Patrick Williamstheahl.com writer
Devon Levith Go out and do what he has been doing: Stop the hockey.
The 23-year-old Rochester American goalkeeper appeared in the AHL All-Star game and beat the visiting Belleville Senator 4-0 on Friday night. His 29 fueling efforts have led to his third shutdown since joining Buffalo Saber's Amerks on November 18.
“I just like to stop the hockey,” Levitra said, who won 21 swimming nights in his game against Cleveland on Tuesday.
When Saber chose to send Levis to Rochester about three months ago, he was in great need of playing time, playing only seven games for Buffalo in the first six weeks of the NHL season. His response was to rank 16-4-2 in 22 appearances and sixth in the AHL with a savings percentage of 0.919, with an average score of 2.16.
There is still a lot of work to be done. The Amerks are about to play nine games on 16 nights, starting with three-thirds of the weekend against Syracuse (Friday), in Utica (Saturday) and home against Laval (Sunday). Rochester won six straight titles, only one point behind the Rockets, finishing first in the North.
Levi is considered a key part of Buffalo's future, winning 11 of 12 appearances between November 29 and January 10. – Filling hockey in the second half of the season. Last season’s stretching offered important learning opportunities for young goalkeepers, who have become one of the highest prospects for the game.
Levi joined the Buffalo July 2021 by capturing the group in the seventh round of the 2020 NHL Draft for the 2020 Florida Panthers. After two outstanding seasons at Northeastern University, he won twice the Mike Richter awards as a top goalkeeper in college hockey, and Levi became a professional late in the 2022-23 season . Last season, he went to Amerks in the second half as a rookie and helped the team into the Calder Cup playoffs.
“Consistency” is the word Levi consistently used to describe his development process, including his first post in Rochester. “This makes it feel like professional competitions, growing every day, gaining more experience and trying to produce consistent results,” Levi said.
He was also able to stop the temptation to return to the NHL at this moment, which challenged many prospects. Working full-time is the ultimate goal, but focusing his direct focus on Rochester is the road back to Buffalo.
“It's a result that you can't control,” Levitra said of management and roster decisions. “So, as long as you can stick to this process every day, it's going to be better every day… no matter where you are, it does Insignificant. Being able to focus on my craft, stop the hockey, whether it's in the NHL or AHL, put yourself at the door and be able to get better. This is where you end up wanting to be. You focus on wanting to go but it is more important on the spot and in the present.”
Good advice, great looks, but how do you stick to the plan when the inevitable highs and lows of the season can cause the mind to spread to your mind?
“Wake up in the morning and reminded myself of what I was doing.” “Every morning, I feel passion for the game and I'm so happy to go to the skating rink. For me, it's about Become the best in the world and the best I can do. I love my job and every day I go to work and do what I love. And you know, it's definitely a goal to play in the NHL and be the best The ultimate goal.
“But you can only get there by loving your work and do your best every day. That's the point.”
During the fifty years of the American Hockey League, Theahl.com writer Patrick Williams currently covers the NHL.com and Flosports leagues and is a regular contributor to Siriusxm NHL New Network Radio. He won the AHL’s James H. Ellery Memorial Award for his outstanding league coverage in 2016.
