OTTAWA | Cole Hutson can now boast two things: he is the American defenseman with the most points in a World Junior Championship and the first guard to finish alone in first place in points in the competition.
With 11 points, including two in the final against the Finns, Hutson finished ahead of forwards Jakub Stancl, Ryan Leonard and Felix Unger-Sorum, as well as defenseman Axel Sandin Pellikka, who collected ten points each.
It had only happened twice before Hutson that a defenseman finished at the top of the World Junior points column: the American Erik Johnson in 2007 and the Swede Håkan Nordin in 1981.
However, both Johnson and Nordin did not finish alone at the top of the points, but rather tied with a few other players.
“I didn’t know it,” he assured afterwards. I wanted to win a gold medal and that’s really all that matters.”
Better than Lane
Hutson was dominant offensively throughout the contest. With 11 points in a single tournament, he also beat the production of his brother, Lane, at the World Cup. The latter had scored 10 points, but in two tournaments (14 matches).
“I knew that,” he said, smiling, when it was pointed out to him.
Because this tournament will have allowed the average hockey fan to discover the man who, otherwise, was only considered “the other’s brother”.
“I hope I’ve earned people’s respect. Obviously, Lane has paved the way for me my whole life and maybe now is the time for me to stand on my own two feet.”
This respect, one thing is certain, he already had from his teammates.
“He’s so strong. At [Championnat mondial des moins de 18 ans]it was the same thing. He was our best player and that was the case again here. I’m not surprised, every time he has the puck, he creates something.
Progress during the tournament
Obviously, Cole Hutson’s 11 points were a big factor in the Americans winning gold. But it wasn’t just by constantly attacking, without worrying about the rest, that Hutson got this production and it was more this aspect that made head coach David Carle proud.
“At the start of the tournament, he and Zeev [Buium] were trying to do a little too much and it was affecting the balance of our team. Subsequently, they chose their moments better and that did not change anything in their offensive contribution, in fact it improved it. I am very proud of him. There’s not much we can add about the player he is. His vision is world-class, he has a good shot. Everything he does is exceptional.”
