ST. LOUIS — Cole Hutson won the Tim Taylor Rookie of the Year Award Friday night, but his season’s not over yet.
“I couldn’t have done it without my teammates, coaches and family. It’s a lot of hard work,” he said after the announcement ceremony. “It means a lot to not only me, but I know my family was super proud, too.”
The Boston University men’s hockey team has made it to the NCAA championship game, finally making it past the semifinal game that has ended Jay Pandolfo’s previous two seasons at head coach.
“Not really too focused on the individual awards. I think it’s obviously a team game, and we’re going to need everybody to pull some weight to win,” Hutson said.
Hutson has played a huge role in this year’s success. In last night’s semifinal, he was the primary assist on Cole Eiserman’s game-winning goal. He had goals in both Toledo Regional games.
He’s the second consecutive Boston University player to win Rookie of the Year, after Macklin Celebrini won it in 2024.
“It gives you some confidence to make it to the next level,” Hutson said.
He now has 47 points on the season, the most out of any freshman in the NCAA. Second place in points is Penn State’s Charlie Cerrato with 42. Hutson’s total is good enough for second on BU, only three points behind his other brother Quinn.
Cole Hutson’s performance has been improving throughout the course of the season. In the first half, he struggled defensively at times. Turnovers and discipline were two major issues. He led the league in penalty minutes early in the season, including two games in the first half with 15 minutes in the box. He still leads the team in that stat.
Hutson took accountability for performing below his standards after the game at the University of Massachusetts, which he nearly single handedly won the game after BU was shut out 4-0 by UMass four days before.
“I take full responsibility for the first half of the season,” he said Dec. 11. “I haven’t been good enough for this team.”
Before that game, Huston had 44 penalty minutes and 10 points. He had four points against UMass, then headed off to the World Juniors to play for Team USA.
Hutson led the tournament in points and brought home a gold medal. He did not shy away from the international stage.
He had another four-point game in the Beanpot semifinal and scored the game-winner in the final at TD Garden. Against Ohio State in the Toledo regional semifinal, he scored four points again.
Lane Hutson made it to 49 points last season before his second BU season ended and he immediately made the jump to the NHL with the Montreal Canadiens. Cole’s just 2 points short.
“I won’t be surprised if… Cole beats him by one just to say ‘I beat you,’” Brian Leseur, the Hutsons’ private strength coach, said before the season. “I know that’s gonna be on Cole’s mind just because he’s so competitive, and the nature of them, I could totally see that.”
There’s only one more game left for Cole Hutson to reach that mark, and it’s the NCAA National Championship.
Recent Comments