Boston University is certainly doing better than the Bruins right now in terms of team stability. While the pros are struggling in the aftermath of Marchand’s departure, the kids at BU seem to be enjoying, and thriving, in their time in the sun. The prestigious Hockey East Rookie of the Year award, handed out to the best player as voted by each coach of every team in the division, was recently awarded to Boston University’s star defenseman, Cole Hutson, and while this is reason enough for the program to celebrate, there’s more.

Hutson’s honor comes a year after another Terrier, Macklin Celebrini, won in 2024. And Celebrini, in turn, came after Cole’s brother, Lane Hutson, who bagged the award in 2023, making BU the third university, after Michigan and Michigan Tech, to have three consecutive winners, leading to a noteworthy post by Cam Robinson of Elite Prospects.

Robinson, a talent scout in his own right, correctly points out that the recruiters at BU are working some sort of magic in their spotting skills, which also holds true for the long term, given that both Lane Hutson, playing for the Canadiens and Macklin Celebrini, scoring for the Sharks, are now favorites for this year’s Calder Trophy. Cole Hutson, still a freshman, unfortunately cannot also compete for the award, reserved for the Big Leagues, i.e., NHL, but has already amassed an enviable reputation.

Who is Cole Hutson, 2025 Hockey East’s Rookie of the year? 

BU Freshman and most recent Hockey East Rookie of the Year winner, Cole Hutson, has been raising eyebrows for a while now. Prior to this win, he helped Team USA bag gold at the 2025 World Junior Championship, where he further impressed by becoming the first defenseman to lead the tournament in scoring with 11 points (3 goals and 8 assists).

He also supported team USA during their near stellar performance in the 4 Nations Face-Off, singing along to Skynyrd’s FreeBird as he did. And something seems to clearly run in the family, because Cole and his brother Lane are the only two defensemen in the NCAA who, since 2005-06, have recorded 10+ goals and 25+ assists in their first 32 career games.

If that isn’t enough, Cole is also currently tied for first place amongst NCAA rookies for both points and assists. And it doesn’t stop there; Hutson isn’t just leading among rookies, he’s also standing out in the Hockey East defense, regardless of year. His 12 goals, 27 assists, and 39 points have allowed him to top the leaderboard for rookie defensemen and all blue-liners in the conference!

Off to what is already a more than impressive start, Cole Hutson will be joining a long line of BU graduates who went on to make NHL history, with players such as Jack Eichel, Clayton Keller, Brady Tkachuk, Charlie Coyle, and Charlie McAvoy, hailing from the uni, which only further substantiates Cam Robinson’s point– the recruiters are certainly doing something right.

And soon it will be up to the NHL recruitment teams, who are probably counting down the days for this freshman to become a senior!