Courtesy of Brett Cullen and the PG Cougars

By Jeromy Corrigan

WHL

Gauthier looking to take his game to next level for 20/21 season

May 25, 2020 | 2:50 PM

It was no secret who the Prince George Cougars MVP was in the 2019-2020 season.

Taylor Gauthier.

Game after game the 3rd year goaltender from Calgary kept his young team in each and every game, helping the club get into contention for a playoff spot this season. Despite the way the campaign ended, the 18-year old netminder was happy with the way the year went for him personally.

“I personally was very happy with the way I performed,” shared Gauthier to CKPG.

“My goal is to get better every day and my hard work I put in during the off-season and the beginning of the season really started to pay off near the end of the season.”

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Gauthier was projected to be selected in the 2019 NHL entry draft, but after the two day event he and his family did not hear his name called in Vancouver. Gauthier didn’t dwell on not being picked though. He used it to motivate him and get better going into the 2019-2020 season.

“If you watched the Last Dance with MJ (Michael Jordan), he found motivating factors to help push him to the next level. I kind of used that same sort of philosophy. Find that one thing and let it drive you crazy. Make other people think they made the wrong choice at the end of the day.”

At this time it is uncertain when the 2020 NHL Draft will take place, but for Gauthier his mindset has changed when it comes to if he gets picked or not. He isn’t as focused on the draft as he was a year prior. This time around he is just focusing on next year and coming into training camp in the best shape of his life, and lead by example with the hopes of becoming one of the top goaltenders in the Western Hockey League.

“I know I have the skills on the ice so I’m just worried about getting my conditioning up to where it was at the start of the year. Getting my upper body stronger and just coming back in better shape. I’m a year older. I need to take that leadership stance on the team and there is no better way than to come into camp and showing the younger guys that you are committed that you want to be the best person you can be,” added Gauthier.

The Calgary product finished the 2019-2020 season with a 16-26-3-4 record, a 2.93 GAA, and a .917 SV %.