03/27/2024
Boston College Forward Cutter Gauthier Is Recipient of 72nd Walter Brown Award as New England’s Best American-Born Division One Hockey Player
Nation’s Leading Goal Scorer is First Eagle Recipient since Johnny Gaudreau in 2014;
BC Coach Greg Brown was Walter Brown Winner in 1990
BOSTON – March 27, 2024 – Gridiron Club of Greater Boston president Tim Whelan Jr. announced today that Boston College sophomore forward Cutter Gauthier (Scottsdale, AZ) is recipient of the 72nd Walter Brown Award, presented annually to the best American-born Division One college hockey player in New England.
Going into the NCAA tournament quarterfinal round, 6-3, 190-pound Gauthier leads the nation both in goals scored with 35 and game-winning goals with ten.. He has also amassed 24 assists; his 59 points place him second in the country in overall scoring. Gauthier was a First-Team Hockey East All-Star and is one of ten candidates for the 2024 Hobey Baker Award. He was also a key contributor in the United States team’s gold medal triumph at the 2024 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship. He was drafted with the fifth overall pick by the Philadelphia Flyers in the first round of the 2022 NHL draft, and his rights were subsequently traded to the Anaheim Ducks.
The 31-5-1 Eagles won both the Hockey East regular season and playoff championships. Top-ranked in the nation, they face 19-14-6 Michigan Tech in the first game of the Providence Regional on March 29.
BC coach Greg Brown stated, “The Gridiron Club of Greater Boston has made an excellent selection in Cutter Gauthier for the Walter Brown Award. Cutter has been dominant on the ice in all areas of the game. He leads the country in goals scored, plays on both the power play and penalty kill, and does this night in and night out while playing against the opponents’ top line. Cutter has been an excellent role model for his teammates, driving the intensity level in practice and elevating each of the players around him.
“Cutter is as diligent with his school work as he is on the ice. He supports a number of community services initiatives including The New England Jumbos, BC Hockey Toy Drive, and the BC "Stuff the Truck" Food Drive. Along with his teammates he also supports Team Impact and his Team Impact teammate, Josh Bello.
“In short, Cutter is an outstanding representative of himself, his family, and Boston College. Walter Brown would be proud.”
The two other finalists from the field of 26 semifinalists were Boston University sophomore Lane Hutson (North Barrington, IL) and Boston College freshman Will Smith (Lexington, MA). Hutson, the 2023 Walter Brown Award winner, ranks 15th in the nation and second among defensemen with 13-33-46. He was drafted by the Montreal Canadiens as the 66th overall pick in the second round of the 2022 NHL draft. Smith leads the country in overall scoring with 23-44-67. He was MVP of the Hockey East Championship Tournament, scoring four goals in BC’s 6-2 final win over Boston University. Smith was selected fourth overall in the 2023 NHL draft by the San Jose Sharks, Smith and Hutson are also among the ten candidates for the Hobey Baker Award
The nation’s oldest nationally-recognized college hockey honor, the Walter Brown Award was established in 1953 by the members of the 1933 Massachusetts Rangers, the first American team ever to win the World Championship Tournament. Brown coached the Rangers to the title in Prague, Czechoslovakia, where the team defeated Canada 2-1 in overtime in the championship game. The Walter Brown Award will be presented at the New England Hockey Writers’ annual event on Tuesday, April 23, at Prince Restaurant in Saugus, MA.
