Devon Levi had some anxious moments before, despite everything he heard his call was the seventh and final round of the 2020 NHL Draft.
Dollard-des-Ormeaux’s 18-year-old goalkeeper selected 212th overall through the Florida Panthers.
“It’s very exciting, especially in the last few minutes,” said Levi, who saw the draft televised from a living room at Matthews Arena at Northeastern University in Boston.
“I had high hopes, but you never know what’s going on on draft day,” said Levi, a freshman for the Northeastern Huskies, a NCAA Division I school hockey program.
Levi, who was also connected via Zoom to his circle of relatives in Montreal, was thrilled when his call was despite everything called through the Panthers with the sixth overall pick in the draft.
“It’s the most productive feeling in the world. It’s a dream come true. I’ve dreamed of being drafted into the NHL since I started playing hockey. I think it’s the dream of each and every child. “
“I am very grateful to have been able to (live) this. It is incredible that all my work, every single thing I do every single day and every day, has paid off.
Levi took an unrthodox path to the NHL draft: he played three years with the Lac Saint-Louis Lions of the Quebec Midget AAA Hockey League, before traveling to Ontario last year to play Junior A hockey with the Carleton Place Canadiens of Central Canadian Hockey. League.
After leading all CCHL goalkeepers with 34 wins, an average of 1. 47 goals against, a save percentage of 941 and 8 bleached, Levi was named the most valuable player in the Canadian Youth Hockey League. He also won the National Junior A Award as Rookie of the Year. and Best Goalkeeper.
He also led Canada East to the World Youth Championship A final at Dawson Creek, British Columbia. Levi was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player after a 2–1 loss to Russia in final overtime.
While some have questioned whether he deserved to have spent three years in the AAA dwarf category, Levi says he has been attentive to his purpose of betting on NCAA Division I hockey.
“Everyone has their way. I knew the NCAA my way. And while the decisions I made might have been criticized, I knew they were the most productive for my stage and what I had to do. I don’t regret any decisions. ” I did it in hockey,” said the goalkeeper born in 2001.
After the NHL draft, Levi won a pass from retired Panthers legend Roberto Luongo of Montreal.
“Roberto Luongo said I could call him if he had any questions about the video or hockey. It’s unbelievable to hear it.
Levi said his circle of relatives is also delighted to have been drafted through the Florida-based team.
“It’s funny how things happen because my parents plan to move definitely to Florida,” she says. “They just bought a space in Boca Roton. “
Levi has also trained several times in Florida over the years and in Panthers goalkeeper coach Rob Tallas.
Levi expected his hometown, the Montreal Canadiens, to catch him?
“It would have been great, of course, but I was just looking to be recruited no matter where. I was just looking for an image to become myself. That’s all I was looking for at the end of the day. “
Levi said he revered being selected through the Panthers and thanked those who helped him realize his hockey dream, starting with his parents Laurent and Eta, and his brother James.
“They played a role in all this and I can’t thank them enough. “
Levi also thanked several of his coaches, adding Jason Clarke (Carleton Place), Jim Madigan (northeast), Raz Saltarelli, Jon Goyens and Gerry Gomez Gomez of the Lions, and goalkein coach Marco Raimondo, family circle advisor Jonathan Lachance and West Island. University staff.
Levi and the Northeast Huskies do not yet have the 2020–21 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
jmeagher@postmedia. com
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