Cougars goaltender named on the Sherwin-Williams CHL / NHL Top Prospects Game roster

Prince George Cougars goaltender Taylor Gauthier is one of 40 players named to the Sherwin-Williams CHL / NHL Top Prospects Game roster, announced by the Canadian Hockey League Thursday.

The 24th annual showcase of the CHL’s top prospects eligible for the NHL Draft will be played on Wednesday, January 23rd, in Red Deer. The 40 competing players were chosen by NHL clubs and include talent from across the WHL, the Ontario Hockey League, and Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.

Gauthier, 17, leads the Cougars in games played (24), minutes played (1352), wins (7) and saves (645). So far this season, he sports a 7-12-1-1 record, to go along with a 3.36 goals-against average and a .892 save percentage. The Calgary, Alberta product recorded his first career WHL shutout on Nov. 2, against the Seattle Thunderbirds. Gauthier won a gold medal with Team Canada at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup earlier this year. He was drafted by the Cougars 10th overall in the 2016 WHL Bantam Draft.

“The Sherwin-Williams CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game provides scouts and general managers the unique opportunity to evaluate talent competing in a best-on-best showcase,” said Dan Marr, NHL Central Scouting Director.

“All 31 NHL clubs contributed to the roster selection and take great interest in seeing this event unfold and which players can elevate their game under the spotlight.”

The 40 players will be divided into Team Cherry and Team Orr by NHL Central Scouting prior to the event. Coaching staffs for both teams will also be announced at a later date.

Ty Edmonds was the last Cougars goaltender selected to play in the CHL / NHL Top Prospects game, as he suited up for Team Cherry in 2014. Other former Cougars to recently play in the game are Nikita Popugaev (2017) and Jansen Harkins (2015).