Brendan Gaunce

Brendan Gaunce

Gaunce playing with the Utica Comets
Born (1994-03-25) March 25, 1994
Sudbury, Ontario, Canada
Height 6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight 217 lb (98 kg; 15 st 7 lb)
Position Center/Left Wing
Shoots Left
NHL team Vancouver Canucks
NHL Draft 26th overall, 2012
Vancouver Canucks
Playing career 2014–present

Brendan Gaunce (born March 25, 1994) is a Canadian professional ice hockey forward currently playing for the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was drafted 26th overall in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft by the Canucks. His older brother, Cameron Gaunce currently plays in the Pittsburgh Penguins organization.

Internationally Gaunce has represented Canada twice. He won a gold medal at the 2011 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament and a bronze at the 2012 IIHF World U18 Championships. He also represented Ontario at the 2011 World U-17 Hockey Challenge where he won a gold medal.

Early life

Brendan was born to Stephen and Julie Gaunce in Sudbury, Ontario, but grew up in Markham, Ontario.[1][2] He has two siblings; a brother and a sister.[3] His older brother, Cameron, was drafted in the second round of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft by the Colorado Avalanche.[4] Gaunce attended Markham District High School where he played on their ice hockey team registering 4 goals and 21 points in 17 games. Despite playing much of the season on defence he was named to the Toronto Star High School Hockey All-Star First Team. He also played for the Markham Waxers Minor Midget team, where he was captain and scored 55 goals and 148 points in 86 games in 2009–10.[3]

Playing career

Junior

After being the highest scoring minor midget player in Ontario for 2010 Gaunce was taken second overall in the OHL Priority Draft (behind Alex Galchenyuk) by the Belleville Bulls of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL).[3] Gaunce made his major junior debut in the 2010–11 OHL season and in his second OHL game recorded a four assist game in a 7–4 win over the Peterborough Petes. In the following game Gaunce scored his first career OHL goal.[3][5] He had a second 4-point game and added a 5-game point streak before finishing the season with 11 goals and 36 points, finishing 13th in OHL rookie scoring.[3]

At the beginning of his second season, Gaunce was named an alternate captain for the Bulls.[3] During the season he eared the OHL Player of the Week award. He scored five goals and added an assist in three Belleville wins for the week ending November 27.[3] Gaunce finished the season as a point a game player registering 28 goals and 40 assists in 68 games.[6] At the end of the season Gaunce was Belleville's nominee for the Bobby Smith Trophy as scholastic player of the year, but lost out to Adam Pelech.[7] Leading up to the 2012 NHL Entry Draft Gaunce was ranked 13th among North American skaters by the NHL's scouting department, and the top-ranked Canadian forward.[1][8] Projected to be a mid first round pick he fell to 26 where he was selected by the Vancouver Canucks. Canucks' general manager Mike Gillis stated that going into the draft they had targeted Gaunce and if he had not been available Vancouver would have traded down to add extra picks.[1] On November 26, 2013, Brendan Gaunce was traded from the Belleville Bulls to the Erie Otters.

Professional

Gaunce played the entire 2014-15 season for the Canucks' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Utica Comets. Gaunce was a late cut from the Canucks' 2015 training camp and was again reassigned to Utica to start the season. He was recalled by the Canucks on October 28, 2015.[9]

On October 29, 2015, Gaunce made his NHL debut with the Canucks in a game against the Dallas Stars in a 4–3 overtime loss.[10] The next day, Gaunce scored his first NHL goal against Anders Lindback of the Arizona Coyotes in a 4–3 Canucks win.[11] He was reassigned to Utica on November 5. On March 1, 2016 Gaunce was again recalled by the Vancouver Canucks. He played in the remainder of the Canucks' games that season before returning to the Comets to finish the season.

At the start of the 2016-17 season, Gaunce made the Canucks' roster out of training camp for the first time in his career. He got his first career assist on October 16, 2016; assisting on a Ben Hutton goal in a 4–3 overtime win against the Carolina Hurricanes.[12]

International play

Medal record
Men's ice hockey
Representing  Canada
IIHF World U18 Championship
2012 Czech Republic
Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament
2011 Slovakia & Czech Republic
Representing Ontario Ontario
World U-17 Hockey Challenge
2011 Manitoba

Gaunce made his international debut at the 2011 World U-17 Hockey Challenge representing team Ontario.[13] After winning their first two games Team Ontario was leading Team West 3–2 early in the third when Gaunce assisted on an insurance goal by Matia Marcantuoni. Ontario eventually won the game 4–3 to remain unbeaten and clinch a spot in the semi-final.[14][15] In Ontario's final preliminary game Gaunce scored two second period goals helping Ontario to the 4–2 win over team Pacific. Gaunce was named player of the game for Ontario.[16] Ontario defeated Quebec 2–1 in overtime to advance to the gold medal game.[14] In the gold medal game Gaunce scored the third goal in a 5–3 victory.[17]

Later in the year Gaunce represented Canada at the 2011 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament.[3] Team Canada lost its opening game to Sweden 5–1, but finished the preliminary round with a 2–1 record and received a spot in the semi-finals.[18] In the semi-final game Gaunce assisted on Team Canada's third goal in a 5–0 victory of the Russians.[19] Canada re-matched Sweden in the Final with Gaunce scoring early in the third to give the Canadians a two-goal advantage then assisting on another goal mid-way through the period. Canada defeated Sweden 4–1 winning the gold medal, Canada's fourth straight at the tournament.[20][21]

Gaunce again played for Team Canada the following year at the 2012 IIHF World U18 Championships.[22] After Canada started the tournament with split decisions Gaunce scored two first period goals and added an assist in a 6–2 win over the Czech Republic.[23][24] For his performance Gaunce was named player of the game for Team Canada.[25] Canada lost its next game finishing the preliminary round with a 2–2–0 record, third place in their pool.[23] Canada qualified for the quarterfinals where they defeated the Russians 4–2.[26] In the Semi-final game Canada lost to the United States 2–1. Despite not registering a point Gaunce was named player of the game for the Canadians.[25][27] With the loss Canada faced Finland in the bronze medal game. In the first period Gaunce was hooked by Ville Pokka resulting in a penalty shot opportunity. Gaunce failed to score on the penalty shot, but registered a shorthanded goal in the second period. Canada defeated Finland 5–4 capturing the bronze medal.[28]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

    Regular season   Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2009–10 Markham Waxers Minor Midget AAA OMHA 86 55 93 148 ? — — — — —
2010–11 Belleville Bulls OHL 65 11 25 36 40 4 0 0 0 4
2011–12 Belleville Bulls OHL 68 28 40 68 68 6 1 2 3 2
2012–13 Belleville Bulls OHL 60 33 27 60 44 17 8 14 22 10
2013–14 Belleville Bulls OHL 22 10 16 26 27 — — — — —
2013–14 Erie Otters OHL 43 21 25 46 32 14 5 11 16 16
2014–15 Utica Comets AHL 74 11 18 29 31 21 4 5 9 12
2015–16 Utica Comets AHL 46 17 21 38 16 4 0 0 0 4
2015–16 Vancouver Canucks NHL 20 1 0 1 2 — — — — —
NHL totals 20 1 0 1 2 — — — — —

International

Year Team Event Result   GP G A Pts PIM
2011 Canada Ontario U-17 1st, gold medalist(s) 6 3 1 4 18
2011 Canada IH18 1st, gold medalist(s) 5 1 3 4 2
2012 Canada WJC18 3rd, bronze medalist(s) 7 3 1 4 8
Junior totals 18 7 5 12 28

References

  1. 1 2 3 MacIntyre, Iain (June 22, 2012). "Vancouver Canucks key on character, take Brendan Gaunce with their top NHL draft pick". Vancouver Sun. Postmedia Network Inc. Retrieved July 9, 2012.
  2. ↑ Sweetland, Josh (June 22, 2012). "Subban, Gaunce go in first round; Zharkov a third-rounder". Belleville Intelligencer. Canoe Sun Media. Retrieved July 9, 2012.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Belleville Bulls Player Profile". Canadian Hockey League. Retrieved July 9, 2012.
  4. ↑ Botchford, Jason (June 22, 2012). "Brendan Gaunce: Canucks draft gritty centre who oozes intangibles". The Province. Postmedia Network Inc. Retrieved July 9, 2012.
  5. ↑ "Ontario Hockey League 2010-11 Schedule and Results". Internet Hockey Database. Retrieved July 9, 2012.
  6. ↑ "Canucks get physical with 26th pick Brendan Gaunce". CBC. Canadian Press. June 22, 2012. Retrieved July 9, 2012.
  7. ↑ "OHL Announces Academic Player of the Year Award Winners". Ontario Hockey League. April 26, 2012. Retrieved July 9, 2012.
  8. ↑ O'Brien, James (June 22, 2012). "Get to know a draft pick — Brendan Gaunce". NBC Sports. Retrieved July 9, 2012.
  9. ↑ "Canucks recall Biega & Gaunce". nhl.com. October 28, 2015. Retrieved October 28, 2015.
  10. ↑ "Benn's OT goal lifts Stars past Canucks". nhl.com. October 29, 2015. Retrieved October 29, 2015.
  11. ↑ "Bachman, Canucks hang on to defeat Coyotes". nhl.com. October 30, 2015. Retrieved October 30, 2015.
  12. ↑ "Brandon Sutter gives Canucks win in OT". nhl.com. October 16, 2016. Retrieved October 17, 2016.
  13. ↑ "2011 World U-17 Hockey Challenge Team Ontario Profile". Hockey Canada. Retrieved July 9, 2012.
  14. 1 2 "2011 World U-17 Hockey Challenge Schedule and Results". Hockey Canada. Retrieved July 9, 2012.
  15. ↑ Parker, Andrew. "Game Summary West 3 - Ontario 4". Hockey Canada. Retrieved July 9, 2012.
  16. ↑ McDonald, Alyssa. "Game Summary Pacific 2 - Ontario 4". Hockey Canada. Retrieved July 9, 2012.
  17. ↑ "Ontario 5 - United States 3 Monahan Scores Twice, Including Winner, as Ontario Claims U17 Gold". Hockey Canada. Retrieved July 9, 2012.
  18. ↑ "2011 Memorial of Ivan Hlinka Schedule and Results". Hockey Canada. Retrieved July 10, 2012.
  19. ↑ "Canada 5 - Russia 0 Shot at Redemption: Canada Downs Russia in Hlinka Semis, to Face Sweden in Final". Hockey Canada. Canadian Press. Retrieved July 10, 2012.
  20. ↑ "Canada Wins Fourth Straight Gold at Ivan Hlinka with 4-1 Victory Over Sweden". Hockey Canada. Canadian Press. Retrieved July 10, 2012.
  21. ↑ "Hockey Canada Player Profile". Hockey Canada. Retrieved July 9, 2012.
  22. ↑ "Canada Roster". International Ice Hockey Federation. Retrieved July 10, 2012.
  23. 1 2 "IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship Preliminary Round Results" (PDF). International Ice Hockey Federation. Retrieved July 10, 2012.
  24. ↑ "IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship Preliminary Round - Group A - Game 13" (PDF). International Ice Hockey Federation. Retrieved July 10, 2012.
  25. 1 2 "Best Player of the Game Selected by Team" (PDF). International Ice Hockey Federation. Retrieved July 10, 2012.
  26. ↑ "Final Rankings" (PDF). International Ice Hockey Federation. Retrieved July 10, 2012.
  27. ↑ "IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship Semifinals - Game 27" (PDF). International Ice Hockey Federation. Retrieved July 10, 2012.
  28. ↑ "IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship Bronze Medal Game - Game 30" (PDF). International Ice Hockey Federation. Retrieved July 10, 2012.

External links

Awards and achievements
Preceded by
Nicklas Jensen		 Vancouver Canucks first round draft pick
2012 		Succeeded by
Bo Horvat
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