Cameron Gaunce

Cameron Gaunce (born March 19, 1990) is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who is currently an unrestricted free agent. He most recently played with the Ontario Reign of the American Hockey League (AHL). Gaunce was selected by Colorado Avalanche in the second round, 50th overall, of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.

Cameron Gaunce
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Gaunce with the Syracuse Crunch in 2020
Born (1990-03-19) March 19, 1990
Sudbury, Ontario, Canada
Height 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight 203 lb (92 kg; 14 st 7 lb)
Position Defence
Shoots Left
team
Former teams		 Free agent
Colorado Avalanche
Dallas Stars
Pittsburgh Penguins
Tampa Bay Lightning
NHL Draft 50th overall, 2008
Colorado Avalanche
Playing career 2010–present

Playing career

Gaunce grew up in Markham, Ontario, playing minor ice hockey with the Ontario Minor Hockey Association (OMHA) Markham Waxers, where he was a teammate of Steven Stamkos, Michael Del Zotto and Cody Hodgson. He played in the 2003 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with Markham.[1] He was selected 50th overall by the Colorado Avalanche in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft. Gaunce played with the Mississauga St. Michael's Majors of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) for three seasons, and on May 11, 2009, he signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Avalanche and attended the 2009 Avalanche's training camp before returning for his final year with the Majors in the 2009–10 season.[2]

In his first professional season, in 2010–11, Gaunce was assigned to Colorado's American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Lake Erie Monsters. After 54 games with the Monsters, he was called up to the NHL and made his NHL debut in Colorado's 5–3 defeat against the Nashville Predators on February 12, 2011.[3] In his third game with the Avalanche, he scored his first NHL goal and point against Marc-André Fleury and the Pittsburgh Penguins in a 3–2 loss on February 16.[4]

During the 2012–13 season, while playing with the Monsters and in the final year of his entry-level contract, on April 2, 2013, Gaunce was traded to the Dallas Stars in exchange for Tomáš Vincour.[5] On December 17, 2013, Gaunce was called up to the Stars.[6]

In September 2014, after failing to make the Stars' NHL roster out of training camp, Gaunce was assigned to Dallas' AHL affiliate, the Texas Stars.

On July 1, 2015, after he was not tendered a qualifying offer to remain with the Stars, Gaunce signed as a free agent to a one-year, two-way contract with the Florida Panthers.[7] Gaunce was assigned to add leadership to Florida's AHL affiliate, the Portland Pirates, for the duration of the 2015–16 season. He responded by setting career-high numbers offensively with 37 points in 75 games.

On July 1, 2016, as a free agent, Gaunce signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins.[8] In the 2016–17 season, he began playing in the AHL with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. With Pittsburgh suffering a depleted blueline through injury, Gaunce was recalled and eclipsed his previous efforts in the NHL to record a career-high 1 goal and 4 points in 12 games.

On July 1, 2017, as a free agent for the third straight year, Gaunce signed a two-year, two-way contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets.[9] In the 2017–18 season, after attending the Blue Jackets' training camp, Gaunce was reassigned to Columbus' AHL affiliate, the Cleveland Monsters. In making his return to his first professional club in the Monsters, Gaunce added a veteran presence on the blueline and led the defence in scoring with 21 assists and 24 points.

On July 1, 2018, Gaunce signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning.[10]

Following two productive seasons within the Lightning organizations, Gaunce left as a free agent leading into the pandemic delayed 2020–21 season. Unable to secure an NHL deal, Gaunce agreed to a one-year AHL contract with the Ontario Reign, affiliate to the Los Angeles Kings, on January 28, 2021.[11] In the shortened AHL season, Gaunce contributed with 3 goals and 13 points in 24 games. In his second season with the Reign in the 2021–22 season, Gaunce featured regularly in 61 regular season games, collecting 7 goals and 27 points. He played in all five playoff games with the Reign in their divisional semi-final defeat to the Colorado Eagles.

On July 27, 2022, Gaunce opted to return for a third season with the Reign, re-signing to a one-year contract.[12]

Personal

Gaunce's younger brother Brendan currently plays as a left winger in the Columbus Blue Jackets organization. Brendan, who was selected second overall by the Belleville Bulls in the 2010 OHL Priority Selection, was selected in the first round, 26th overall, by the Canucks in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.[13]

Career statistics
Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2005–06 Markham Waxers OMHA 72 11 60 71 122 — — — — —
2006–07 Markham Waxers OPJHL 45 2 12 14 68 — — — — —
2007–08 Mississauga St. Michael's Majors OHL 63 10 30 40 99 4 0 1 1 6
2008–09 Mississauga St. Michael's Majors OHL 67 17 47 64 110 11 4 6 10 20
2009–10 Mississauga St. Michael's Majors OHL 55 6 31 37 112 16 0 13 13 34
2010–11 Lake Erie Monsters AHL 61 2 20 22 84 — — — — —
2010–11 Colorado Avalanche NHL 11 1 0 1 16 — — — — —
2011–12 Lake Erie Monsters AHL 75 6 21 27 90 — — — — —
2012–13 Lake Erie Monsters AHL 61 1 10 11 98 — — — — —
2012–13 Texas Stars AHL 9 1 4 5 0 9 0 0 0 0
2013–14 Texas Stars AHL 65 3 15 18 73 18 0 4 4 12
2013–14 Dallas Stars NHL 9 0 0 0 7 — — — — —
2014–15 Texas Stars AHL 73 4 10 14 113 3 0 0 0 0
2015–16 Portland Pirates AHL 75 2 35 37 60 5 0 0 0 4
2016–17 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins AHL 49 2 11 13 38 4 0 1 1 0
2016–17 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 12 1 3 4 13 — — — — —
2017–18 Cleveland Monsters AHL 67 3 21 24 96 — — — — —
2018–19 Syracuse Crunch AHL 59 10 36 46 65 4 0 2 2 2
2018–19 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 2 0 0 0 7 — — — — —
2019–20 Syracuse Crunch AHL 52 4 28 32 38 — — — — —
2019–20 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 3 1 3 4 4 — — — — —
2020–21 Ontario Reign AHL 24 3 10 13 10 — — — — —
2021–22 Ontario Reign AHL 61 7 20 27 63 5 0 0 0 14
2022–23 Ontario Reign AHL 52 2 7 9 56 2 0 0 0 2
NHL totals 37 3 6 9 47 — — — — —

Awards and honours
Award Year
AHL
Calder Cup (Texas Stars) 2014
All-Star Game 2016, 2020

References
  1. "Pee-Wee players who have reached NHL or WHA" (PDF). Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament. 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 6, 2019. Retrieved February 16, 2019.
  2. "Avalanche signs Gaunce". Colorado Avalanche. May 11, 2009. Retrieved October 5, 2010.
  3. "Markham's Gaunce makes NHL debut with Colorado". York Region. February 14, 2011. Retrieved February 22, 2011.
  4. "Pens prevail in OT, deal Avalanche ninth loss in row". CBS Sports. February 16, 2011. Retrieved February 22, 2011.
  5. "Stars acquire Gaunce from Avalanche for Vincour". Dallas Stars. April 2, 2013. Retrieved April 2, 2013.
  6. "Dallas Stars place Vernon Fiddler on IR; Recall Cameron Gaunce from Texas Stars". NHL.com.
  7. "Florida Panthers agree to terms with Cameron Gaunce and Brent Regner". Florida Panthers. July 1, 2015. Retrieved July 1, 2015.
  8. "Penguins sign defenseman Cameron Gaunce". Pittsburgh Penguins. July 1, 2016. Retrieved July 1, 2016.
  9. "Blue Jackets sign Cameron Gaunce to two-year, two-way contract". Sportsnet.ca. July 1, 2017. Retrieved July 1, 2017.
  10. "Lightning sign defenseman Cameron Gaunce". Tampa Bay Lightning. July 1, 2018. Retrieved July 1, 2018.
  11. "Reign add Gaunce, Lethemon on AHL contracts". Ontario Reign. January 28, 2021. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
  12. "Reign re-sign defender Cameron Gaunce". Ontario Reign. July 27, 2022. Retrieved July 27, 2022.
  13. "2012 Draft ranking finals". International Scouting Services. June 20, 2012. Archived from the original on October 5, 2012. Retrieved July 2, 2012.
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