Devon Levi’s Ice Touch Draws Russell Crowe Praise

Edmonton Oilers goaltender Devon Levi recorded his first NHL shutout in a 1-0 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday night.

During a stoppage, Sportsnet cameras captured Levi placing his bare hand flat on the ice. He told reporter Kyle Bukauskas the act is a personal routine meant to ground him through the physical sensation of cold.

The 24-year-old said the gesture recalls a scene in the film "Gladiator," where Russell Crowe’s character Maximus handles sand before combat. "I’ve always liked that scene — it resonated with me," Levi said.

On Sunday morning, Crowe shared the interview clip on X and wrote: "Strength and Honour young man."

Levi previously incorporated cinematic imagery into his pre-game focus while playing for Northeastern University. During TV timeouts, he knelt in front of his crease with his stick resting across his thighs — a pose modeled after Qui-Gon Jinn’s meditation in "Star Wars: Episode I — The Phantom Menace."

The Oilers acquired Levi from the Buffalo Sabres in July for two draft picks. He was selected by the Florida Panthers in the seventh round of the 2020 NHL Draft.

Levi is in his second NHL season and plays for the Edmonton Oilers.

Photo: SounderBruce / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
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