Cole Hutson, the USA’s best defenseman, was taken off the ice on a stretcher during the second period of the world junior hockey championship on Saturday, Dec. 27.
He appeared to be hit by a shot in the neck or the back of the head with about nine minutes left in the second period of the game against Switzerland.
Concerned teammates gathered around Hutson as medical personnel checked on him. The defenseman was able to move his legs, but a stretcher was called for and he was wheeled off the ice.
Switzerland tied the game shortly after the Hutson injury, but Will Zellers put the USA ahead 2-1 later in the second period.
Hutson was taken to the hospital for evaluation. USA Hockey said he has been released from the hospital and is day-to-day. The USA has Sunday off and resumes play on Monday, Dec. 29.
Coach Bob Motzko told reporters on Sunday that Hutson remains day-to-day.
“He’s back with us,” he said. “The smile on his face this morning at breakfast, (he) came on the bus with us, so we’ll just talk to the medical people and go day-to-day. … We hope we get him back very soon.”
Hutson plays for Boston University and is a Washington Capitals draft pick.
He led all scorers at last season’s world junior championships with 11 points, and he had two assists in the opening win against Germany. He needs one point to tie Erik Johnson’s U.S. record for career world junior championship points by a defenseman.
His older brother, Lane, was the 2024-25 NHL rookie of the year with the Montreal Canadiens.