On January 4, TSR’s Justin Schreiber brought you a story on Taylor Cammarata, an undersized scoring product of the Shattuck-St. Mary’s system who now plays for the Waterloo Blackhawks of the USHL.

Ironically, it was a couple of undersized players who really turned heads in the gold medal game of the recently completed World Under-17 Hockey Challenge.

It was a rematch of the December 30 game that saw the US lose 3-2 despite outshooting Russia 53-22, with goaltender Nikita Serebryakov playing the role of spoiler.

In the gold medal game, won 7-4 by Russia, 5’7” 150 lb Sergei Tolchinski netted a hat trick in the most bizarre of fashions.

His first goal came on a shorthanded odd man rush, where he took a feed from Ruzal Galeyev and made a nice move around goaltender Hunter Miska.

In the third period, Tolchinski blazed into the American zone, again shorthanded. This time, he was fouled and denied a scoring opportunity on his breakaway, resulting in a penalty shot. Tolchinski showed off his quick hands and lifted a shot over Miska when he went for the poke-check.

Tolchinski capped his memorable night with an awarded goal. With Russia and the US each down a man, the United States pulled their goalie in the final minute of play. Tolchinski again found himself on a breakway, and again was fouled from behind. However, with Miska located on the bench rather than in the crease, the rules state to award a goal instead of a penalty shot.

It was an even smaller player that nearly got the US back into the game earlier in the third period. 5’6” 130 lb Anthony Louis, of Winfield, Illinois scored on an absolute laser of a wrist shot to cut the Russian lead to 5-4.

Louis nearly tied the score on his next shift, dancing through the Russian defense before being turned aside by Nikita Serebryakov.

Louis was a one-man wrecking ball for the US, almost willing them back into the game on his own. It seemed like every time he was on the ice, something positive was happening for the United States.
“Anthony Louis, you might want to dismiss him because he’s not the biggest of guys, but he’s a terrific player,” said Craig Button, who was at the game providing color commentary for TSN.

Despite giving up nearly a foot to some of his teammates and opponents, Louis didn’t back down from anybody. He played physically, he played in traffic and more often than not it was him coming up with the puck from a scrum. He was incredibly impressive, period, not just for a player of his stature. He finished second on the team in goals and points.

Louis, who is a London Knights draft pick, drew comparisons to another Knights product. While I was watching Louis stickhandle through the Russian defense, his jersey flying behind him, it came to me -
Patrick Kane.

Kane is a Stanley Cup Champion with the Chicago Blackhawks who was drafted first overall in 2007 despite his below-average size. However, it wasn’t just their height that made me think of Louis and Kane.
It might have been the way they both hold their hands close together on the stick and are able to create a lot of whip on their wrist shot.

It might have been the nifty dekes through traffic to get to the scoring areas.

It may have been the way that despite his size, he was nearly impossible to knock off the puck, or the swagger they both seem to play with.

Whatever it was, I feel like it’s a comparison that fits, and while it is huge stretch to think Louis would be drafted anywhere near first overall in 2013, it is not outside the realm of possibility that he could creep his way into the first round or higher.

One thing is certain, don’t count out Anthony Louis. If you do, he’ll be more than happy to prove you wrong.

Tags: 2013 NHL Draft, 2013 nhl draft prospects, Anthony Louis, Nikita Serebryakov, Sergei Tolchinski