Report: Sabres prospect Levi among Canada's Olympic goaltenders
Devon Levi appears primed to represent Canada once again at the 2022 Olympic Games in Beijing.
Levi, Edward Pasquale, and Matt Tomkins will be Canada's goaltenders, TSN's Darren Dreger reports. However, the team's brain trust won't submit its final roster yet in case injuries or COVID-19 protocol situations arise, Dreger adds.
On Saturday, Kent Johnson - the Michigan standout who the Columbus Blue Jackets selected fifth overall last year - was reported to be among the Canadians' forwards. One day later, Dreger clarified Johnson will be an alternate heading into training camp but could crack the squad if one of the above scenarios happens.
Levi excelled for Canada's silver medal-winning side at the 2021 World Junior Championship. He was named the event's top netminder after posting a .964 save percentage over seven games despite playing nearly the entire tournament with a fractured rib sustained in the opener.
The 20-year-old has also been stellar for Northeastern this season, going 16-7-1 with a .948 save percentage across 24 contests. The Buffalo Sabres landed Levi in the trade that sent forward Sam Reinhart to the Florida Panthers in July.
Pasquale has played the last three campaigns in the KHL, suiting up for Lokomotiv Yaroslavl for the last two. The 31-year-old appeared in three games for the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2018-19 and spent nearly a decade in the AHL after the Atlanta Thrashers drafted him 117th overall in 2009.
Tomkins is 14-8-0 with a .913 save percentage in 23 games with Frolunda in Sweden this season. The 27-year-old Ohio State alum spent four campaigns in the AHL and ECHL before going overseas. The Chicago Blackhawks selected him in the seventh round of the 2012 draft.
The Canadian roster will reportedly include Owen Power, the Sabres' No. 1 overall pick in 2021, as well as NHL veteran and current AHLer Eric Staal.