Amanda Leveille appreciation — Top stories from the week
Hockey Friday with The Ice Garden, July 26, 2024
Happy Friday! I’m Leighann from The Ice Garden here with your women’s hockey weekly updates. This week we examine five top moments from the very accomplished career of Amanda Leveille as she announced her retirement from hockey.
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On July 23, goaltender Amanda Leveille announced her retirement from hockey after winning the Walter Cup with PWHL Minnesota earlier this year during the league’s inaugural season. That is far from the only trophy or accomplishment during her career and, while there are many more than five, I’ve decided to give you a small glimpse into that career with my top five ‘Lev’ moments.
Four-year PHF championship run
After becoming the first draft pick in PHF history to sign a contract, Leveille took the Buffalo Beauts to the Isobel Cup final in 2017 — and won. She then ran it back three more times, including a run with the Minnesota Whitecaps in 2019 where they won the Isobel Cup in their first season in the league.
In that time, Lev picked up a plethora of titles such as Goaltender of the Year, league leader in saves, minutes played and All-Star multiple times over — proving she’s simply always been a star.
Any time she has ever posted on Instagram
Okay, so this isn’t one moment. But seriously, if you aren’t following @mandy_leveille on Instagram and didn’t witness the purely chaotic and always funny goalie content from her days with the Buffalo Beauts or Minnesota Whitecaps, you’re missing out.
College shutout streak
Scoring on Lev is few and far between but opening her college career at the University of Minnesota with seven shutout games while playing backup to the iconic Noora Räty is something only she could do. Through 279:35 minutes of play in her freshman season, Lev didn’t let up a single goal nor did the team lose a single game. They went 41-0. Leveille was credited with three shutouts in her three starts.
Three NCAA championships
Amanda Leveille has been in and won more championship games in her career than she hasn’t. It’s very rare to see her have an off day and even more rare to see her not succeed in a high pressure situation or miss out on a game where the big trophy is on the line.
A two-time Isobel Cup champion, one-time Walter Cup champion and three-time NCAA champion, she’s one of the most decorated players in pro women’s hockey history and that wouldn’t have been possible without her many magic moments as a Gopher.
Impact on the game
Again, this isn’t technically one moment but let me explain. It’s no question that Leveille has had a very successful hockey career full of impressive numbers and accolades which will not be forgotten. She will go down as one of the best goaltenders in the history of women’s hockey but also as a funny half of any goalie duo she’s been a part of, a friendly presence in any media scrum and someone who always fought for the ability of women’s hockey players to go pro and make money doing it even if they weren’t on an Olympic roster.
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More links this week
A guide to some of the best links in women’s hockey from the past seven days.
Ambassador Spotlight: Kao Lawrie
As enrollment falls, girls’ hockey is booming
Amanda Leveille announces retirement from hockey
The Victory Press announced their closing
Shannon Szabados named to Alberta’s Hockey Hall of Fame
Primeau continues her mission with Sticks Together
Around the Rink Finale — Q&A with Amanda Leveille
Former Harvard women’s hockey coach Katey Stone sues university for sex discrimination
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