He turned pro in 1990 in the International Hockey League with the Albany Choppers for one game before joining the ECHL's Knoxville Cherokees, scoring 41 goals and 93 assists for 134 points.
He was initially assigned to the IHL's Indianapolis Ice, but eventually played 5 NHL games during the 1994–95 season but scored no points.
Brief spells in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga with the Frankfurt Lions and the Wedemark Scorpions were followed by a move to the Austrian Hockey League with VEU Feldkirch.
After three seasons, Gauthier moved to the Swiss Nationalliga A and joined SCL Tigers for another three years.
He then rejoined Feldkirch in another three season spell before moving to Italy's Serie A, joining HC Asiago.