'An underdog his whole life': Levi's improbable journey set to continue at Olympics

BEIJING — Devon Levi was scrolling through his social media feed, just like any other university student with some down time.

There were probably posts featuring friends and family, maybe another couple from a professional athlete or musician he follows. Perhaps even a funny pet video or a clip of someone pulling a harmless prank.

On this particular night, however, something else caught his eye — and sent the 20-year-old's heart racing.

Levi was staring at a picture of himself on a list of potential goaltenders for Canada's Olympic men's hockey team following the NHL's decision to withdraw from the Beijing Games.

"I was like, 'Wow, are you kidding me?'" he recalled. "I was shocked. I had no clue — like no clue — I'd be considered.

"Couldn't sleep ... I was so excited."

Levi was not only considered, he made the team. And Canadian hockey fans might soon be feeling similar emotions watching him in the country's crease.

In the midst of an eye-popping statistical season for Northeastern in the NCAA, Levi is one of three netminders on the country's 25-man roster heading to China.

The native of the Montreal suburb of Dollard-des-Ormeaux is 16-7-1 — including nine shutouts — with a .948 save percentage and a 1.55 goals-against average in 2021-22.

"I haven't been playing to be in the Olympics," Levi said. "I just play every day because I love it and I want to get better."

"He's doing things at the NCAA level that just doesn't happen," added Shane Doan, who played 21 NHL seasons and is Canada's general manager in Beijing.

"It's hard to not notice."

Levi might actually be the only one who hasn't.

"I never really look at my save percentage or my stats," he said on a recent video conference call with reporters when asked about his