Gauthier
is just 5-foot-9, 185 pounds, but he led Denver in scoring
last season. Only four returning WCHA players had more
points than his 43.
Key
Statistics: Led the national champions offensively
with 43 points (18 goals, 25 assists); Scored the only goal
and recorded the final penalty in NCAA title game; His eight-game
point streak between Feb. 21 and Mar. 26 was one of the keys
in the Pioneers’ run to the Frozen Four.
What
He Does: When the Pioneers need to win a key faceoff,
Gauthier is the guy George Gwozdecky usually sends to the
red dot. Last season, Gauthier rewarded his coach’s
faith by winning nearly two-thirds of the draws he took. While
some have said his skating and his size are drawbacks, Gauthier
provided just enough offensive spark on a team without a true
offensive star last season. As the only one of the team’s
top three scorers returning to Denver, he’s expected
to carry an even bigger load in the Pioneers’ title
defense.
The
Bigger Picture: After being named Denver’s
top freshman two seasons ago, and leading the team to a NCAA
title as a sophomore, one wonders what Gauthier can do for
an encore in his junior season. “The only
way I can think of to have an encore is to repeat,”
says Gauthier, who, despite leading the national champs in
scoring, says he’s not a standout player. “I just
try to get little things done, like winning faceoffs. Hopefully
doing enough of those little things will enable the big things
to happen.”
Wisconsin
coach Mike Eaves on Gauthier: "He’s a
guy with ability that you just can’t teach. Size doesn’t
matter at all for a player like Gabe, because he’s going
to find a way to win the individual battles for the puck using
speed and the other skills he has."
