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WHL Portland Winterhawks

Gauthier Signs Entry-Level Contract with Pittsburgh Penguins

March 1, 2022 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Portland Winterhawks News Release


Portland, Ore. - The Portland Winterhawks, proud member club of the Western Hockey League, announced today that goaltender Taylor Gauthier has signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League.

The Calgary, Alta. native put pen to paper with the Penguins on Tuesday as a free agent signing after playing five seasons in the WHL. But before reporting east, he will remain with the Winterhawks through the remainder of the 2021-22 WHL season and is expected to be a key piece as the Hawks look to claim their fourth WHL Championship.

Gauthier, originally selected #10 overall by the Prince George Cougars in the 2016 WHL Bantam Draft, is enjoying a breakout campaign during his overage season and has flourished in net with the Winterhawks, boasting a 13-1-0-0 record with a league-leading .932 save percentage. Gauthier also ranks second in the WHL with a 2.17 GAA and three shutouts.

The Winterhawks acquired the veteran backstop via trade with Prince George on December 27. Gauthier was recognized as the WHL's Goaltender of the Month in January and shattered a Winterhawks franchise record for longest shutout streak later that month, setting the new mark at 251:11 minutes during the team's 46th season in Portland.

Prior to joining the Winterhawks, Gauthier steadily improved his game year-by-year with the Cougars, building from a .885 save percentage and 3.96 GAA in his rookie campaign in 2017-18 to back-to-back seasons with at least a .915 and 2.93 in those respective categories during the 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons. Through four years (and the start of this season) in Prince George, Gauthier posted a .906 save percentage and a 3.18 GAA with six shutouts.

While leading the Cougars' puck-stopping efforts, Gauthier earned the nod from Hockey Canada as one of three goaltenders to make the 2021 World Junior Championship team. That group went on to win the silver medal, falling to the United States in the gold medal game.

Gauthier is the latest Portland player, joining Joe Morrow, to join the Penguins following his junior career.

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