Cameron Gaunce
Image: NHL

Cameron Gaunce

Hometown:

Sudbury Ontario

Currently Playing In:

Pro

Birthday:

1990-03-19
Position:

D

Eligible for draft:

2008
Shoots:

Left
Drafted:

2008
Height:

6-1
Acquired:

2nd round (50th overall), 2008
Weight:

203 lbs.
<<<<<<< Updated upstream
History

2006-07: Cameron Gaunce, Markham Waxers (OPJHL) defenseman, netted a pair of goals and 14 points through 45 games this season, his first with the club. Expect to see him with Mississauga (OHL) next season.

2007-08: This marked Gaunce’s debut season with Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors (OHL), which saw him tally 10 goals and 40 points, along with 99 penalty minutes in 63 games. Gaunce was chosen by the Colorado Avalanche in the second round, 50th overall, of the 2008 NHL Draft.

2008-09: In his second year with the Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors (OHL), Gaunce set several career-highs, including goals (17), assists (47), points (64) and penalty minutes (110). He also put up numbers in the postseason, racking up 10 points (4g+6a) in 11 games.

2009-10: Gaunce skated in 55 of 68 games for Mississauga St. Michael’s in his third OHL season; missing time with a shoulder injury. A leader on defense for the Majors, he had the second-best plus/minus on the team (+29) and scored 6 goals with 37 assists. Gaunce was second on the Majors behind Rob Flick (CHI) with 112 penalty minutes. In 16 playoff games he led all Majors skaters with 13 assists and finished +4 with 34 PMs as the team reached the OHL semifinals.

2010-11: Gaunce made his NHL debut in February 2011 and skated in 11 games for the Avalanche after spending the bulk of his first pro season with AHL Lake Erie. Averaging just under 13 minutes of ice-time, Gaunce scored one goal and was -3 with 16 PMs during his brief stint with Colorado. In 61 AHL games with Lake Erie he scored 2 goals with 20 assists and was +13 with 84 PMs. Gaunce missed the AHL playoffs due to a hand injury suffered while with the Avalanche.

2011-12: Gaunce spent his second pro season with Colorado’s AHL affiliate Lake Erie. He was a team-best plus-17 and scored 6 goals with 21 assists in 75 games. Gaunce’s 90 penalty minutes were fourth-most on the Monsters. Lake Erie finished third in the North Division – missing the playoffs by two points.

2012-13: Gaunce skated in 61 games for Colorado AHL affiliate Lake Erie before being obtained by Dallas in exchange for Tomas Vincour in a trade with the Avalanche in April 2013. He finished the year in the AHL with Texas and had five points in nine games. Gaunce scored 2 goals with 14 assists in 70 AHL games with the two teams and was -1 (+7 with Texas) and had 98 penalty minutes (all with Lake Erie). The Texas Stars finished first in the South Division and reached the second round in the playoffs. Gaunce had no points nor penalty minutes and was -5 in nine playoff games. He was re-signed by Dallas to a one-year contract in June, 2013.

 

Talent Analysis

While not as polished as some of the Avs' defensive prospects, Gaunce has a well-rounded game that includes a gritty, physical side. He has a strong slapshot, makes smart decisions with the puck and has a great work ethic.

 

Future

Gaunce looks like a second or third-pairing defenseman at the pro level.

Gaunce was dealt by the Colorado Avalanche to the Dallas Stars in April of 2013 in a deal that sent Tomas Vincour to the Avalanche.

 

Goaltending and defense the strengths of Colorado Avalanche prospect system

by Blake Benzel
on
Cameron Gaunce - Lake Erie Monsters

Photo: Cameron Gaunce is one of several experienced defensive prospects in the Avalanche prospect pool on the verge of making the NHL. (courtesy of Zuma Press/Icon SMI)

 
With players like Gabriel Landeskog and Matt Duchene quickly ascending to the pro ranks, it is easy to see why the Colorado Avalanche’s prospect cupboards might be a bit bare. On the surface that is certainly the case, but if you dig a little deeper and poke around, you can see that there is at least a little depth to be had at every position – even the ones that do not appear to have it.

Read more»

Team Rankings: Columbus Blue Jackets feature improved prospect pool after busy off-season

by HF Staff
on

Ryan Murray - Columbus Blue Jackets

Photo: Though the Columbus Blue Jackets added several important prospects this past off-season, none were more prominent than defenseman Ryan Murray, who was selected second overall in the 2012 NHL Draft. (Derek Leung/Getty Images)

Below is the bottom third of the NHL Team Rankings in terms of prospects as voted on by Hockey's Future staff. To determine the ranking, each team's entire prospect pool was taken into consideration. For reference, just the top five prospects are listed. To be eligible, a prospect must meet HF's prospect criteria. The rankings are done twice a year, with the second scheduled to be published in the Spring.

Read more»

Defense and goaltending remain strengths in Colorado Avalanche top 20

by Richard Greco
on
Tyson Barrie - Colorado Avalanche

Tyson Barrie, who made his NHL debut in 2011-12 with the Avalanche, is one of several promising defensive prospects in the Avalanche system. (courtesy of Dustin Bradford/Icon SMI)

The Colorado Avalanche’s defensive and goaltending prospects occupy eight of its top 10 spots. From offensive-minded defensemen to stay at home defenders, the Avs’ future on the blue line is looking bright. The biggest problem Colorado is facing is a lack of premium offensive talent in its system. Michael Sgarbossa and Joey Hishon have the potential to be impact NHL players, but the list ends there. Colorado is stacked with undersized forwards who consistently get hurt playing too physically on the ice.

Read more»
More News & Features
HF Boards