A few days after making his NHL debut, Quebecer Devon Levi was named the NCAA’s top goaltender for a second consecutive season.
Winner in 2021-2022, Levi got his hands on the Mike Richter Trophy, awarded to the goaltender par excellence of the university circuit, Friday evening. The Buffalo Sabers goaltender became the first to win the trophy — which has been around since 2014 — in back-to-back years.
With Northeastern University he led the league with a .933% save percentage which also earned him a nomination for the Hobey-Baker title, which recognizes the most valuable player on the college circuit in the United States.
The 21-year-old goaltender finished his two seasons at Northeastern with a 38-22-6 record. In addition to individual honors, a Beanpot title and a Hockey East Association regular season championship can be found on his roster.
Already his college career over Levi turned heads in the NHL by winning two of his first three starts. Since making his debut on March 31, the Quebecer has started three of the Sabers’ four games. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen acted as an assistant for Levi while Eric Comrie and Craig Anderson were left in the stands.
The Florida Panthers’ seventh-round pick was acquired by the Sabers in July 2021 in addition to a 2021 first-round pick in return for Sam Reinhart. Said first-round pick was used to select striker Jiri Kulich.
Later in the evening, forward Adam Fantilli won the Hobey-Baker Trophy, awarded to the best player in American college hockey.
The 18-year-old prospect has 65 points, including 30 goals, in 36 games with the University of Michigan this season. The Canadian is tipped to be one of the first three selections of the next NHL draft, which will take place on June 28 and 29.
Fantilli headed Logan Cooley, the 2022 Arizona Coyotes’ third pick, and Matthew Knies, a Toronto Maple Leafs prospect. Cooley and Knies, both members of the University of Minnesota, will be in action Saturday against Quinnipiac in the national final.
Fantilli and the University of Michigan bowed out against Quinnipiac on Thursday night.
