When Canada was eliminated in the quarter-finals of the recently completed World Junior Hockey Championship in Sweden, there were plenty of disappointed Canadians who realized the defending champions wouldn’t even medal this year.
However, there were a few pockets here and there who were cheering loudly when the American team defeated host Sweden for the gold medal, including some, right here in the Valley.
Or should we say they were cheering on Lane Hutson, the dynamic 19-year-old defenceman from Team USA. His father, Rob Hutson, was born in Bowsman and they still have family here in the Valley, guaranteeing a strong local Hutson cheering contingent.
Hutson wasn’t just a member of Team USA, he was a key cog, playing huge and important minutes. The five-foot, 10-inch, 161-pound left-shot blueliner finished with six assists and 14 penalty minutes in the tournament (anyone who watched the tournament can attest the officiating was suspect at best). The second-round draft pick of the Montreal Canadiens was also a solid plus-eight in his plus/minus.
But most importantly, Hutson – who was born in Barrington, Ill., got to hear the American national anthem played after the final game of the tournament, and had a gold medal draped over his neck, signifying his team was the best in the world.
“It felt really good to win – to be with this team, at that moment, I couldn’t be happier,” said Hutson. “I was really part of history.”
Many observers expected a final between Sweden and the United States. These two teams, in various forms, have met each other in high-profile games over the past two years, with each claiming victories over each other – including Sweden defeating the USA in the final of the Under 18 championship two years ago.
“With our age group, the rivalry really started in the Under 18s,” said Hutson. “We were able to beat them out for the bronze last year (at the World Juniors), but beating them for the gold this year, that was the cherry on top.”
And the Americans were literally in hostile territory, as Sweden rallied around their team in a major way. The cheering was never-ending, and that was something the young Americans had to contend with.
“I don’t think I’ve ever played in an atmosphere like that before,” noted Hutson. “There was constant clapping, cheering – it was really special.”
Gold medal in hand, Hutson is now back in North America, playing with his college team Boston University. As well, Hutson has to think about his hockey future. Before the tournament, Hutson spoke with some representatives of the Canadiens, who wished him well in not just the World Championship, but the rest of his school year.
“We talked about my goals this year, and winning gold was one of them, so that’s checked off,” says Hutson.
“I also have goals with Boston University (currently ranked second in the nation behind Boston College), and that includes winning a championship with them as well,” he added. “So, they have encouraged me to keep going, as I’m going to have a lot more meaningful games coming up.”
As of early January, the soon-to-be 20-year-old Hutson has nine goals and 23 points in 16 games with Boston University – his second year with the team. The alternate captain really turned heads last year as a rookie, scoring 15 goals and adding 33 assists in 39 games. So, a Frozen Four appearance is definitely in the cards for this up-and-comer.
Hutson’s college career mirrors that of his father Rob, who after a strong junior career in the BCJHL with Bellingham, went on to star with the University of Illinois-Chicago before enjoying a long career in professional hockey.
And Lane is quite aware of his father’s roots – he spoke about spending the summer in the Valley as a youth, and has nothing but positive memories of spending time where his dad grew up.
“Dad grew up there, and when I was younger, we would go there every summer,” says Hutson. “I remember enjoying my time there – the weather was great, and my uncle had a place we would stay at with a huge garden and there was always lots to do.”
Hutson isn’t the only one following in his father’s footsteps. His older brother Quinn is a current teammate at Boston University, while his younger brother Cole is already committed to joining the team next season. Cole is also ranked to go in the first three rounds of the upcoming NHL draft as well. Finally, the youngest of the bunch, Lars, is a talented 15-year-old prospect himself.
So, with a World Junior championship in hand, a run at a national championship in the NCAA on tap this spring, and a professional hockey career on the horizon, 2024 is shaping up to be quite the year for Hutson and his family.