Amanda Leveille

Amanda Leveille
Leveille with the Minnesota Whitecaps in 2018
Born (1994-06-10) 10 June 1994 (age 30)
Brossard, Quebec, Canada
Height 5 ft 7 in (170 cm)
Position Goaltender
Caught Left
Played for Buffalo Beauts
Minnesota Whitecaps
Playing career 2016–2024

Amanda Leveille (born June 10, 1994) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender. Formerly a member of the Buffalo Beauts and Minnesota Whitecaps of the Premier Hockey Federation (PHF), Leveille holds the PHF all-time records for wins and shutouts, and is a two-time Isobel Cup champion.[1]

Career

Early career

As a youth player, Leveille played on AAA boys teams, being named best goaltender at the 2011 Canadian National U18 Championship.[2] In 2011, she joined the Ottawa Lady Senators, where she would stay for her last two years of high school.[3]

University

During college, Leveille played for the Minnesota Golden Gophers women's ice hockey program for four seasons between 2012 and 2016.[4] She posted three shutouts in her first three starts, not giving up a single goal in the 7 games she played in her first season serving as backup to Noora Räty.[5]

After Räty graduated, Leveille would take over the starting job.[6] The team would win the national championship three times by the time she graduated, as she finished fifth in NCAA history for wins and sixth for shutouts.[7]

Premier Hockey Federation

Levellle with the Buffalo Beauts in 2017

Leveille was drafted 12th overall in the 2015 NWHL draft by the Buffalo Beauts. On 28 April 2016, Leveille signed a one-year, $15,000 contract with the Beauts for the 2016–17 season.[8][9] She was the first draft pick to sign a contract in league history.[10]

Leveille won the 2017 Isobel Cup with the Buffalo Beauts.[11][12] Leveille was one of the team captains at the 3rd NWHL All-Star Game during the 2017–18 season.[13] By season's end, she was recognized as the 2018 NWHL Goaltender of the Year.

On 18 June 2018, Leveille signed with the Minnesota Whitecaps for their first season in the PHF. She was the first player to sign with the new franchise.[14][15] In her first year with the Whitecaps, Leveille won the Isobel Cup for the second time.[16]

In the 2019-20 season, Leveille would again be named to the NWHL All-Star Game, and finished as runner-up for Goaltender of the Year. She finished the season with the most minutes played and the most saves made of any goalie. The Whitecaps would make the Isobel Cup finals, marking the 4th year in a row that she has played in the finals.[17] She would win her second Goaltender of the Year award after the 2020-21 season.[18]

Professional Women's Hockey League

Leveille was drafted in the 11th round of the 2023 PWHL Draft by Minnesota.[19]

On July 23rd, 2024, Leveille announced her retirement from professional hockey.

International

Leveille has participated in Team Canada's U22 development team, but has yet to play for the senior team.[20]

Personal life

Leveille has been noted for her humorous hockey-themed social media presence.[21][22] She has named former NHL goaltender Martin Brodeur and Canadian Olympian Shannon Szabados as role models.[23]

She attended Frontenac Secondary School, where she was an honour student, volunteering at the Royal Ottawa Hospital.[24] She has a degree in recreation park and leisure studies.[25]

Career statistics

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP W L T/OT MIN GA SO GAA SV% GP W L MIN GA SO GAA SV%
2010–11 Ottawa Lady Senators Prov. WHL 19 — — — — — — 1.61 .940 2 — — — — — 4.56 .800
2011–12 Ottawa Lady Senators Prov. WHL 24 — — — — — — 1.78 .937 10 — — — — — 1.61 .942
2012–13 University of Minnesota WCHA 7 3 0 0 279 0 3 0.00 1.000 — — — — — — — —
2013–14 University of Minnesota WCHA 41 38 2 1 2415 49 13 1.22 .945 — — — — — — — —
2014–15 University of Minnesota WCHA 34 28 3 3 1984 39 6 1.18 .946 — — — — — — — —
2015–16 University of Minnesota WCHA 34 29 4 1 1957 42 10 1.29 .942 — — — — — — — —
2016–17 Buffalo Beauts NWHL 9 4 2 1 428 31 0 4.34 .890 1 1 0 60 2 0 2.00 .944
2017–18 Buffalo Beauts NWHL 16 11 3 2 971 41 0 2.53 .918 2 1 1 120 3 0 1.50 .944
2018–19 Minnesota Whitecaps NWHL 16 11 4 0 861 30 2 2.09 .923 2 2 0 120 2 0 0.99 .966
2019–20 Minnesota Whitecaps NWHL 24 16 5 2 1354 47 3 2.08 .935 1 1 0 60 0 1 0.00 1.000
2020–21 Minnesota Whitecaps NWHL 4 3 1 0 243 10 1 2.47 .936 2 1 1 118 4 1 2.04 .946
2021–22 Minnesota Whitecaps PHF 12 4 6 1 630 25 1 2.38 .937 2 1 1 119 5 0 2.52 .926
2022–23 Minnesota Whitecaps PHF 17 9 6 2 1013 41 0 2.43 .923 3 2 0 185 7 0 2.04 .946
NWHL/PHF totals 98 58 27 8 5500 225 7 2.45 .924 13 9 3 782 23 2 1.75 .948

Awards and honours

  • NWHL Co-Player of the Week, Awarded January 29, 2018[26]
  • 2018 Goaltender of the Year[27]
  • NWHL Fans’ Three Stars of the Season, 2020
  • NWHL All-Star Game, 2018, 2019, 2020
  • 2021 Goaltender of the Year[28]
  • 2021 Foundation Award (Minnesota Whitecaps representative)[29]
Preceded by Goaltender of the Year
2018 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Goaltender of the Year
2021 		Succeeded by

References

  1. ^ "PHF (W) - All-time totals". Elite Prospects. Archived from the original on 9 December 2023. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
  2. ^ "Gophers goalie Amanda Leveille talks, Bob Sansevere listens". 18 March 2015. Archived from the original on 18 January 2024. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
  3. ^ MacAlpine, Ian (March 20, 2019). "Leveille adds second pro hockey championship". The Kingston Whig Standard. Archived from the original on January 13, 2020. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
  4. ^ "Leveille wins another championship". The Whig-Standard. 22 March 2017. Archived from the original on 3 July 2017. Retrieved 11 June 2017.
  5. ^ McDougall, Chros (21 March 2015). "Completing All Tasks". NCAA. Archived from the original on 2020-08-15. Retrieved 2020-05-04.
  6. ^ Christensen, Joe (March 15, 2014). "U women's goalie picks up where Raty left off". Star Tribune. Archived from the original on June 26, 2015. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
  7. ^ Lenander, Cat (19 February 2016). "Gopher Women's Hockey Celebrate Seniors". Hockey Wilderness. Archived from the original on 28 November 2021. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
  8. ^ Nelson, Dustin L. (28 April 2016). "Amanda Leveille Becomes First NWHL Draft Pick to Sign". The Hockey Writers. Archived from the original on 30 June 2016. Retrieved 11 June 2017.
  9. ^ "2015 Draft Pick Leveille Signs With Beauts". NWHL.co. 28 April 2016. Archived from the original on 2016-05-30. Retrieved 11 June 2017.
  10. ^ Nelson, Dustin (13 August 2016). "Opportunity Knocks". Minnesota Hockey Magazine. Archived from the original on 21 September 2021. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
  11. ^ Rice, Dan (18 March 2017). "Beauts Shock the Rivs in NWHL SemiFinal". The Hockey Writers. Archived from the original on 19 June 2018. Retrieved 11 June 2017.
  12. ^ Moritz, Amy (19 March 2017). "Buffalo Beauts win NWHL's Isobel Cup". The Buffalo News. Archived from the original on 22 March 2017. Retrieved 11 June 2017.
  13. ^ "Media Guide for the 2018 NWHL All-Star Game". NWHL.zone. Archived from the original on 15 February 2018. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
  14. ^ Jay, Michelle (18 June 2018). "Amanda Leveille signs with Whitecaps". The Ice Garden. Archived from the original on 22 October 2021. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
  15. ^ D'Arcangelo, Lyndsey (November 1, 2018). "Drawn to Minnesota for reasons more than hockey, Amanda Leveille shuts down her old Beauts team". The Athletic. Archived from the original on March 27, 2021. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
  16. ^ "Leveille Returns to Minnesota, Joins the Whitecaps". OurSportsCentral.com. 18 June 2018. Archived from the original on 18 June 2018. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
  17. ^ Clinton, Jared (March 11, 2020). "Whitecaps' calming keeper Amanda Leveille takes aim at third Isobel Cup crown". The Hockey News. Archived from the original on May 17, 2020. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
  18. ^ Murphy, Mike (28 April 2021). "NWHL announces 2021 Award Winners". The Ice Garden. Archived from the original on 10 December 2023. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
  19. ^ Crosier, Steph (21 September 2023). "Kingston's Leveille 'very excited' to be part of PWHL". The Kingston Whig Standard. Archived from the original on 18 January 2024. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
  20. ^ "Canada - 2016 Tournament - Roster - #31 - Amanda Leveille - G". Archived from the original on 2020-08-13. Retrieved 2020-05-04.
  21. ^ Rice, Dan (8 December 2016). "Behind the Mask with Amanda Leveille". The Hockey Writers. Archived from the original on 18 June 2020. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
  22. ^ Clinton, Jared (November 25, 2019). "Mrs. Dressup: Leveille's gear-clad antics make her can't-miss keeper in Minnesota". The Hockey News. Archived from the original on January 18, 2024. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
  23. ^ "NHL Now: Amanda Leveille" (video). Archived from the original on 2024-01-18. Retrieved 2020-05-04.
  24. ^ Staffieri, Mark (December 26, 2012). "PWHL Alumni and Current NCAA Stars Share Importance of 'Do It for Daron' Event". Bleacher Report. Archived from the original on August 3, 2018. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
  25. ^ "Amanda Leveille - Women's Hockey". Archived from the original on 2023-12-29. Retrieved 2020-05-04.
  26. ^ "NWHL Players of The Week: Amanda Leveille and Brittany Ott". nwhl.zone. Archived from the original on 27 March 2018. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
  27. ^ "2018 #NWHLAWARDS RECIPIENTS ANNOUNCED". NWHL.zone. March 20, 2018. Archived from the original on March 22, 2018. Retrieved July 27, 2018.
  28. ^ "Toronto's Mikyla Grant-Mentis named MVP at 2021 NWHL Awards". Sportsnet. 2021-04-28. Archived from the original on 2021-04-29. Retrieved 2021-04-29.
  29. ^ Mike Murphy (2021-04-28). "NWHL announces 2021 Award Winners". theicegarden.com. Archived from the original on 2021-04-28. Retrieved 2021-04-29.