All photos courtesy of Cole Hutson
It was a good-as-gold brother act for defencemen Lane and Cole Hutson.
Although played out in different arenas on different continents, they were two games that Lane, now in his first NHL season with the Montreal Canadiens, and his younger brother, Cole, a 2024 second-round pick of the Washington Capitals, will remember for a long time.
Cole and his U.S. teammates celebrated winning 2025 world junior gold after a thrilling 4-3 overtime win over Finland in the championship game played at the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa on Jan. 5.
The 18-year-old also became the first defenceman to outright lead the tournament in scoring with 11 points and was named to the Media All-Star Team.
Lane, who had arrived back in Montreal on that afternoon after an extended NHL road trip, drove two hours to the Canadian capital to catch the final, joining his parents, Rob and Julie, in the stands.
"Being there, it was pretty special,” Lane told NHLPA.com. “I haven't been able to see him play that much over the past few years, especially live, so it was a great feeling to watch him on one of the biggest stages."
It was an experience the 20-year-old, who was part of the 2024 U.S. squad who struck world junior gold, won’t soon forget.
"Definitely ... and I have seen some pretty good games. That one certainly stands out."
The dramatic way in which the U.S. won back-to-back world junior gold for the first time made for some nervous moments for the onlooking Hutson family.
"When I was at the game, they were carrying the play and had so many chances in overtime, so it was a bit nerve-wracking watching it from the stands,” recalled Lane. “I thought it was going to be where the U.S. gets three or four good chances and don't get it and then the Finns get one chance, and it goes in."
One night later, it was Lane’s turn to shine on the NHL stage.
In front of a packed Bell Centre in Montreal, Lane produced a sterling performance of his own when he netted three points, including a goal, in a come-from-behind 5-4 overtime win against Vancouver.
The performance came on the heels of a strong December for Lane, who was named the NHL’s Rookie of the Month for December 2024 for his 13 points in 14 games. He lead rookies in assists (11), power-play assists (seven), power-play points (seven), average time on ice (21:18) and total time on ice (298:07).
Cole, in his first season at Boston University, where he also plays alongside older brother, 23-year-old Quinn, has been thrilled to see his brother excel in his first full season at the NHL.
“Everything he’s achieved, he’s earned,” said Cole of Lane. “He’s one of the hardest-working people I know. To see him playing so well and have a game like this … I couldn’t be happier for him.”
Support has always been a cornerstone of the Hutson siblings, which also includes 16-year-old Lars, a defenceman playing with Team Illinois 16U AAA.
"With all of us, we support each other and be there for one another, even more when maybe things aren't going right,” noted Lane. “Sometimes it happens, when you go through a tough stretch, and you want to have your brothers there for you and be there for them too.”
Phone calls are the norm throughout their respective hockey seasons.
It is during the tough times, individually or shared, when the brothers lean on one another the most.
“I went through a tough stretch my first semester here in Boston and I would be on the phone with Lane pretty much after every game,” recalled Cole. “I felt like I wasn’t living up to my standards and I needed to be better. He told me to stick with it and gave me great advice.
"We also hold each other accountable and let each other know when we need to be better and what we should do to achieve that – it's a very good thing we have."
Cole does the same for Lane, who played two seasons at Boston University from 2022 to 2024.
“If he is going through a tough stretch, I tell him to keep playing the right way and the puck will follow – it’s just nice that we can be there for one another.”
A shared love of hockey galvanized the siblings at an early age.
Two-on-two games, both in the basement or at the local rink, were commonplace.
"Great memories, just playing on two-on-two my brothers,” recalled Lane. There are four of us, so to have those opportunities to play two-on-two were something you look back on fondly.
“The losing team would always start a fight,” he said with a laugh. “That's just how it was. It toughened us up, I like to think.”
Added Cole, “Normally, it was Lane and I on one team and I remember we did win a lot.”
When they weren’t battling it out for brotherly bragging rights, the four still spent countless hours together.
“Away from the rink, we were always together,” said Lane. “We like to golf, so we did that or just hanging out together - it was always fun.”
And competitive.
“Very much so,” offered Lane. “Had some pretty good tussles, for sure, but we kept it off the golf course.”
For now, it’s all about hockey for the brothers.
Conversations, texting or calling, remain a near-daily staple between Lane and Cole.
“It’s just about being there for each other, wishing each other good luck, and talking about what’s going on in our lives,” said Cole. “Whatever we talk about, you always look forward to it.”
