BOSTON | Lane Hutson produced offensively wherever he went. Literally. Despite all this, there are still many skeptics about his potential in the pros due to his small size. And with this criticism, the Canadian’s hope slowly begins to fade.
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The Canadian defender recognized this during an interview with Le Journal while in Boston last week. Of course we had questions about it, about his physical maturity, about his puberty, which doesn’t seem to be over yet.
But first we asked him, “Are you tired of people talking to you about this?”
“Sometimes it gets redundant to constantly hear that I’m short,” he admitted. It’s a part of me and I didn’t choose this size. Honestly, I’m happy being who I am and I feel like I use it to my advantage. All my life people have doubted me and felt like I wouldn’t succeed. There were always doubts about my game and that motivates me.
“The smartest one on the ice”
Hutson is 1.75 meters tall – he has gained an inch since the Canadiens’ last development camp – and weighs 75 kilograms. On the one hand, one may wonder whether Hutson will be able to produce the same spectacular plays he did in the lower ranks once he gets to the big leagues.
On the other hand, we can only acknowledge that, despite these doubts that have existed for several years, in his case he has always managed to successfully make the transition to the next level.
Photo Martin Alarie
Last year, in his first season in the NCAA, he scored 48 points in 39 games, becoming the U19 defenseman with the most points in a season in the American university circuit.
His teammate and Canadian youth player Luke Tuch has developed Hutson since last season. With him he also represented the United States at the last World Senior Ice Hockey Championships in Finland and Latvia.
“What I realized at the World Cup is that the boys don’t have all the imponderables, but the aspect of their game that they have mastered, they are better than everyone else. Lane may not be the perfect size, he’s short and not tall, but he’s smarter than anyone on the ice. Besides, he’s not afraid of anything, he’s always in battle.”
Luke Tuch (11) during the last Ice Hockey World Championships. AFP
The focus
When we talked about his ability to successfully climb the rankings, his NCAA season last year was a more than tangible example.
Anyone who follows NCAA hockey closely will agree: Lane Hutson is one of the most spectacular players in the world, and his sometimes risky maneuvers continued to work.
“Last year we knew he had talent, but we didn’t know what to expect or how his game would translate to the NCAA. The reality is he was probably our best player,” admitted Boston University Terriers head coach Jay Pandolfo.
Now, this season, the expectations for him are high and one of the biggest challenges that awaits him is to be the focal point of each of his opponents, believes his head coach Jay Pandolfo.
“I’m pretty confident that a big part of the game plan for every club we play is: How do we stop Lane Hutson? He’ll have to face players 23 or 24 years old whose simple job is to slow him down. You can’t just show up at the rink and think you’re going to do whatever you want. That’s the challenge that will await him every night, but he’s ready for it. Lane is a competitive young man who enjoys a challenge.”
Good start to the season
So far he has mastered this task quite well. In his first five games of the season, Hutson collected five points, including three on Oct. 27 during the Journal’s visit to Agganis Arena.
After returning from an upper-body injury that caused him to miss a game, Hutson was a constant threat on offense and made the UMass Minutemen look bad several times en route to a 1-2 performance. Assisted in the 5-2 win.
“I am even more confident and feel more comfortable than last year. I know there is pressure on me, but it is something that motivates me,” the young man added.