Capitals’ Cole Hutson to return for USA’s World Junior quarterfinal game

Talk about a positive sight for the host nation of the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship.

USA defenseman Cole Hutson will be in the lineup on Friday night when the Americans take on Finland in a highly anticipated quarterfinal matchup.

Hutson was injured during the U.S.’ preliminary round contest against Switzerland last Saturday. Near the halfway mark of the contest, a point shot from Swiss defender Gian Meier ended up catching the Washington Capitals prospect in the side of the head, knocking him to the ice.

After being attended to by the team’s training staff, Hutson ended up being stretchered off the ice and was taken to a nearby hospital to be evaluated. The North Barrington, Ill. native was quickly released and was able to join his teammates after their 2-1 victory.

With Hutson listed as day-to-day, he missed the Americans’ final two games of the opening round, which saw the hosts run over Denmark, 9-1, before falling to Sweden in the battle for first place in Group A.

The Boston University product had a great performance in the Americans’ World Juniors opener against Germany on Boxing Day, registering two assists in a 6-3 victory.

Hutson was an important piece in the United States’ run to a second straight gold medal last year in Ottawa. In seven games, he scored three goals and eight assists for 11 points, leading the tournament in assists and points by a rearguard. 

Friday’s clash is a rematch of last year’s gold medal game, when Nashville Predators prospect Teddy Stiga scored the game-winning goal in overtime to give the Americans their seventh WJC title. The U.S. is trying to become just the third country in the tournament’s history, joining Canada and the Soviet Union, to win three consecutive gold medals.