When Cole Hutson attended Washington Capitals development camp in 2025, he joked that he was majoring in hockey at Boston University.
Hutson was recently asked about that comment on the Empty Netters podcast. While that wasn’t the whole truth (obviously), it also wasn’t a complete lie either, per the Capitals rookie defenseman.
“I was actually undecided, so I’m still nothing currently,” Hutson said. “So I wasn’t lying when I said hockey, but I definitely wasn’t telling the truth. But it’s going to be hospitality. I’m going to finish school as soon as possible. I’m going to be taking classes during the season next year and go back in the summer and get as much done as I can.”
Hutson spent two seasons playing for Boston University before signing an entry-level contract with the Capitals on March 15 and officially turning pro. He recorded 10 points (3g, 7a) in 14 games during his first NHL season, frequently showing off dazzling puck-handling and next-level skating.
Boston University’s hospitality program is essentially a business degree geared toward service-oriented industries like hotels, restaurants, events, and real estate. Students take classes in areas such as finance, accounting, marketing, leadership, and revenue management, while also having opportunities to study entrepreneurship and event management. The degree could give Hutson a broad business foundation for whatever he decides to pursue after his playing career is over.
Hospitality would also keep Cole on a similar academic path to his oldest brother, Quinn, who majored in hospitality administration during his three seasons at Boston University before signing with the Edmonton Oilers in 2025. Like Cole, Lane Hutson left BU after his sophomore season in April 2024 to sign with Montreal. He had entered BU as part of the Class of 2026 and was in the College of Arts & Sciences.
If Cole were able to finish his degree, he’d join fellow former Hockey East players and Capitals’ 2018 Stanley Cup champions, Brooks Orpik and Alex Chiasson, who did so in 2022 and 2025, respectively. Both players have served as development coaches for the Capitals since then.
Hutson, while speaking to the Empty Netters podcast, also described what some of the classes were like while he went down his undecided path.
“I was in a class where we had to teach math to little kids,” Hutson said. “Well, there weren’t actual little kids in there, but it was like preschool-level math, like one plus one equals two. You got to teach how to do it without just saying one plus one is two, you know? So it’s like, grab two blocks, one of these and another one of these equals two of these.
“We had a bunch of dice and stuff we were just tossing around tables, saying two plus two is four. And like, seven of the guys were in that class. It was kind of a blast, but it seemed pretty pointless. It basically felt like we were all in preschool just messing around.”
A true scholar.