USA’s Cutter Gauthier #19 skates during Preliminary Round - Group A action against Finland at the 2023 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship at Nokia Arena on May 12, 2023 in Tampere, Finland.
photo: © International Ice Hockey Federation / Andrea Cardin
The sting is still there for Cutter Gauthier.
Although it’s been just under 18 months since it happened, Gauthier remembers the pain of losing to Team Sweden at the 2022 IIHF Men’s Under 18 World Championship. The favoured Americans dropped the gold medal game 6-4 to Sweden.
In just a few short weeks, Gauthier and his USA teammates will have another chance at international gold when they hit the ice at the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship in Gothenburg, Sweden. It will be a homecoming for Gauthier, who was born in Skelleftea.
“I’ve never had the honour of winning gold yet,” says Gauthier of his international career. “I still haven’t had an opportunity to win a gold medal. That’s something I have my eyes on and the group that has been chosen is willing to do whatever it takes. It’s just a matter of how fast we can come together and build collectively as a group and move forward to the end goal.”
Although it’s been just under 18 months since it happened, Gauthier remembers the pain of losing to Team Sweden at the 2022 IIHF Men’s Under 18 World Championship. The favoured Americans dropped the gold medal game 6-4 to Sweden.
In just a few short weeks, Gauthier and his USA teammates will have another chance at international gold when they hit the ice at the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship in Gothenburg, Sweden. It will be a homecoming for Gauthier, who was born in Skelleftea.
“I’ve never had the honour of winning gold yet,” says Gauthier of his international career. “I still haven’t had an opportunity to win a gold medal. That’s something I have my eyes on and the group that has been chosen is willing to do whatever it takes. It’s just a matter of how fast we can come together and build collectively as a group and move forward to the end goal.”
Sweden’s Mattias Havelid #5 clears the puck while USA’s Cutter Gauthier #19 defends during gold medal game action at the 2022 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship at Fanatec Arena on May 1, 2022 in Landshut, Germany.
photo: © International Ice Hockey Federation / Chris Tanouye
Gauthier speaks with purpose and passion. He’s a top-notch NHL prospect, high draft pick (taken fifth overall by the Philadelphia Flyers in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft) but, also, someone who walks the walk. Hockey fans have known the name for some time but Gauthier really shone on the international stage at the 2023 IIHF World Championship, scoring seven goals and adding two assists in 10 games, good for eighth place in points in the tournament.
Reminder – this was a 19-year-old playing in his first world championship against longtime and bonafide NHLers and professionals from other leagues. Gauthier was tied in points with NHL superstar Mikko Rantanen and had one more point than fellow American Alex Tuch.
Reminder – this was a 19-year-old playing in his first world championship against longtime and bonafide NHLers and professionals from other leagues. Gauthier was tied in points with NHL superstar Mikko Rantanen and had one more point than fellow American Alex Tuch.
USA’s Cutter Gauthier #19 celebrates after scoring a third period goal against Denmark during Preliminary Round - Group A action at the 2023 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship at Nokia Arena on May 20, 2023 in Tampere, Finland.
photo: © International Ice Hockey Federation / Andrea Cardin
Gauthier was born in Sweden when his father Sean (a Canadian from Sudbury, Ontario) was wrapping up his professional goaltending career with Skelleftea AIK, located in northern Sweden, about nine hours by car from Stockholm. Sean played for the club from 2003-05 and Cutter was born in January 2004. The next few years were spent in Scottsdale, Arizona and, from there, the family moved to Michigan.
“Detroit HoneyBaked (Hockey Club) reached out to me and my family at the time and asked ‘hey, do you want to come and play for us?’” says Gauthier. “ It’s funny because we were Arizona guys here out in 100-degree weather and my dad and I are thinking, ‘what, you want us to go out and play in Michigan where it snows? No way!’. But, after some consideration, sitting down and talking about it, it was the right decision and it was best for me.”
Throughout his youth hockey, into his early teenaged years and now, as a proud member of the NCAA’s Boston College Eagles, Gauthier has been one of those players that has the attention of all eyes in the rink. He’s a tenacious 6-foot-2, nearly 200-pound forward who can hurt you in many ways – physically on the wall and in the corners, with his defensive awareness and hockey IQ who takes chances away and, yes, on the score clock with elite offensive skill. He has also taken on the role of leader with BC.
“I have some high standards of myself. I just want to see what I can do every single day to make the team better,” says Gauthier. “With the young group we have, I was in their shoes last year and I know what it takes to succeed at the collegiate level so I’m just trying to do whatever I can to help these younger guys get used to the college level as soon as possible.”
“Detroit HoneyBaked (Hockey Club) reached out to me and my family at the time and asked ‘hey, do you want to come and play for us?’” says Gauthier. “ It’s funny because we were Arizona guys here out in 100-degree weather and my dad and I are thinking, ‘what, you want us to go out and play in Michigan where it snows? No way!’. But, after some consideration, sitting down and talking about it, it was the right decision and it was best for me.”
Throughout his youth hockey, into his early teenaged years and now, as a proud member of the NCAA’s Boston College Eagles, Gauthier has been one of those players that has the attention of all eyes in the rink. He’s a tenacious 6-foot-2, nearly 200-pound forward who can hurt you in many ways – physically on the wall and in the corners, with his defensive awareness and hockey IQ who takes chances away and, yes, on the score clock with elite offensive skill. He has also taken on the role of leader with BC.
“I have some high standards of myself. I just want to see what I can do every single day to make the team better,” says Gauthier. “With the young group we have, I was in their shoes last year and I know what it takes to succeed at the collegiate level so I’m just trying to do whatever I can to help these younger guys get used to the college level as soon as possible.”
Cutter Gauthier and his family
photo: © Cutter Gauthier
The knack to score goals comes, in part, to his father’s teaching over the years. Dad Sean has implored Cutter to keep shooting pucks and, if you were to ask scouts about Cutter’s strengths (and there are many), one of the most noticeable is a heavy shot that goaltenders have a hard time with.
Sean says from his home in Michigan that Cutter’s focus and attention to detail has led him to this point.
“You try to not look at it as a father but I couldn’t be more proud of him than what he has turned out to be. He’s got a tremendous amount of integrity, he’s pure. He’s pure hockey heart, he’s all team,” says Sean. “He’s all about the team but he’s got an unbelievable burning of passion. He doesn’t waver though, which is kind of wild. If he told you he will eat six ounces of chicken, then he’s eating six ounces of chicken. He won’t cheat the system.
“Anything off the ice, you can ask anybody. He’s the hardest-working person. That’s not a dad talking. Those are colleagues and advisors that will say the same thing and will echo that.”
Gauthier believes in himself and that’s taken him to great heights as one of USA’s players to watch this IIHF World Junior Championship. Following his time with U16 programs at HoneyBaked and Detroit Compuware, Gauthier joined USA’s National Team Development Program and would go on to represent his country with the under-17 and under-18 teams, along with the men’s team. Playing international hockey was also something dad Sean did, only he was a goaltender and did so with Team Canada in 1994-95.
What will it mean to dad to see Cutter take the ice at the World Juniors?
“In Canadian culture, the country truly stops during the holidays to watch the World Juniors. You always wanted to be named to that roster,” says Sean. “For Cutter to be able to be chosen for USA … the World Juniors is a special tournament. The people, the culture, the vibe, the excitement for all countries to be consumed into one arena is special. For him to be a part of it and have a major role, it’s going to be a great stepping stone and accolade to his career. And then to go full circle, going back to where he was born in Sweden, that’s pretty cool.”
Sean says from his home in Michigan that Cutter’s focus and attention to detail has led him to this point.
“You try to not look at it as a father but I couldn’t be more proud of him than what he has turned out to be. He’s got a tremendous amount of integrity, he’s pure. He’s pure hockey heart, he’s all team,” says Sean. “He’s all about the team but he’s got an unbelievable burning of passion. He doesn’t waver though, which is kind of wild. If he told you he will eat six ounces of chicken, then he’s eating six ounces of chicken. He won’t cheat the system.
“Anything off the ice, you can ask anybody. He’s the hardest-working person. That’s not a dad talking. Those are colleagues and advisors that will say the same thing and will echo that.”
Gauthier believes in himself and that’s taken him to great heights as one of USA’s players to watch this IIHF World Junior Championship. Following his time with U16 programs at HoneyBaked and Detroit Compuware, Gauthier joined USA’s National Team Development Program and would go on to represent his country with the under-17 and under-18 teams, along with the men’s team. Playing international hockey was also something dad Sean did, only he was a goaltender and did so with Team Canada in 1994-95.
What will it mean to dad to see Cutter take the ice at the World Juniors?
“In Canadian culture, the country truly stops during the holidays to watch the World Juniors. You always wanted to be named to that roster,” says Sean. “For Cutter to be able to be chosen for USA … the World Juniors is a special tournament. The people, the culture, the vibe, the excitement for all countries to be consumed into one arena is special. For him to be a part of it and have a major role, it’s going to be a great stepping stone and accolade to his career. And then to go full circle, going back to where he was born in Sweden, that’s pretty cool.”