The 6-foot-3 power forward skated with the team’s top line at practice Tuesday, alongside rookie center Leo Carlsson and veteran winger Alex Killorn. “I like to play a fast paced, high-intensity game,” Gauthier said. “I like to shoot the puck and make plays, but I wouldn’t really say I’m a one-dimensional player. I like to play a 200-foot game and shut down top lines’ offenses.”
Gauthier, coming off a remarkable collegiate season, joins the Ducks after a successful run in college hockey. The 20-year-old sophomore scored 38 goals for BC, tying the school record and marking the most by any NCAA player in 25 years. Gauthier was named a Hobey Baker Finalist, an NCAA All-American, and a Hockey East First Team All-Star. Talking about his college experience, Gauthier said, “We had a great team all season long.
It was great to compete in practice and we made it all the way to the end there and didn’t get the result we wanted, but going back [to school] for a second year was definitely beneficial to my development.” Continuing his development at the highest level of the game, Gauthier becomes part of a promising young core in Anaheim, with the Ducks aiming to bring playoff hockey back to the city. “They’ve been super welcoming, super friendly and that’s what you want with a young group,” Gauthier said. “It wasn’t intimidating whatsoever coming in and they’ve been nothing but the best…That feels good for a young kid coming in.
It was a great warm welcome on my first day here, and I can’t be more thrilled to be a Duck.”
