MONTREAL — Lane Hutson was a standout at development camp and continues to impress as a freshman at Boston University.
On Saturday night, the 18-year-old defender was the deciding factor for the Terriers against UMass Lowell with the deciding goal late in the rule and the winner of overtime in a 2-1 win at the Agganis Arena.
Hutson, who was selected in the second round in July (62nd overall), has eight points (3 goals, 5 assists) in seven games.
We met Lane en route to the series against the River Hawks.
Here are a few highlights from our conversation:
Hutson on adapting to NCAA play:
I feel very safe on the ice. I’m gaining a little more confidence with every training session and every game and I’m trying to keep building. I play a pretty fast game, and everyone in the NCAA is fast and can really skate, so it’s very competitive out there. I like it. If I move pucks quickly, I can show what I can do offensively. Scored that first collegiate goal against UConn [on October 22] was a small relief. It was just a broken game, but when the puck came in I was like, ‘Ok!’ It was pretty exciting and nice to have my parents in the building to celebrate this moment.
Hutson on the impact of the Terrier coaching staff on his game:
“Pando” [head coach Jay Pandolfo] does a great job with the team. He has great systems and holds everyone accountable. Coach Kim Brandvold was great with me too. He’s trying to help me develop into someone who can play 30 minutes a night and somehow without putting me in weak spots. He tries to develop my game in every possible way. Coach Joe Pereira also has a lot of energy for our team. He loves to be on the ice rink. It’s a good mix of coaches. At the moment I play maybe 23 or 24 minutes per game. That kind of trust from the staff means the world to me and I want to show them what I can do with this Ice Age.
Hutson on the development camp that serves as a stepping stone into college hockey:
It was definitely a boost to be around some really talented players and just play against them for a few days. The opportunity to learn from Adam Nicholas, one of the top skills trainers in the league, was also a really good experience. There are so many different ways to play the game and the way Adam sees it is so different from everyone else, not just the video he shows but the work he puts into it. One thing I took away from our time together was the timing of pieces and the development of pieces and how to make space for yourself. Watching the video now, I see the things Adam emphasized when I was in Montreal over the summer.
Hutson on key improvements on and off the ice:
Anything I can do in the gym to improve my frame, I’ve done. I want to get bigger, faster and stronger, and I just want to clean up things in my game that I feel need to be reworked. I concentrate on the overall development. One thing I’m trying to improve is my technique for killing plays. Sometimes I try to finish a piece immediately and overwhelm myself. That puts me in a good position. But I feel like I’m getting better at keeping guys out and making my kills smoother. It’s also always good to have narrow gaps as a defender, so I really emphasize the importance of getting close to guys so they don’t have a lot of space.
Hutson on being proud to be a terrier:
I love being part of a program with such a great story. The team has been around for a very long time. You see all the great players that have come through here and it’s pretty cool to be able to play where these NHL players used to play. I also live in the team with my brother Quinn and the rest of the freshman class. It’s a great experience. I always have him to lean on if I need help with anything, so it makes my transition to college that much easier. Luke Tuch has been really good to me too. He’s another guy I can lean on for everything. He’s always giving me advice, so it’s really good to have him here.
Hutson about it, a Arber Xhekaj Fan:
I love Arber’s story and his nickname “Wifi”. He impresses me. He steps in and really protects the skill players. I always love a guy like that. When I watch matches, he really stands out because he can land pretty big hits, he’s always protective of his teammates, and he’s not a wimp out there either. It’s exciting to watch him. Everyone knows Arber. He’s getting quite a following now. Everyone’s talking about him, so it’s pretty cool to see.
Cover photo: Kyle Prudhomme
Copyright: Matt Woolverton
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