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Canada’s 2021 World Junior camp on pause for Prince George Cougars’ Taylor Gauthier

Goaltender started in both intrasquad games

Taylor Gauthier’s third chance to impress Canada’s top junior coaches in a game-play scenario has been put on hold for the time-being.

Hockey Canada announced this morning (Nov. 24) that two players at its national selection camp for the 2021 World Junior Championships have tested positive for COVID-19 and are quarantining at its hotel in Red Deer, Alta.

Though the athletes were not named, The Hockey News' Ryan Kennedy is reporting from a source that both athletes participated in the intrasquad games over the weekend.

As a result, the organization suspended all activities for the day, which included its third and final intrasquad game originally scheduled for 9 a.m. Pacific time.

For the Prince George Cougars goaltender, Gauthier has shown some impressive moves and skills during his time between the pipes at camp.

Though he came up on the losing side of the first two intrasquad contests, he certainly was the busiest of the four netminders this weekend, combining for 43 saves on 49 shots and a .876 save-percentage.

The 19-year-old let in a total of six goals in two nights, but not without some quality saves coming at key moments in each match against some of the best players in the country, almost all of whom have been drafted in the NHL.

Gauthier represented Team Red.

On Saturday (Nov. 21), which ended in a 4-2 loss to Team White, he made good use of his pads by making a highlight-worthy two-on-one stop against Dawson Mercer.

Goaltending duties were split for both squads at the halfway mark of the second period, to which Gauthier ended with 17 saves on 19 total shots.

On Sunday (Nov. 22), which ended in a 6-3 loss, Gauthier spent the entire time in net.

Head Coach André Tourigny said at a news conference following that game it was important to begin full-game play for the goaltenders.

“We thought after seven months of ot playing, it was good to start all those guys with a half game. That’s why we went with a half-game yesterday. Today, we had Goats [Taylor Gauthier] and [Brett] Brochu play a full game. Ideally, talking with [Jason] LaBarbera, like better with a full game so that gave a push to our guys to get going a little bit.”

Gauthier only let in four of the six goals as the last two were empty-netters, settling for 26 saves on 30 shots, but also made his presence known in high-pressure situations, denying two breakaway opportunities from Team White.

Coach Tourigny was asked about the possibility of bringing several goaltenders, in case COVID-19 or injuries come into play.

“We have that ongoing discussion,” he said.

“We have a lot of discussion about it. Is it three? Is it four? It won’t be five, but at this point it’ll probably be four at this point. We’re not quite set on that answer yet.”

Hockey Canada said that Alberta and local health authorities have been notified of the positive tests reported today

The announcement of the positive player infections come three days after Hockey Canada said a "non-core member'" of the team's staff tested positive.

It’s unclear when or if the third intrasquad game will take place, but the selection camp roster currently has six other exhibition games scheduled before the 2021 World Juniors begin, all against U-Sports All-Stars.

- with files from The Canadian Press