Devon Levi

Early Life and Education

Devon Levi was born and raised in Dollard-des-Ormeaux, a suburb of Montreal, Quebec. He comes from a family with a strong academic background, as his father Laurent is a software engineer and his mother Eta Yacowar works as an office administrator at the software company they are building together. Levi has a younger brother named James. From a young age, Levi was immersed in hockey culture, beginning with street hockey games on concrete with his father. He developed a close friendship with fellow goaltender Yaniv Perets during childhood, and the two played on the same youth teams for several years. Levi, who is Jewish, attended Hebrew Foundation School for his early education. He later graduated from West Island College in 2019, where he served as valedictorian of his class. Demonstrating a commitment to balancing athletics and academics, Levi took online courses through Athabasca University while pursuing his hockey career. He is bilingual, with English as his first language and fluency in French.

Youth and Junior Hockey Career

Levi's organized hockey career began with the Lac St-Louis Lions in the Quebec Midget AAA Hockey League (QMAAA), where he played from 2016 to 2019. He started as the team's youngest player at just 14 years old. His performance quickly distinguished him, as he set a league record for most saves in a 60-minute game with 64 stops on 65 shots during the 2019 season. Levi also established the QMAAA career record for shutouts with eight. His excellence was recognized with numerous awards, including the MAAA Governor's Award for Student Athlete of the Year and the Daniel Brière Award for Best Hockey and Academic Achievement in 2018. He was a two-time MAAA First All Star Team selection and received the Federation of Athletic Excellence of Quebec and Montreal Canadiens' Foundation Award and Scholarship twice. In his final QMAAA season, he received the Ken Dryden Trophy as the league's best goaltender prospect and the Patrick Roy Trophy as the best defensive player in the playoffs.

Levi advanced to the Junior A level for the 2019-20 season, joining the Carleton Place Canadians of the Central Canada Hockey League (CCHL). He dominated the league in his single season, posting a .941 save percentage, a 1.47 goals against average, and eight shutouts in 37 games, leading the CCHL in all three categories. His remarkable season earned him a sweep of the Canadian Junior Hockey League's top honours, including CJHL Player of the Year, MVP, Top Rookie, and Top Goalie awards. At the CCHL level, he was named MVP, Top Goaltender, Rookie of the Year, Top Prospect, and a First Team All Star. His coach, Jason Clarke, publicly praised Levi's potential, stating he would bet his mortgage on Levi taking the NCAA by storm.

NCAA Career at Northeastern University

Devon Levi committed to play NCAA Division I hockey for the Northeastern University Huskies, beginning with the 2020-21 season. He majored in computer science and attended on an athletic scholarship. A rib injury sustained at the 2021 World Junior Championships delayed his collegiate debut, causing him to miss the entire 2020-21 season, though he was still named to the Hockey East All-Academic Team. Levi finally began his NCAA career in the 2021-22 season and immediately made an impact by recording back-to-back shutouts in his first starts. He was named the Hockey East Pro Ambitions Rookie of the Month for both October and November 2021. By mid-season, he had set a new Northeastern record for shutouts in a single season. Levi finished that remarkable freshman year with a .952 save percentage, tying Connor Hellebuyck for the second-best single-season mark in NCAA history. He led Northeastern to the Hockey East regular season title and won the Mike Richter Award as the top goaltender in college hockey.

In his sophomore 2022-23 season, Levi continued to excel. He backstopped Northeastern to a victory in the prestigious Beanpot tournament, earning tournament MVP honours and the Eberly Award for the best save percentage after stopping 63 of 66 shots. Once again, he led all NCAA goaltenders in save percentage during the regular season. Levi made history by winning the Mike Richter Award for a second consecutive season, becoming the first player ever to accomplish that feat. His collegiate career concluded with a loss to Providence in the Hockey East playoffs. He finished his NCAA tenure with the second-best career save percentage in the history of college hockey, cementing his status as one of the most successful collegiate goaltenders of his era.

Professional Hockey Career

Devon Levi was selected 212th overall by the Florida Panthers in the seventh round of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. His NHL rights were traded on July 24, 2021, along with a first-round pick, to the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for forward Sam Reinhart. Six days after his college career ended in 2023, Levi signed his entry-level contract with the Sabres. He made his NHL debut on March 31, 2023, in an overtime victory against the New York Rangers. Levi played in seven of Buffalo's final nine games that season, recording five wins.

Levi began the 2023-24 season on the Sabres' NHL roster. He started the team's first four games before a lower-body injury sidelined him for over two weeks. Upon his return, his performance was inconsistent, leading to several reassignments to the American Hockey League's Rochester Americans to gain more playing time. During an AHL stint, Levi recorded his first professional point with an assist on a game-winning goal on March 1, 2024. Over parts of two seasons with Buffalo, Levi appeared in 23 games during the 2023-24 campaign and 9 games in the 2024-25 season. On July 1, 2026, the Sabres traded Levi and a seventh-round draft pick to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for a third-round selection in the 2028 NHL Entry Draft. He joined the Oilers for the 2026-27 season, appearing in five games as he worked to establish himself within the organization's goaltending depth chart.

International Play

Devon Levi first represented Canada at the 2019 World Junior A Challenge, playing for Canada East. He was instrumental in the team's silver medal finish, stopping 77 of 80 shots and being named the tournament's most valuable player. His performance at this event first brought him to the attention of Hockey Canada's national program. Levi's international breakthrough came at the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship. As Canada's starting goaltender, he posted a staggering .964 save percentage and a 0.75 goals against average, both tournament bests. His save percentage broke the all-time World Junior record previously held by Carey Price since 2007. Levi recorded three shutouts during the tournament, becoming only the second goaltender ever to do so at a single World Juniors. Canada won the silver medal, and Levi was named the tournament's Best Goaltender by the IIHF Directorate and selected to the All-Star Team. Remarkably, he revealed after the tournament that he had played through the entire event with a fractured rib, sustained in the opening game against Germany.

Based on his outstanding performance at the 2021 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, Devon Levi was named to Team Canada for the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. He did not feature in any games during the tournament, as Canada chose to play goaltenders Matt Tomkins and Edward Pasquale. After the Olympics, Levi continued his development with the Buffalo Sabres and later the Edmonton Oilers. He has since been mentioned among players generating buzz for Team Canada ahead of the 2026-27 NHL season. This attention coincides with the upcoming Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games, where he could potentially make his Olympic debut.

Playing Style and Attributes

Devon Levi is noted by coaches and analysts for a playing style built on exceptional technical proficiency, quickness, and a high hockey IQ. His speed and efficient movement in the crease allow him to make challenging saves look routine. A key strength is his ability to read plays developing in front of him and track the puck through heavy traffic, which enables superior positioning and anticipation. Coaches have praised his mental approach to the game, highlighting his capacity to analyze opponents and adjust his strategy accordingly. Levi employs specific routines to maintain focus during games, including a notable practice of dropping to his knees 15 feet in front of his net during every timeout to bow his head and use breathing techniques to reset mentally. His style has been evaluated for its potential compatibility with the Edmonton Oilers' system, with analysts suggesting his quickness and puck-tracking could make him an important part of the team's future.

Awards and Recognition

Throughout his hockey career, Devon Levi has accumulated a significant collection of awards and honours. At the junior level, his most notable achievements include being named the 2019-20 Canadian Junior Hockey League Player of the Year, MVP, Top Rookie, and Top Goalie. He also earned CCHL MVP, Top Goaltender, and Rookie of the Year honours that same season. In Quebec Midget AAA, he received the Ken Dryden Trophy as the best goaltender prospect and the Patrick Roy Trophy for playoff defensive excellence. His collegiate career at Northeastern University was highlighted by winning the Mike Richter Award as the top NCAA goaltender in both 2022 and 2023, making him the first two-time winner in the award's history. He also earned Beanpot Tournament MVP honours in 2023. On the international stage, Levi was the MVP of the 2019 World Junior A Challenge and the Best Goaltender at the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship, where he was also named to the All-Star Team. He was also a two-time recipient of the FAEQ/Montreal Canadiens' Foundation Award for Athletic and Academic Excellence.

Questions about Devon Levi

What records did Levi set at the World Junior Championships?

At the 2021 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, Devon Levi ended the tournament with a .964 save percentage, topping the all-time record established by Carey Price in 2007. He became the second goaltender ever to record three shutouts in the tournament. Levi also led the tournament in goals against average with 0.75. His performance earned him the Best Goaltender award and a spot on the tournament All-Star Team as Canada won the silver medal.

Where did Devon Levi play college hockey?

Devon Levi played NCAA Division I hockey for the Northeastern University Huskies in Boston. He committed to Northeastern and majored in computer science, attending on scholarship. His college career began in the 2021-22 season after he missed the 2020-21 season due to a rib injury. Levi played two seasons for Northeastern, leading them to a Hockey East regular season title and a Beanpot tournament victory.

What is Devon Levi's connection to Team Canada?

Devon Levi has represented Canada in multiple international tournaments. He first played for Canada East at the 2019 World Junior A Challenge, winning silver and tournament MVP honours. His most prominent performance came as the starting goaltender for Canada at the 2021 World Junior Championships, where he won silver, set records, and was named Best Goaltender. He was also named to Team Canada's roster for the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, though he did not play in any games during the tournament.

Sources: Wikipedia and current public reporting, checked by the Garbutt Disposal desk. Last updated 2026-10-20.