In a tense moment during the United States' 2-1 win over Switzerland at the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship, defenseman Cole Hutson was stretchered off after a puck struck his helmet. Teammate Cole Eiserman provided immediate support, holding Hutson's hand in a gesture that went viral. Will Zellers scored the game-winning goal in the victory at Grand Casino Arena in St. Paul, Minnesota.
The incident occurred at 11:01 of the second period in the preliminary-round game on Saturday. Hutson, a Washington Capitals prospect considered one of the top defensemen at the tournament, fell to the ice after being hit near the back of his helmet by a shot from the right point. Medics attended to him, and several teammates, including Eiserman of the New York Islanders, rushed to his side before he was strapped to a backboard and removed from the ice.
Eiserman described the action as instinctual. "I wasn't really a hockey player in that moment," he said. "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, so I just wanted to grab his hand, make sure he knew I was there." Hutson squeezed Eiserman's hand, reassuring his teammate. "I was praying the whole time and God did his thing and got him back," Eiserman added. The photo of the moment spread widely in the hockey community.
Eiserman and Hutson, friends for over nine years and teammates at Boston University, share a close bond from their time in USA Hockey's National Team Development Program. U.S. coach Bob Motzko praised their camaraderie: "[Eiserman] wasn't on the ice [at the time] but he crawled over the boards and got out there to help his teammate. I know that [photo] has been everywhere and it tells the whole story."
Hutson attended practice on Sunday but remained off the ice and is day to day, per Motzko. The 19-year-old has 13 points (three goals, 10 assists) in nine World Juniors games and needs one point to tie Erik Johnson's U.S. defenseman record and one assist to surpass Ryan Suter's mark.
The U.S. secured the win thanks to Zellers' game-winner, a snap shot from the low left face-off circle that beat Swiss goalie Christian Kirsch short side under the crossbar. The Bruins prospect, playing in his home state, has emerged as a key contributor in the tournament.
