MONTREAL – In professional sports, when an athlete has a great season, his managers congratulate him with the implication that he will have to do as well, if not better, the following year. So, Devon Levi saw fit to play another college campaign to prepare for this reality.
Because Levi was smoking in 2021-2022 in net for the Northeastern University Huskies. But even though he had a historic season for an NCAA goaltender, Levi remembers what he went through in Midget AAA.
“I tasted this test when I played for the Lac-St-Louis Lions. My third year was the most difficult personally, the most trying. I was living the mental challenge of repeating my good results from the previous season and I had imposed a lot of pressure on myself. So I see the current year as a way to progress mentally, it’s the perfect year to get there, “identified Levi with great wisdom for his 20th birthday.
In five outings, Levi shows his confidence with a 1.77 GAA and .943 save efficiency, including 49 saves last Saturday.
In his eyes, the key is to display the ideal state of mind.
“I try not to put too much pressure on myself whether it’s for statistics or to have a successful season like last season. I know that the previous year is in the past and there is no correlation with this year. I see the year first and foremost as an opportunity to grow,” Levi said, noting that his team is dreaming of top NCAA honors.
“We are not complacent about what we achieved last season, we are still very hungry,” he added.
This progression and this psychological support rests in the hands of Mike Condon, his 32-year-old goalkeeper coach. Condon is amazed in every way by the Montreal goaltender, but he wanted to see him again at the university level.
“He is still a young man, a kidthat’s why I was happy that he decided to come back, so that he could age a little before going to play with the men, “started the one who had to put on the skates of Carey Price, injured in his knee, during the 2015-2016 season.
“He hasn’t played a full season without a break yet. Last year, for about six weeks, he was away training in Asia with Team Canada for the Olympics. Hockey remains a marathon, you have to teach your body and your mind to deal with the demands of a long season,” he continued.
This lesson, Condon learned it later and he could never really apply it since his career ended at 30 years old.
“In my case, I made the mistake too often of pushing, pushing and pushing. I ended up arriving tired before the start of the match. You have to find the right balance in the hours of preparation,” admitted Condon.
During the offseason, Condon took the time to build a plan and protocol for his protege to handle the pressure of his exceptional results.
“We said to ourselves, but why don’t you come back to play a full season with such expectations? I think it’s better to get used to that at the university level. When he is sent into the mouth of the wolf, he will know that he has already taken up the challenge”, noted Condon who does not see Levi falling into the other trap, that of complacency.
A take on Levi and Condon
Condon and Levi don’t have the same profile in front of the net, but an interesting parallel can be drawn since they don’t have the typical attributes of goalies in demand. With Northeastern University located so close to Fenway Park, one would say they had a hold (or even two) against them.
Combative and relentless, Condon carved out a place for himself not thanks to his talent, but rather to the sweat of his brow and the pain of his hips. As for Levi, he is very athletic and brilliant in front of his net, but the managers remain doubtful given his “small” stature of six feet.
“He didn’t have an easy career, he had to fight for everything he got. It’s not always easy mentally when you expect to get more than you get. We looked down on him and he learned a lot of lessons that are so important. He helps me by teaching me that,” Levi insisted.
“For Devon, we talk about his greatness whereas, in my case, I had not been drafted. You can try not to hear what is being said about you, but we are still humans and it can end up getting to you, ”Condon reacted to this subject.
A thesis on Juuse Saros?
Where Levi can stand out, in addition to his talent, is through his student skills. He is recognized for analyzing the game in front very well and calculating his actions to increase his chances.
Condon therefore turned to an essential subject of study, the game of Juuse Saros who excels in the NHL at five feet eleven inches.
“Saros, he is sick !, enthuses Levi. I love the stat that even though he’s the smallest goaltender, he’s the one who gets hit by the puck the most times in the chest. He’s always ready, he’s smart, he anticipates passes, he’s very athletic and he’s probably the best puck follower in the NHL. When you slow down videos of him, you can see that his eyes are riveted on the puck, ”summarized Levi who is inspired, in part, by the repertoire of the Finn.
As a reminder: jewel of Condon at the 2016 Winter Classic
What Levi also adores with Condon is that there isn’t a generational gap between him and his coach. His techniques and experiences do not date from another era. In short, he drinks from his journey.
“Oh yes and I like to know more about his time with the CH. Obviously, I was watching him play during that year. I was still living in Montreal, it’s very cool. I saw it at the Winter Classic, I remember his incredible mitt save in the second period. I’ve spoken to him about it a few times,” concluded Levi, who is progressing on the right path to, in turn, stealing NHL goals.
