Ethan Gauthier will possibly be the first Quebecer to take the stage at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville during the next NHL Draft. In doing so, he should be the third Gauthier, after his father Denis and his cousin Julien to be claimed in the initial round.
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Forward of the Sherbrooke Phoenix, the 18-year-old athlete has tallied 62 points, including 25 goals so far this season. When Central Scouting released its mid-season ranking of top prospects, Gauthier was ranked 14th among North American skaters.
“I’m aware that it’s a big year, but I’m trying not to take up too much space in my daily life,” said the young man, invited to the Bell Center by the Canadian, like other hopefuls Jordan Tourigny. , Mathieu Cataford and Matteo Mann.
“Everyone wants to get out as soon as possible, but the most important thing for me is to keep improving my game, to bring it to a professional level,” he added.
Sound advice
The very first choice of the QMJHL selection session in 2021, Gauthier had the chance to be immersed in the hockey environment at a very young age. He was born in Arizona during his father’s short stint with the Coyotes.
Even though he was barely four years old when he hung up his skates, at the end of a season with the Kings, he was still able to benefit from advice that most dads cannot pass on to their offspring.
“Since I took the same path, I was always able to prepare him for what was coming to prevent him from being surprised by certain situations,” said Denis.
“I was able to make him realize what a coach looks for, what a scout looks for in a player. The preparation, the attitude, the work ethic. »
When Kaylen gets involved
Denis Gauthier may have played 554 games in the NHL, but he still remains a father to Ethan. And like any father-son relationship, there comes a period in adolescence when the message no longer gets through, to use an expression dear to hockey.
This is where Kaylen, the eldest son of the Gauthiers, came into the picture.
“The first person he should thank and kiss when he gets drafted is his brother,” Denis said.
Also a member of the Sherbrooke Phoenix, Kaylen, unlike his younger brother, had to tear his heart out on the ice and in the gymnasium to reach the QMJHL.
“When I was younger, I relied on my talent. I thought I’d go all the way with just that, Ethan admitted. At some point, it caught up with me. My brother was there to get me back on track. »
“Without him, I wouldn’t be where I am today. In fact, I wouldn’t even be close to that. I owe him one for that,” he added.
” Shut up! »
Denis Gauthier remembers exactly when it clicked. Gifted compared to hockey players of his age, he used to train with his brother’s group, three years older than him.
Able to hold his own even with them, Ethan never failed to strut around and make the older ones realize that he could run as fast or lift as much weight as them.
“At one point, there are young people who told him to sit down and be quiet, said Denis. In the evening, he complained to his mother and me. Her brother who was next door replied, “Shut up! You kept busting your braces walking around with your arms in the air.” »
“It was a lesson in humility for him, a defining moment. And it was even more impactful because it didn’t come from me,” he continued.
And here he is now, four years older, at the gates of the NHL.