SAINT PAUL, Minn. – Minnesota Wild President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Bill Guerin announced today that the NHL club has recalled forward Brendan Gaunce from the Iowa Wild of the AHL.
Brendan Gaunce, 30, has recorded 14 points (8 goals, 6 assists), 12 penalty minutes, two game-winning goals, one power-play goal, and 61 shots on goal in 21 games with Iowa this season. He leads Iowa in shots on goal and is tied for first in points and goals. Gaunce achieved a hat trick against the Rockford IceHogs on December 11, marking his second three-point game of the season. Last season, he played 24 games with the Columbus Blue Jackets, accumulating four points (2 goals, 2 assists) and six penalty minutes, and 39 points (19 goals, 20 assists) in 46 games with the Cleveland Monsters in the AHL. The 6-foot-3, 219-pound native of Sudbury, Ontario, served as Cleveland’s captain and ranked fourth on the team in scoring.
In his NHL career, Gaunce has tallied 28 points (13 goals, 15 assists) and 67 penalty minutes in 177 games with the Vancouver Canucks (2015-19), Boston Bruins (2019-20), and Columbus Blue Jackets (2021-24). He has also accumulated 247 points (116 goals, 131 assists), 952 shots on goal, 232 penalty minutes, and a plus-8 rating in 364 career AHL games with Utica (2014-19), Providence (2019-20), Cleveland (2021-24), and Iowa (2024-25). Gaunce has added 14 points (7 goals, 7 assists) in 31 career Calder Cup Playoff contests. During the 2020-21 season, he played with Vaxjo in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL), helping the Lakers win the league championship.
Gaunce was selected by the Vancouver Canucks in the first round (No. 26 overall) of the 2012 NHL Draft. He signed a one-year, two-way contract with Minnesota on July 1, 2024, and wears sweater No. 21 with the Wild.
