Devon Levi is turning heads as an early-season surprise for the Edmonton Oilers. But behind the pads is a Carey Price fan with a Jedi-inspired ritual, a creative streak, and a jersey number that reminds him of home. From breaking his childhood idol’s record to picking up a paintbrush, there’s plenty to discover about Edmonton’s new goaltender.
Start with those quiet moments during commercial breaks.
A little help from the Force
Levi uses breathing exercises and meditation during breaks in play to refocus. His inspiration comes from a love of Star Wars that he shares with his father, Laurent.
In The Phantom Menace, Qui-Gon Jinn’s duel with Darth Maul is interrupted by energy barriers. While Maul paces, Qui-Gon kneels, closes his eyes and meditates.
He uses the pause to centre himself and stay in the moment before the fight resumes.
Levi’s father particularly liked that scene. In a 2022 interview, Levi explained that his dad introduced him to the idea, and he found a way to apply it during games.
The reasoning is straightforward. During a time-out, Levi can’t control the next shot, but he can control his breathing. Rather than thinking ahead to what might happen, he brings his attention back to the present.
Once the puck drops, his focus returns to the play.
Growing up with the Canadiens
Levi grew up in Dollard-des-Ormeaux, Que., cheering for the Montreal Canadiens and admiring Carey Price.
He started as a forward, but wanted to play goal. He would hope his team’s goaltender wouldn’t show up for practice or a game so he could put on the equipment himself.
“I chose to become a goalie. Not because I thought I was going to play in the NHL, but because I loved it,” Levi told Spectrum News.
His father would shoot pucks on him during street hockey, giving him another chance to make saves.
Levi is also Jewish and attended Hebrew Foundation School before continuing at West Island College. At his high school graduation in 2019, he and a classmate delivered the valedictorian address.
From Junior A to passing Price
Levi’s path to the World Juniors included a breakthrough with the Carleton Place Canadians of the Central Canada Hockey League.
During the 2019–20 season, he earned the Canadian Junior Hockey League’s top rookie, top goaltender and MVP honours.
In December 2019, he also represented Canada East at the World Junior A Challenge, helping the team win silver and earning tournament MVP.
His performance caught the attention of Canadian goalie coach Jason LaBarbera, who watched video and decided Levi deserved a look.
Although Levi wasn’t invited to Canada’s summer camp in 2020, he later received an opportunity at its World Junior selection camp. He earned the starting job for the 2021 tournament in Edmonton.
At Rogers Place, he finished with a .964 save percentage, surpassing Price’s .961 mark from 2007. His save percentage and 0.75 goals-against average established Canadian single-tournament records.
Levi helped Canada win silver, recorded three shutouts, and received the tournament’s top goaltender award.
He later revealed that he had played much of the tournament with a fractured rib.
Levi was injured during Canada’s opening game but continued playing. The injury became more troublesome afterward and kept him out for the remainder of his first season at Northeastern University.
The stories behind his mask and number
Price was Levi’s childhood idol. In Edmonton, his mask pays tribute to another goaltending great: Grant Fuhr.
The Grant Fuhr tribute features a blue-and-orange design with a distinctive orange stripe down the centre of the cage. It earned a place in The Oil Rig’s discussion of Edmonton’s most memorable goalie masks.
There’s a personal encounter behind it. Levi recalled meeting Fuhr at an AHL All-Star event, where they spent approximately an hour and a half discussing Fuhr’s career and experiences in Edmonton.
After joining the Oilers, Levi wanted to show his respect through his mask.
His jersey number carries another personal connection.
Levi wore No. 1 at Northeastern, but Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen already had it when he arrived in Buffalo. He chose 27, a childhood favourite with several family ties.
He was born on December 27. His father’s birthday also falls on the 27th, and his childhood address was 127.
“I feel like little me would be happy that I chose this number,” Levi told Buffalo Hockey Beat in 2023.
Computer code and college hockey
At Northeastern, Levi pursued a combined major in computer science and business.
His father’s engineering background helped spark his interest in computing. Levi also found a connection between programming and goaltending: when something went wrong in his game, he compared it to a bug in computer code. Identify the problem, then work toward a solution.
Technology gave him a way to practise while recovering from his rib injury, too. He used the virtual reality platform Sense Arena to work on puck tracking without stepping onto the ice.
Levi’s career highlights
| Season | Accomplishments |
| 2019–20 | CJHL MVP, Top Goaltender and Top Rookie; CCHL MVP and Best Goaltender; World Junior A Challenge silver medallist and tournament MVP. |
| 2020–21 | World Junior silver medallist, Best Goaltender and tournament All-Star; Canadian single-tournament records for save percentage (.964) and goals-against average (0.75). |
| 2021–22 | Mike Richter Award; Tim Taylor Award as the NCAA’s top men’s rookie; Hockey East Rookie and Goaltender of the Year; First Team East All-American; Hobey Baker top-10 finalist. |
| 2022–23 | First two-time Mike Richter Award winner; Hockey East Player and Goaltender of the Year; First Team East All-American; Hobey Baker top-10 finalist; Beanpot champion and tournament MVP; World Championship gold medallist. |
| 2024–25 | AHL All-Star selection; AHL Goaltender of the Month for February. |
Spider-Man, a beach, and Guitar Hero
Painting gave Levi something to focus on besides the next game. During a July 2024 appearance on InGoal Radio, he explained that he wanted a hobby he could enjoy while still challenging himself.
A Marvel fan, he painted Spider-Man. Another time, he painted a beach because he felt like being at one.
He learned through videos, worked through his early attempts and began displaying his creations at home. Sometimes, he spent six hours absorbed in a painting.
Having something else to look forward to helped him return to hockey feeling refreshed rather than spending the entire day thinking about the next game.
Levi also spoke about playing some piano, having learned through YouTube and help from his father. He had considered learning guitar, although he had already found another musical outlet: buying an Xbox 360 and revisiting Guitar Hero.
Before his Oilers debut, Levi said he had more experience to draw on, both on and off the ice. His immediate focus was on enjoying the opportunity and staying present.
When the next commercial break arrives, he has a familiar way to do exactly that.
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