The Goat is coming back to his northern capital with lots of good experience under his belt.
Taylor Gauthier completed his third career appearance wearing Canada’s maple leaf this weekend in Sweden for the 2019 World Under-18 Hockey Championships, but his team failed to win a medal after losing 5-2 to the United States in the bronze medal game Sunday morning (April 28).
The Prince George Cougars goaltender did not play in the final contest against the Americans serving as the back-up to Nolan Maier of the Saskatoon Blades.
However, the 18-year-old picked up three wins in four starts between the pipes, combining for 127 saves on 139 shots, a 3.03 goals-against-average (GAA), and a .914 save-percentage (SV%).
The @PGCougars goaltender earned 3 wins in 4 starts during his 3rd career tournament for 🇨🇦, capping the World U18s with 127 saves on 139 shots, a 3.03 GAA, & a .914 SV% | #CityOfPG @HockeyCanada @PGMatters pic.twitter.com/4Lm0pV11Vd
— Kyle Balzer (@KyleBalzer) April 28, 2019
Gauthier helped Canada win two of its four preliminary games, nabbing a 5-3 comeback win over Finland, a 7-4 triumph over Switzerland, and a 3-1 quarter-final victory against Latvia.
Unfortunately, his one loss came in the semi-final match with Sweden in a 4-3 decision; the host nation prevailed in overtime over Russia to win the gold medal.
Canada has not medalled at the World Under-18s since 2015; their last gold medal was in 2013.
Gauthier won gold with Canada at the 2018 Hlinka-Gretzky Cup, stopping 16 shots in the final.
Fellow Prince George Cougar Matej Toman was also at the Under-18 tournament with the Czech Republic.
His home country finished sixth after losing its quarter-final game to Sweden.
