Gauthier Was One Game Wonder

Paul Gauthier played just one game in net for the NHL's Montreal Canadiens in 1937-38.

1934-35 Winnipeg Monarchs. Gauthier is second from right.

Paul Gauthier was born in Winnipeg on Dec 8, 1915. But it was in Morris (a small town 40 minutes south of Winnipeg) where he grew up and learned to play hockey on the outdoor rinks of his hometown.

Gauthier soon decided to play goaltender, and despite his diminutive size (5'5" and 125 lbs), he was very quick and agile in the net and soon became known as the top young goaltender in southern Manitoba.

In the fall of 1934, Gauthier drove into Winnipeg to tryout for the MJHL's Winnipeg Monarchs. He made the team and promptly led the Monarchs to the national Memorial Cup championship in 1935, where they won the title. 

Turning professional the following season, Gauthier left Morris and embarked on a 14-year career with 16 different pro teams (he played for several teams twice, too) in eight leagues. His journeys took him to cities such as Pittsburgh, Minneapolis, New Haven, Spokane, Seattle, Kansas City, Washington, Buffalo, Ottawa, Houston, Philadelphia, San Francisco and Omaha.

Despite his lengthy career, Gauthier only saw one game in the National Hockey League. Playing for the AHL's New Haven Eagles at the time, Gauthier was loaned to the Montreal Canadiens for the night of Jan 13, 1938.

Montreal's starting goaltender Wilf Cude was sidelined for the night with an injury, and Gauthier was brought in on an emergency basis as NHL teams only carried one goaltender well into the 1960s. Gauthier donned the legendary Canadiens jersey and had carried himself well, making a lot of great saves in a 2-2 overtime tie against the Chicago Blackhawks.

Unfortunately for Gauthier, he was sent right back down to New Haven as soon as Cude returned from his injury, never getting another sniff of NHL action.

Paul Gauthier passed away on Mar 10, 1984, in Riverside, California. He was 68 years old.

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