Brendan Gaunce hoped to find his way up to the professional level after inking a one-year, two-way deal with the Boston Bruins on July 1. After all, Vancouver’s 2012 first-round selection only notched six goals and nine assists in 117 career NHL games.
Searching for a team that can help him find the scoring touch he had in the Ontario Hockey League, where he notched 236 career points (103 goals 133 assists) in 258 games from 2010-2014 — mostly with Belleville Bulls but also with Erie Otters — a well-established Bruins franchise provided him with a chance, albeit at the AHL level.