Scary moment at World Juniors as Lane Hutson's brother Cole stretchered off after puck to the head

During the game between the United States and Switzerland, a troubling sequence involving the young defenseman was seen.

In the footage circulating, he appears to have been struck in the upper body, and the evacuation was quick. As of Saturday night, no clear official update had confirmed the exact severity of the situation.

When it involves the head, it is never trivial, even during the holiday season. Montreal Canadiens fans immediately made the connection, because Cole is Lane Hutson's brother. And for the past year, the Hutson name has no longer gone unnoticed in the NHL.

At 19 years old, Cole Hutson already has a resume that draws attention. He was drafted 43rd overall by the Washington Capitals in 2024. At Boston University, he has already filled the scoresheet: 39 points in 34 games, including 12 goals, in a recent season.

This year, his production has remained strong in the NCAA. In his 2025-2026 season, he had 7 goals and 13 assists in 18 games by mid-December. And at the 2025 World Junior Championship, he led the tournament with 11 points-3 goals and 8 assists-in 7 games.

On the other side, Lane Hutson has become a very familiar face in Montreal. He broke the franchise record for points by a rookie defenseman with 65 points, surpassing Chris Chelios, and finished his rookie season with 66 points.

Lane also won the Calder Trophy, then signed an eight-year, $70.8 million extension that begins in 2026-2027, after earning $950,000 on his entry-level contract.

Right now, however, hockey comes second. Everyone is simply hoping that Cole Hutson is okay, full stop. We will wait for the medical update, and then we will breathe again.