A pair of Prince George Cougars will be heading to NHL development camps, according to information released by the team on Thursday.
Goalie Taylor Gauthier is headed to the Maple Leafs’ camp in Toronto from Sept. 9 to Sept. 14. Defenceman Ethan Samson will be at the Philadelphia Flyers’ camp in Voorhees, N.J. from Aug. 28 to Sept. 1.
Gauthier is a free-agent invitee to the Leafs’ camp. It will be the 20-year-old’s second NHL development camp experience. He attended the Boston Bruins’ camp in 2019.
Gauthier has been having a strong year. In addition to twice being named the WHL’s Goaltender of the Week during the Cats’ 2020-21 season, he won silver with Team Canada during the 2021 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship in January.
For 17-year-old Samson, it will be his first trip to an NHL development camp. Samson was drafted this year by the Flyers in the sixth round, 174th overall. During the 2019-2020 season, Samson won the Cougars’ Brett Connolly Rookie of the Year Award.
