Toronto Marlies sign defenseman Cameron Gaunce to a PTO

The Toronto Marlies have added some defensive depth, inking Cameron Gaunce to a professional tryout offer.

Gaunce, 33, has spent most of his pro career in the American Hockey League. Drafted 50th overall in 2008, Gaunce had an 11-game stretch with the Colorado Avalanche in 2010-11 after finishing a three-year run with the Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors OHL squad. He’d spend most of the next three years exclusively in the AHL, landing in Texas to close out the 2012-13 season.

Gaunce would return to the NHL for a nine-game run with Dallas in 2013-14 before having to wait until 2016-17 to get his next chance with Tampa Bay. Statistically, it was one of the best stretches of his career with four points in 12 games. He’d get a few more chances with Tampa Bay, including another four-point effort in just three games in 2019-20.

In 783 career AHL games between Lake Erie, Texas, Portland, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Cleveland, Syracuse and Ontario, Gaunce has 50 goals and 298 points. He’s known more for his physicality, racking up 884 penalty minutes over 13 seasons. Gaunce has yet to play this season, but had nine points and 56 PIM in 52 games last year with Ontario, the AHL affiliate of the Los Angeles Kings.

Cameron is the older brother of long-time AHLer Brendan Gaunce, who currently has 13 points in 19 games with the Cleveland Monsters.

The Marlies will host the Grand Rapids Griffins tonight before facing off again on Sunday afternoon. They’ll head on a mini road trip next week, with a Dec. 15 meeting against Providence and a fight against Hartford two nights later. The Marlie will return home against the Bruins on Dec. 20.