Prince George, B.C. – The Prince George Cougars have signed their first round pick from this year’s WHL Bantam Draft.

The Cats inked 2001-born goalie Taylor Gauthier of Calgary to a Standard WHL Agreement. The 6’0”, 172 pound Gauthier was selected ninth overall this spring.

The two-time reigning Alberta Major Bantam Hockey League Goaltender of the Year in the South Region led the Calgary Bisons to the 2015-16 Alberta Cup finishing the regular season with a 15-1-3 record, a .948 save percentage and a 1.22 goals-against-average and seven shutouts.

He also finished the playoffs with a 6-3 record, a .933 save percentage and a 1.64 goals-against-average.

Gauthier is just the second goalie to ever be selected in the WHL Bantam Draft’s first round. The other was Carey Price who was selected seventh overall by the Tri-City Americans in 2002.