The ECHL announced on Thursday that Taylor Gauthier, a goaltender for the Wheeling Nailers, has won the Nick Vitucci Goaltender of the Year award for the 2023-24 season. The award is given annually and is decided by a league-wide vote that includes coaches and media members. This past regular season, Gauthier had an impressive record of 24-16-1-1. He led all goaltenders in the ECHL with an outstanding .922 save percentage, recorded four shutouts, and had a goals-against average of 2.23. Gauthier is the first player in the history of the Wheeling Nailers to receive this prestigious award.
Taylor Gauthier is set to lead the Wheeling Nailers in their first-round matchup against the Indy Fuel in the Kelly Cup Playoffs. The series will begin on Friday night at 7:00 PM in Indianapolis. Gauthier’s performance will be crucial in setting the tone for the series, particularly since the Nailers are starting the series on the road at the Indiana Farmers Coliseum, which is likely to be packed with fans. Gauthier is a key player on the Nailers team, and his performance will be critical in helping the team take the first two games away from home and return to Wheeling with a commanding lead in front of a full WesBanco Arena. The rest of the Nailers team will be looking to build on Gauthier’s strong play, starting on Friday night.
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