Taylor Gauthier has moved to the head of the class among Western Hockey League puck-stoppers.
The 20-year-old Prince George Cougars goalie posted outrageously stingy numbers and won all three of his games over the past seven days to merit his selection as WHL goaltender of the week.
In those three games combined, Gauthier compiled a 1.33 goals-against average and .958 save percentage. He made 25 saves Monday in a 4-1 win over the Victoria Royals, blocked 27 shots Wednesday in a 5-1 victory over the Kamloops Blazers and concluded with a 29-save gem in Sunday’s 5-2 triumph over the Vancouver Giants.
His glove save off Giants’ shooter Bryce Bader two minutes into Sunday’s game is sure to be a save-of-the-year candidate.
Gauthier started the season in December as one of three goalies picked to play for Team Canada in the world junior hockey championship in Edmonton. Now in his fourth WHL season, he’s played 11 games this spring in the WHL B.C. Division pod in Kamloops and Kelowna and has a 5-6 record with a 3.10 average and .903 save percentage.
