The World Juniors bubble is within reach of Taylor Gauthier.
The Prince George Cougars goaltender was officially announced this morning (Oct. 29) to Hockey Canada's National Under-20 Team selection camp roster along with 45 other players that hope to defend the country's 2020 gold medal.
Forty of the athletes were taken in the last two NHL Drafts.
Gauthier is one of five netminders enlisted for camp, which takes place Nov. 16 to Dec. 13 in Red Deer, and one of 15 from the WHL that received an invitation.
The 19-year-old Calgary product is the oldest crease monkey and only right-handed catcher on the ballot.
“Taylor is a premier goaltender in our league and has a proven track record with Hockey Canada,” said Prince George General Manager and Head Coach Mark Lamb in a release.
“This is a tremendous opportunity for him and we’re thrilled to see him get the recognition he deserves.”
Gauthier has represented Canada on three other occasions, most recently at the 2019 World Under-18 Hockey Championships in Sweden, where he won three of four starts, and the 2018 Hlinka-Gretzky Cup, where he won the gold-medal game coming in relief.
He was also invited to Canada's World Junior summer development camp that went virutal this year as a result of COVID-19.
Gauthier was passed over a second straight NHL Draft earlier this month.
The pandemic is also forcing the 2021 World Juniors to be played in the NHL's former Edmonton bubble with no fans, which is scheduled for Dec. 25, 2020 to Jan. 5, 2021.
