Photo Courtesy: Allen Douglas

By Ethan Ready

Gauthier to Pittsburgh

Former Cougars goalie signs with Pittsburgh Penguins

Mar 1, 2022 | 1:14 PM

PRINCE GEORGE – Former Prince George Cougars’ netminder Taylor Gauthier has signed a professional contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League.

Gauthier, an undrafted free agent, signed a three-year, entry-level contract. It was announced today by general manager Ron Hextall.

Gauthier, 21, has split the 2021-22 season between the Cougars and Portland Winterhawks of the Western Hockey League. In 28 games played, the 6-foot-2, 208-pound netminder has compiled a 20-6-0 record, 2.17 goals-against average, a .932 save percentage and three shutouts. Gauthier’s .932 save percentage leads the entire WHL, while his 2.17 goals-against average ranks second in the league.

Gauthier re-wrote Portland’s history book earlier this season, establishing a new franchise record shutout sequence of 252:11 minutes which included a stretch of three-consecutive shutouts. His shutout sequence came just over 10 minutes shy of the WHL record, which stands at 265:13 set by Chris Worthy in the 1967-68 season.

The right-handed catching Gauthier has suited up for 180 career WHL games split between Prince George and Portland where he’s gone 66-88-16 with a 3.06 goals-against average, .908 save percentage and nine shutouts.

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A native of Calgary, Alberta, Gauthier has represented Canada on multiple occasions, including winning a silver medal at the 2021 World Junior Championship, as well as the 2019 World Under-18 Championship where he started four games going 3-1-0.