Devon Levi Bio
Devon Levi (born December 27, 2001) is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender who plays for the Rochester Americans of the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League (NHL). A native of Dollard-des-Ormeaux, Quebec, Levi has emerged as one of the top young goaltenders in North America, recognized for his poise, technical skill, and academic discipline.
Levi first gained national attention through his performances in junior and collegiate hockey, including back-to-back Mike Richter Awards as the top college goaltender in the country. His combination of athletic ability and classroom excellence has marked him as a model student-athlete. He signed his entry-level contract with the Sabres after his junior year and continues to develop between the NHL and AHL rosters.
Early Life and Background
Devon Levi was born on December 27, 2001, in Dollard-des-Ormeaux, a suburb of Montreal, Quebec. He grew up in a bilingual household; while English is his first language, he also speaks French. His father, Laurent Levi, is a software engineer, and his mother, Eta Yacowar, works as an office administrator at the software company the family has been building. Levi has a younger brother named James.
From a young age, Levi gravitated toward hockey, beginning with street hockey games with his father. He did not play goaltender indoors until age 11, spending most of his early years stopping pucks on outdoor concrete. He has maintained a lifelong friendship with fellow goaltender Yaniv Perets, and the two played on the same youth teams for several years. Levi’s early dedication laid the groundwork for his later development.
Levi attended Hebrew Foundation School before continuing his studies at West Island College, where he graduated as class valedictorian. He later took online courses through Athabasca University to keep up with his academic workload during hockey seasons. His commitment to schooling became a defining feature of his upbringing alongside his athletic pursuits.
Path to Hockey
Levi’s hockey development accelerated when he joined the Lac St-Louis Lions of the Quebec Midget AAA Hockey League during the 2016–17 season. As the youngest player on the roster at 14, he quickly emerged as a standout goaltender. In 2018 he earned the Montreal Amateur Athletic Association (MAAA) Governor’s Award for Student Athlete of the Year and the Daniel Brière Award for Best Hockey and Academic Achievement. By 2019 he set the league record for most saves in a single 60-minute game, stopping 64 of 65 shots.
That same year, Levi’s play earned him selection to the 2019 World Junior A Challenge, where he posted a stellar .963 save percentage, led Canada East to a silver medal, and was named tournament MVP. The performance attracted attention from Hockey Canada scouts and set the stage for his transition to higher levels of competition.
Devon Levi Career
Early Career (2019–2020)
Following his Midget AAA success, Levi began his junior hockey career in the Ottawa area with the Carleton Place Canadians of the Central Canada Hockey League (CCHL) in 2019–20. He posted a .941 save percentage, a 1.47 goals against average, and eight shutouts in 37 games, all league-leading numbers. His coach Jason Clarke publicly predicted that Levi would make a major impact at the NCAA level.
Levi’s dominance in the CCHL translated into numerous accolades. He was named the 2019–20 Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL) Player of the Year, CJHL MVP, CJHL Top Rookie, and CJHL Top Goalie. He also swept the CCHL awards, taking MVP, Top Goaltender, Rookie of the Year, and Top Prospect honors while being named a CCHL First Team All-Star.
NCAA Career at Northeastern (2021–2023)
Levi was drafted 212th overall by the Florida Panthers in the seventh round of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. On July 24, 2021, his NHL rights were traded to the Buffalo Sabres, along with a 2022 first-round pick, in exchange for Sam Reinhart. Levi committed to Northeastern University, majoring in computer science on scholarship, but missed the 2020–21 season due to a rib injury sustained at the 2021 World Junior Championships.
When he finally took the ice for Northeastern in 2021–22, Levi opened with consecutive shutouts and was twice named Hockey East Pro Ambitions Rookie of the Month. He set the Northeastern single-season shutout record and finished the year with a .952 save percentage, tying Connor Hellebuyck for the second-best single-season mark in NCAA history. Levi won the Mike Richter Award as the nation’s top college goaltender and helped the Huskies claim the Hockey East regular season title.
In 2022–23, Levi led Northeastern to a Beanpot tournament championship and earned both the tournament MVP and Eberly Award for best save percentage, stopping 63 of 66 shots. He again led the country in save percentage during the regular season and captured his second straight Mike Richter Award, becoming the first player ever to win the honor in back-to-back years. His college career ended with a loss to Providence in the Hockey East playoffs, finishing with the second-best career save percentage in NCAA history.
Buffalo Sabres and Rochester Americans Era (2023–Present)
Six days after his final college game, Levi signed his entry-level contract with the Buffalo Sabres. He made his NHL debut on March 31, 2023, earning an overtime win against the New York Rangers. Over his first stint with the Sabres, he played seven of the team’s final nine games and recorded five wins.
Levi opened the 2023–24 season on the Sabres’ NHL roster, starting the first four games. He suffered a lower-body injury shortly after and missed more than two weeks. Upon returning, he performed admirably in some outings but struggled in others, leading to his reassignment to the Rochester Americans for additional playing time. He was recalled when goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen fell ill, but was later loaned back to Rochester as the Sabres prioritized game action for his development. On March 1, 2024, he recorded his first professional point with an assist on Aleksandr Kisakov’s game-winning goal.
Driving Style and Strengths
Levi’s strengths lie in his combination of speed, technique, and mental composure. Coaches have praised his ability to read plays, track the puck through traffic, and reset between whistles using a personal routine in which he drops to his knees 15 feet in front of the net to focus on breathing. His reflexes and positioning have drawn comparisons to elite NHL goaltenders, and his calm demeanor under pressure has helped him adapt quickly to professional hockey.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Levi’s signature moments, his play at the 2021 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships stands out. He finished the tournament with a .964 save percentage, surpassing the all-time mark previously held by Carey Price, and a 0.75 goals against average. He also became the second goaltender ever to record three shutouts in a single World Juniors tournament. Despite revealing afterward that he had played with a fractured rib, he was named Best Goaltender of the tournament and to the All-Star Team, helping Canada to a silver medal.
Devon Levi Career Wins
Devon Levi has accumulated an impressive collection of victories and individual awards across the CCHL, NCAA, and professional levels. While his NHL win totals are still developing, his collegiate and junior achievements place him among the most decorated young goaltenders of his generation.
Northeastern University Highlights
At Northeastern, Levi posted a career save percentage that ranks second in NCAA history and led the Huskies to a Hockey East regular season title in 2021–22. He earned consecutive Mike Richter Awards in 2022 and 2023, becoming the first player to win the honor in back-to-back seasons. His Beanpot performance, including a tournament MVP award, further cemented his reputation as a clutch performer in high-stakes games.
Other Wins & Performances
In the CCHL, Levi won eight shutouts and led the league in save percentage and goals against average. With Canada East, he earned a silver medal and tournament MVP honors at the 2019 World Junior A Challenge. On the international stage, he helped Canada to a silver medal at the 2021 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships and was named to Team Canada for the 2022 Winter Olympics.
Devon Levi Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Devon Levi comes from a close-knit family with deep roots in Montreal’s West Island community. His parents, Laurent Levi and Eta Yacowar, have built a professional life around software engineering and office administration, supporting Devon’s pursuits both on and off the ice. His younger brother, James, has grown up sharing his passion for hockey.
Personal Life
Levi remains grounded in his Jewish heritage and educational values, carrying habits of discipline and humility from his upbringing into his professional routine. He maintains friendships from childhood, including his bond with fellow goaltender Yaniv Perets, and continues to value academics, having majored in computer science at Northeastern. As of his entry-level contract running through 2026, Levi is focused on establishing himself as a full-time NHL goaltender with the Buffalo Sabres organization.
2025 Season Performance
Heading into the 2025 season, Devon Levi continues his development between the Buffalo Sabres and the Rochester Americans. After splitting time in 2023–24 between the NHL and AHL, the organization remains committed to giving him consistent game action to refine his professional game. The Sabres’ goaltending picture, which includes Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Eric Comrie, provides competition that should push Levi to elevate his consistency.
Levi’s trajectory suggests he will compete for an expanded role on the Sabres’ NHL roster. His history of delivering in high-pressure situations, including the World Juniors and Beanpot tournaments, demonstrates that he can rise to the occasion. Continued growth in his rebound control and lower-body positioning will be key areas of focus as he aims to lock down a permanent starting role.
With his entry-level contract running through 2026, Levi’s performance in 2025 will be pivotal in determining his long-term future with the Sabres. If he can translate his junior and collegiate success into sustained NHL results, he has the potential to become a franchise goaltender for years to come.