ST. PAUL, Minn. — During a pivotal moment in the United States’ 2-1 preliminary-round victory against Switzerland at the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship, Cole Eiserman instinctively skated over to offer support to his injured teammate, Cole Hutson. The incident occurred at 11:01 of the second period when Hutson, a highly regarded defenseman for the Washington Capitals, was struck by a puck near the back of his helmet, leading to his immediate collapse on the ice.
As medical personnel rushed to assist Hutson, Eiserman, who plays for the New York Islanders, joined their efforts along with several other teammates. Hutson was eventually placed on a backboard and taken off the ice. Reflecting on the moment, Eiserman stated, “I wasn’t really a hockey player in that moment. He went down and I was just asking him if he was alright. You could just tell by his face and everything that he was shocked.”
The powerful image of Eiserman holding Hutson’s hand while he lay on the ice quickly went viral within the hockey community, highlighting the strong bond and camaraderie among teammates. “I was praying the whole time, and God did his thing and got him back,” Eiserman shared. He expressed relief upon seeing Hutson respond by squeezing his hand, which provided comfort to both him and the surrounding teammates.
Eiserman and Hutson share a friendship that spans over nine years, having played together at Boston University and previously for USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program. After the incident, Coach Bob Motzko provided an update, noting that Hutson was present at practice but remained day-to-day and off the ice. “Injuries happen and the next guy’s got to step up. Everyone’s got to carry their weight,” Motzko remarked, acknowledging the depth and resilience of the team.
Although Hutson’s return to the lineup is uncertain, his performance at the World Juniors prior to the injury has been impressive. With 13 points (three goals, ten assists) in just nine games, he is on the brink of breaking significant U.S. records for defensemen in World Junior history. He needs just one point to tie Erik Johnson for the most career points and one assist to surpass Ryan Suter’s record for assists.
Eiserman expressed hope for Hutson’s recovery, emphasizing the significance of their final chance to compete together in the tournament. “He has some big things he could have done, and hopefully, we’ll be able to do so,” Eiserman concluded, underlining the optimism shared among teammates as they navigate this challenging situation together.