Former Carolina Hurricanes prospect Levi commits to UPEI

The 24-year-old defenceman had to sit out a year in order to play in the Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) after two seasons as a pro.

"It's hard not being in a locker room when I've been in a locker room almost every day for the past seven, eight years," Levi said Tuesday. "Hockey was my entire life."

He's chosen to pursue his biology degree and a national championship with the UPEI Panthers.

"I'm anxious to get there and anxious to get playing," Levi said. "The summer could not go by faster."

Levi grew up in Colorado but has lived in Farmington Hills, Mich., for 10 years.

He was a third-round pick of the Carolina Hurricanes in the 2010 NHL draft. He played five seasons with the OHL's Plymouth Whalers before turning pro.

The six-foot-four, 210-pound blue-liner split time in the ECHL and AHL in 2013-14 and 2014-15 and was at a crossroads.

"I wanted to get my degree and I wasn't making progress," he said of his hockey career. "I didn't see as much of a clear path to the NHL."

With every year of professional hockey costing him a year of CIS eligibility Levi decided it was time to return to school. He leaned on Panthers goalie and former teammate Matt Mahalak when trying to determine where he'd study and play.

"He was a big advocate in getting me to come," Levi said. "I've been good friends with Mahalak for a long time. He's a smart kid, and I trust his judgment when it comes to education and the hockey program they have up there."

Levi said he has been labelled a stay-at-home defenceman, but growing up he was more offensive and joined the rush. He's hoping to display both sides of his game while wearing the Panthers jersey.

UPEI head coach Forbes MacPherson said Levi is a nice addition to the team's returning blue-line of Nelson Armstrong, Casey Babineau, Brock Beukeboom, Derek Ryckman and Ryan MacKinnon.

"I think he fits in with the mould of our group. He's a big, strong player with a real good reach," MacPherson said. "We're adding a guy who has 125 (pro) games under his belt, so we're adding a real good player."

MacPherson said it was easy to see how motivated Levi is both academically and athletically.

Levi said he hasn't given up on playing pro, but it's on the backburner.

"The dream is still there," he said. "I hope one day I have the opportunity to play professionally again, but at the moment I think my education is the most important thing."

The Panthers went 11-14-3 last season before knocking off Acadia in the first round of the playoffs. The national champion UNB Varsity Reds eliminated the Panthers in the second round.

UPEI has already announced the addition of former St. Thomas Tommies forward J.C. Campagna and is expected to announce a few more additions in the coming weeks.

Story originally included in the June 15, 2016 edition of The Gaurdian written by Jason Malloy. For the full article click here.