shelf from the left faceoff dot.
The goal was his second point of the game after he fed Cole Eiserman for a one-timer on a first-period power play.
Hutson, named an alternate captain in September, is back at BU after winning the 2025 Tim Taylor Award as NCAA Rookie of the Year and recording six more points than the next-best freshman in the nation.
In his first year with the Terriers, Hutson posted 48 points (14g, 34a) in 39 games, finishing tied for most points by a defenseman with Denver sophomore Zeev Buium. BU made it to the national title game, where they fell 6-2 to the Western Michigan Broncos.
After falling in the final game of the 2024-25 NCAA season, the BU roster saw a lot of turnover, adding several highly-touted commits and transfers, including NHL draft picks Conrad Fondrk, Jack Murtagh, Carter Amico, Charlie Trethewey, Sacha Boisvert, Ben Merrill, Ryder Ritchie, Owen McLaughlin, Jonathan Morello, and Malte Vass.
“Young team, lots of new guys, and it was good to see them in those types of [close-game] situations,” Hutson said postgame. “Hard-fought game. It’s just a good way to get your first win.”
Hutson, who says he’s majoring in “hockey” at BU, was a top performer at the most recent Capitals’ development camp. Just like Ryan Leonard last season, he could sign an entry-level contract with the Capitals whenever BU wraps up their season next spring.
The Terriers will be right back on the ice Sunday evening, as they host the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) Engineers at Agganis Arena.
