Several freshman players across NCAA DI men’s hockey made significant impacts this season, standing out with strong campaigns and showing promise for the future of college hockey. Now that the season is over, let’s take a look back at some of this season’s top freshmen.
Cole Hutson, D, Boston University
As the all-time points leader among defensemen for the U.S. National Team Development Program, expectations were high for Hutson coming into his first collegiate season. The third Hutson to play at BU, he joined his brother, Quinn, in the Terriers’ lineup and immediately made an impact, scoring in his first game on October 5 against Holy Cross.
Hutson finished the season with 48 points, leading all NCAA rookies and all defensemen. He was the only freshman and the only defenseman in the country to record multiple four-point games, and, as a member of Team USA’s gold medal team, he became the first defenseman to lead the World Junior Championship in scoring. He led all Boston U. players in assists (34) and finished second in points, trailing only his brother, Quinn (50). Hutson led the Terriers in points in the NCAA DI tournament, finishing with 2G-6A-8P in four games.
Hutson’s shiftiness and elite skating gave him plenty of highlight-reel plays, including this short-side goal in the NCAA tournament regional against Cornell:
GOTTA GET COLE HUTSON BACK ON SPORTSCENTER AFTER THIS BEAUTY!
📺 ESPNU #SCTop10 pic.twitter.com/MRCuqJbMI4
— BU Men’s Hockey (@TerrierHockey) March 29, 2025
On April 18, Hutson announced he would be returning to Boston University for his sophomore season to chase a national championship.
Notable awards:
- New England Rookie of the Year
- New England Top Defenseman Award
- Hockey East Rookie of the Year
- Hockey East First Team All-Star
- Hockey East All-Rookie Team
- Beanpot MVP
Charlie Cerrato, F, Penn State
Cerrato finished second in points among all NCAA DI freshmen, notching 15G-27A-42P in 38 games. Cerrato was instrumental in turning Penn State’s season around after the Nittany Lions started 0-8 in Big Ten play. He started the second semester with 2G-3A in the first three games of the new year, and continued his hot scoring pace as Penn State posted an 11-3-4 record to make the NCAA tournament.
Cerrato’s second-half surge helped him to be the second-highest scoring freshman in Penn State’s 13 years as a DI program. His biggest play of the season came in overtime of the NCAA tournament regional, when his slick behind-the-back pass found Matt Dimarsico to send Penn State to its first Frozen Four:
DIMARSICO CALLED GAME!!!!!!#WeAre #HockeyValley pic.twitter.com/SkiVVbjF9U
— Penn State Men’s Hockey (@PennStateMHKY) March 31, 2025
The undrafted Cerrato will be a name to watch at the 2025 NHL draft in June, but for now, he will be a big offensive piece going forward for a rising Penn State program.
Notable honors and awards:
- Big Ten All-Rookie Team
- Big Ten Freshman of the Year finalist
- Big Ten All-Freshman Team
Trevor Hoskin, F, Niagara
Prior to joining Niagara, the Belleville, Ontario native was named the CJHL MVP as the best player in Canadian Junior A with 42 goals and 58 assists in 52 games. He continued his impressive scoring pace this season, finishing third among all freshmen with 39 points and tying senior Jay Ahearn for the team lead. Hoskin also posted 13 multi-point games throughout the season and held two separate seven-game point streaks.
The Calgary Flames prospect will be transferring to Merrimack College for the upcoming season.
Notable awards:
- All-AHA Second Team
- AHA All-Rookie Team
- AHA Rookie of the Year
James Hagens, F, Boston College
Coming into his freshman season, Hagens was seen as a potential first-overall pick in the 2025 NHL entry draft. Over two seasons with the U.S. National Development Team, he posted 87 points in 57 games. Hagens joined a loaded Boston College roster as a freshman, and he found himself playing on the top line with one of the nation’s best duos in Ryan Leonard and Gabe Perreault.
Hagens finished fourth among freshmen in scoring with 37 points and third among rookies in assists with 26. His biggest moment of the season was a wraparound goal in the dying minutes to give Boston College the lead over Bentley in the NCAA tournament regional semifinal:
The FRESHMAN James Hagens with the game-winner for @BC_MHockey with only 77 seconds to play. Biggest goal of his season 🔥
(via @NCAAIceHockey) pic.twitter.com/J4gCQlfA6O
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) March 28, 2025
Hagens’ offensive efforts made him a unanimous pick for the Hockey East All-Rookie Team, and while his draft stock took a slight hit in 2024-25, he is still largely projected as a top-five pick in the 2025 NHL entry draft in June.
Notable awards
- Hockey East All-Rookie Team (unanimous)
Cole Eiserman, F, Boston University
The 20th overall pick in the 2024 NHL entry draft, Eiserman came off of a record-breaking USNTDP career, ranking first in program history with 127 goals. His elite goal-scoring continued at the college level, as he led all NCAA rookies and Boston U. with 25 goals in 39 games.
Eiserman’s 36 points tied for fifth among rookies this season. He also had five multi-goal games, including two hat tricks, first against Vermont and later against No. 6 Providence. He scored four goals in the Terriers’ Frozen Four run, including a goal in their championship loss to Western Michigan.
Notable awards:
- Hockey East All-Rookie Team
Michael Hage, F, Michigan
Hage was drafted 21st in the 2024 NHL draft by the Montreal Canadiens after finishing fourth in the USHL in scoring in 2023-24 with 75 points in 54 games. In his freshman season, Michigan missed the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2019, but Hage was a bright spot in an up-and-down season for the Wolverines.
Hage finished second on the team and sixth among all rookies in scoring with 34 points in 33 games. He had points in 22 games this season and notched eight multi-point performances. His point-per-game pace earned him recognition as the Big Ten Freshman of the Year.
Hey @sportscenter, you’re gonna wanna clock this one from Michael Hage pic.twitter.com/uYZ0ZSCM9L
— Michigan Hockey (@umichhockey) February 16, 2025
On March 25, Hage announced he would return to Michigan for the 2025-26 season.
Notable awards:
- Big Ten Freshman of the Year
- Big Ten All-Freshman Team
Hampton Slukynsky, G, Western Michigan
Slukynsky’s freshman season is about as good as it gets, backstopping the Broncos to a their first Frozen Four appearance and national title in program history. The standout goaltender posted a 19-5 record and tied for first among freshman goalies with a 1.90 GAA, breaking the Western Michigan record for the lowest GAA in a season.
The 2023 Los Angeles Kings draft pick shined on the national stage, saving 101 of 106 shots and posting a .943 SV% in four starts in the NCAA tournament.
Notable honors and awards:
- NCHC Goaltender of the Year finalist
- NCAA All-Tournament Team
Ajeet Gundarah, G, Sacred Heart
Before college, Gundarah led his Surrey Eagles to a BCHL championship, earning top honors as a BCHL First-Team All-Star and recording a league-best .931 SV%. He upped his game at Sacred Heart, leading all NCAA DI freshman goalies in SV% (.936) and shutouts (3) and tying Hampton Slukynsky for the lead in GAA (1.90). Gundarah’s 16 wins powered Sacred Heart to 21 wins on the season, its best in program history.
ARE YOU KIDDING ME!! AJEET GUNDARAH WITH A DIVING STOP TO KEEP THE GAME SCORELESS!!!@NCAAIceHockey @Buccigross #SCTop10 pic.twitter.com/5HlUOaxfXp
— SHU Hockey (@SHUHockey) March 9, 2025
Notable honors and awards:
- AHA All-Third Team
- AHA Goalie of the Year finalist
- AHA Rookie of the Year finalist
