By Sam Laskaris /
Carlos Amestoy is yet more proof that diminutive hockey players can indeed excel against some larger opponents.
The 17-year-old centre is in his sophomore season with the Central Canadian Hockey League’s Toronto Junior Canadiens. Though he’s just 5-7 and only weighs about 155 pounds, Amestoy is one of the league’s most exciting players.
And he’ll continue to showcase his skills south of the border, in the NCAA, next season. That’s because he’s accepted a full athletic scholarship from the University of Maine Black Bears.
Amestoy has known for some time that he’d be heading to Maine. He verbally committed to attend the university back in the spring of 2007.
Maine officials first noticed Amestoy at a youth tournament they played host to in April of ‘07.
About a month later there was a deferred offer to attend the school and Amestoy quickly accepted.
“The atmosphere was great,” Amestoy said of his first trip to the U.S. university. “And the school is really supportive of its athletic programs.”
Amestoy is planning to study sports management at Maine. And, despite his size, he’s obviously hoping to have a big impact with the Black Bears.
Junior Canadiens’ coach Dan Cameron believes the Maine squad will benefit from Amestoy’s services. “He’s an exciting player,” Cameron said. “Every time he’s on the ice and touches the puck, he’s a threat to go the full length of the ice.”
And though he’s usually the smallest guy on the ice, Cameron said Amestoy has various other qualities that make him a valuable asset.
“He’s a very skilled player and a tremendous character kid,” he said. “And he’s a pleasure
to coach.”
Not surprisingly, Amestoy’s favourite NHL player, Martin St. Louis of the Tampa Bay Lightning, also has a small stature.
“He’s really aggressive on the puck,” Amestoy said of his hero, who is perhaps generously listed as being 5-9 and 177 pounds. “And he can make something out of nothing all the time.”
Amestoy is hoping for a big year – in terms of points. In his first 15 games he had earned 12 points, including five goals.
“I’m starting off very slow,” he said. “But I’d like to get up to 70 points this year.”
That would be almost three times the 25 points Amestoy collected during his rookie season with the Junior Canadiens.
“I’m in a bit of a slump now,” he added. “I’m creating opportunities but not finishing.”
Though he’s fared rather well in his career thus far, Amestoy is hoping he hasn’t finished growing yet. But genetics are not on his side; his father is 5-8 and his mother is 5-4.
Amestoy is hoping though to put on some more weight before he heads to Maine. He’d like to get up to as much as 170 pounds.
Amestoy said putting on weight now is a bit difficult. Between practices and games, he’s usually on the ice five to six times per week with the Junior Canadiens. Plus, he also attends a sports speciality high school in Toronto called Premier Elite Athletes Collegiate (PEAC).'
Amestoy is part of the PEAC’s hockey program and as a result he has a 90-minute on-ice session every school day. |