Scott Wheeler on Gauthier
I thought Ethan Gauthier really cemented his role with his competitiveness and his work ethic this week as well. Hockey Canada brass have talked a lot about how they were disappointed in last year’s team’s jam, competitiveness and ability to get to the inside. Gauthier leads by example with his play and looks now like he’ll be an important bottom-six guy for this year’s team after not being invited to the World Junior Summer Showcase in August. Denver Barkey, Mathieu Cataford, Tanner Howe and Luca Pinelli also showed similar elements and all played well, though it wasn’t enough for Barkey, who was one of the final cuts for a second year in a row.
*he was invited to Canada's WJSS camp
Obviously Gauthier had a few things working for him. His head coach at Drummondville, Sylvain Favreau, is part of Dave Cameron's staff, and Al Murray is back as Hockey Canada's U-20 head scout.
6 goals in 5 games at the Hlinka for Canada helps. 2nd in goals and points among all players in the Q playoffs only to Justin Poirier of Baie-Comeau is good. 4 goals, 1 assist in a 4 game sweep of Baie-Comeau in the QMJHL Finals, including an OT winner in game 2 is even better. So the resume is there as well in games that matter. I think the biggest thing though is Gauthier is versatile and can play any role. In the words of Al Murray who drafted him, he has "the whole package." It's hard to make Team Canada as just a top goal scorer. Everybody at that selection camp can score, but Canada's not taking an all-star team of the 12 best goal scorers. So, what else can you bring? I think you look back at other Bolt prospects who have made this team like Mathieu Joseph, Mitchell Stephens, and Anthony Cirelli, who were not heralded 1st round picks, but could kill penalties, win faceoffs, play a checking line role, just tough to play against, and that makes them much more valuable in a tournament than another skill guy who is one dimensional.
