Devon Levi has done exactly the opposite of what one would expect from an elite player if he wants to reach the highest peaks, and that’s exactly what allowed the Montreal goaltender to sign his first contract with the Buffalo last Friday put saber.
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“If you are good, you will find a way to achieve your goals. »
That phrase, it was Levi himself, uttered during an interview with Buffalo’s Spectrum News network, hours after he announced he was officially leaving the Northeastern Huskies and making the leap to the pros.
And she probably couldn’t better represent the mentality that the goalie and his family have had throughout his hockey journey.
A native of Dollard-des-Ormeaux, Levi managed to earn a berth at Midget AAA (now M18 AAA) with the Lac-St-Louis Lions when he was just 14 years old (he was supposed to be 15 on March 27). . December). In his first two seasons, he had 2.84 goals against average and a .926 save percentage when he was drafted by the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada in 2017, though he intended to continue his career in the United States.
DO NOT SKIP STEPS
At the end of his second season, Levi faces two choices: rise to a higher level, as 90% of the players in his position do, or return to the Lions for a third straight season. After a brief stint at Armada camp in Blainville-Boisbriand, he caused some surprise when he announced he would be returning with the Lions.
“With every decision Devon made, there was always a common theme: whether or not he felt ready to take the next step,” says his father Laurent Levi. Being born in December, he was in high school at the time and it was important to us that he complete his studies in Quebec before he leaves. We also knew that Midget’s AAA level was at a good level and that Jon Goyens would take good care of him,” adds the father, who believes the NCAA was the best option for his son academically.
Jon Goyens, who is now the head coach of the Cape Breton Eagles of the QMJHL, coached Levi during his three seasons with the Lions.
“It’s too often that young people are in a hurry to take the next step,” said the hockey man. It’s like everyone wants to copy and paste and listen to the opinions of non-specialist experts. Devon and his family have always accepted being patient. He had a 95% average in school and it was important to finish high school here. »
Levi ends his third year with the Lions with a bang, ahead of Joshua Roy’s Chevaliers de Lévis, who were 47-1 before they faced the Lions in their series. Levi and the Lions then lose to the Cantonniers de Magog in the Jimmy-Ferrari Cup final.
JUNIOR A AND DRAFT
He then has several options if he wants to continue his way to American colleges. The United States junior league, the USHL, or the British Columbia junior league, the BCHL, seem to be the two most “logical”.
However, he chose the Carleton Place Canadians of the Central Junior A Hockey League (CHJL). Another somewhat surprising decision, from the outside.
“As we do with all players, we identified what was important to Devon,” says his agent Jonathan Lachance of The Will Sports Group. Carleton Place was one of the best teams in Canada and he would have the potential to get an invite to the World Junior A Championship, plus he wasn’t too far from home. »
Levi dominates again, ending the season with a 34-2-1 record, a 1.47 goals-against average and a .941 save ratio. His skills did not go unnoticed and the Florida Panthers made him their 2020 seventh round pick.
RECORD AND STEP
Amid COVID-19, Levi secures a spot on 2021 Junior Team Canada, which he leads to the grand finals thanks to a historic performance. His 0.964% save percentage broke Carey Price’s old record of .961 set in 2007. The following summer, he was traded from the Panthers to the Sabers in exchange for forward Sam Reinhart.
His next two seasons at Northeastern University continue with success: He wins the 2022 Mike Richter Trophy, awarded to the NCAA’s top goaltender, and is in the running for the award again this year.
In just a few years, he went from a seventh-round pick at an Ontario Junior A program to one of hockey’s most promising goalies. All of this without ever deviating from his beliefs or taking any action.
“At every stage he delivered the goods and he believed in the path he was taking. Sometimes guys get discouraged, but he never did. He always trusted his decisions to the last in order to accept the Sabers’ offer. Each phase had its own pitfalls, but each of them was worth the effort to develop,” notes Jonathan Lachance.
For Jon Goyens, seeing where Levi is right now is kind of a small victory.
“Since he arrived Midget AAA, I repeat the hockey Quebec, the LHJMQ and the American colleges so as not to doubt him. For a time only the University of Vermont made him an offer until their coach quit and they decided to change their plan because he was too small. Today I get several text messages from people telling me I was right. Devon always liked a challenge and wanted to compete with the best and that’s what he worked for. »
CUSTOM HONORS ON THE SHOVEL
2017-2018
- First Team Midget AAA All-Stars
- 2018-2019 – Midget AAA Series Top Defensive Player
2019-2020
- CCHL top goalkeeper
- CCHL Most Valuable Player
- Junior A Player of the Year in Canada
- Canadian Junior A Goalkeeper of the Year
- World Junior A Most Valuable Player
2020-2021
- World Junior Championship All-Star Team
- Best Goalkeeper of the Junior World Cup
2021-2022
- NCAA Goalie of the Year
- NCAA Rookie of the Year
- Hobey-Baker Trophy Finalist (NCAA Player of the Year)
2022-2023
- NCAA Hockey East Division Goaltender of the Year
- NCAA Hockey East Division Player of the Year
- Mike Richter Trophy Finalist (NCAA Goalie of the Year)*
- Hobey-Baker Trophy Finalist (NCAA Player of the Year)*
* Revealed on April 7th
Photo archive, AFP
Devon Levi won the Most Valuable Player award at the Beanpot College Tournament in Boston on February 13.
IMPRESSIVE STATISTICS
2016-2017
- Lac St-Louis Lions (MAAA) 11-10 record, 2.69 GAA, .925 save percentage, 5 shutouts
2017-2018
- Lac St-Louis Lions (MAAA) 14-11 record, 2.98 GAA, .927 save rate, 1 shutout
2018-2019
- Lac St-Louis Lions (MAAA) 14-13 record, 3.10 GAA, .909 save rate, 2 shutouts
2019-2020
- Carleton Place Canadians (CCHL) 34-2-1 record, 1.47 GAA, .941 savings rate, 8 shutouts
2020-2021
- Junior Team Canada (WJC) 6-1 record, .75 GAA, .964 save percentage, 3 shutouts
2021-2022
- Northeastern (NCAA) 21-10-1 record, 1.54 GAA, .952 save percentage, 10 shutouts
2022-2023
- Northeastern (NCAA) 17-12-5 record, 2.24 GAA, .933 savings percentage, 6 shutouts