Devon Levi and Yaniv Perets have known each other for a long time. Already at a very young age, the two young goaltenders played for the same team, the Lac-Saint-Louis Lions. At the age of just 10, Yaniv remembers their meeting at a selection camp.
For his part, Devon recalls watching his friend play while sitting on his team’s bench, which he describes as a great experience.
“We had the opportunity to play hockey together on the ice, but also to become very good friends off the ice,” said the Buffalo Sabers rookie goalie. Devon also remembers playing street hockey several times in addition to sharing several meals with Yaniv, which he considers an important part of his childhood.
For his part, the oldest of the duo remembers the laughter and the moments of pleasure during car rides after training.
Now aged 21 and 23 respectively, Devon and Yaniv have reached a pivotal moment in their respective careers. While one is known for his good performances and his meditations as a goaltender for the Buffalo Sabers, with whom he played seven games, the other has just won the NCAA Frozen Four with Quinnipiac University. This accomplishment also allowed Yaniv Perets to sign his first professional contract with the Carolina Hurricanes, earlier in April. Perets admits that other teams were interested in his services, but points out that playing with Skyler Brind’Amour, the son of the head coach of the Hurricanes, tipped the scales.
“He had the chance to see me play and also to know me as a person,” he mentions.
A double dose of talent
As their stats show, Devon and Yaniv are both having great times, whether in the NHL or the NCAA. The two goalkeepers were also nominated for the Mike Richter Trophy awarded to the best goaltender having demonstrated excellent hockey qualities, an honor which Levi won in 2022 and 2023, thanks to a goals against average of 2.24 and an efficiency rating of .933.
“I would have been just as happy if Yaniv had won it”, jokes the main interested party.
Anyway, Devon and Yaniv still remain good friends. They say they are happy to be able to push each other and to be able to work hard to achieve a common goal, to become an NHL goaltender, while of course keeping a smile.
