United States star defenseman Cole Hutson was taken off the Grand Casino Arena ice on a stretcher after he took a shot to his neck area in the second period of the Americans’ game against Switzerland at the World Junior Championship on Saturday, Dec. 27.
Hutson, who wasn’t facing the puck as he trailed a Switzerland forward in front of the net, dropped to the ice after he was struck by a shot from Swiss defenseman Gian Meier.
After he was placed on a headboard and transported to a hospital via ambulance, United States coach Bob Motzko said Hutson was back with the team in the locker room not long after their 2-1 victory.
“No question, it knocks you back — the building was silent — when you see something like that and someone gets hauled off," Motzko said. “The good news is he’s released and he’s back with us.”
Motzko said Hutson was not hit in the head by the puck, and the team would have more information on his playing status on Sunday, Dec. 28.
“It just caught him and it spooked him,” Motzko said.
Hutson, the Boston University defender and North Barrington, Ill., native, was a second-round pick by the Washington Capitals in 2024. He has two brothers playing professionally: Lane is with the Montreal Canadiens, and Quinn is a prospect for the Edmonton Oilers who scored his first career NHL goal on Dec. 18.
“Of course, you’re thinking about him and you want to know what’s the issue,” said forward Will Zellers, who scored the go-ahead goal against Switzerland. “At the same time, our coaches were great, reassuring us he will be OK, and we were getting updates, so that was nice to hear.”
