Whalers' Austin Levi Ready for Upcoming Season

Although goal scorers and goaltenders often are the most visible players on the ice, every team needs good defensemen to be successful.

Plymouth defenseman Austin Levi has established himself as a steady veteran on the Whalers' blue line, and along with returning defensemen Beau Schmitz, Colin MacDonald, Dario Trutmann, Max Iafrate, Curtis Crombeen and Dylan MacDonald help make up one the better defensive groups going into the upcoming Ontario Hockey League season.

“We expect a lot from him Austin this year,” said Plymouth associate coach Joe Stefan.  “We’d like to see him step up with Beau (Schmitz) to be our number one pairing.  Austin has come a long way – he’s a great skater and he’s got a good shot.  Probably the only thing he has to work on is his puck movement and better decision-making.  Obviously with experience, that will improve. 

“The thing about Austin is there aren’t many better skaters in the league, defensively.  He can keep up with most forwards, so we’re never afraid to put him out there to try to shut down the other teams’ top players.  He does a very good job at that.  This year, we’ll be able to work on his offensive game and he’ll be able to help our forwards a little more.”

An example of Levi's skating ability? Check out his first OHL goal.

As Stefan said, Levi often draws the assignment of playing against the opposition’s top forwards.  It wasn’t always like that.

“In one of my first shifts for the Whalers, in a game against Guelph (Sept. 27, 2008), I fell down on a two-on-one and they went in and scored,” Levi said.  “That was embarrassing and definitely a learning experience.

“I think that’s one thing the coaches here do best – they have confidence in young players.  They know that players are going to make mistakes, but that’s how you get better.”

Plymouth selected Levi in the 6th round (110th overall) of the 2008 Ontario Hockey League Priority Selection – a draft that included fellow Whalers Tyler Seguin (first round, 9th overall), Scott Wedgewood (7th round, 130th overall) and Colin MacDonald (14th round, 270th overall). 

“It’s a huge step coming from midgets to the OHL level and you are going to make mistakes as a defenseman,” said Whalers assistant general manager Brian Sommariva.  “I think Mike and Joe have had good patience with him, along with our other young defensemen.  There is a huge learning curve you have to go through to play in this league to play regularly, and then (another curve) to jump to the professional ranks.”

Similar to teammate Stefan Noesen, it took Levi a while to get going. Through his own hard work, making mistakes and then learning from them, Levi was selected in the third round (85th overall) by the Carolina Hurricanes in the 2010 National Hockey League Entry Draft.

“He can handle the puck and he can make plays with the puck, but his tendency is to focus concentrate on defense, and he does that pretty well,” Hurricanes Director of Amateur Scouting Tony MacDonald said of Levi at the time he was selected. “He’s an example of a good shut-down guy who was always matched up against the other team’s top offensive lines and did a great job in handling them.”

Levi appreciates the time and effort of Stefan, who runs the Whalers' blue line.

“Joe has helped me tremendously,” Levi said.  “When I came here, I was lacking a lot of parts to my game and am really still trying to improve.  He’s pushed me to work hard and help fill holes in my game.”

Before stating the season with the Whalers, Levi and Noesen will try out for Team USA’s World Junior Championship team in Lake Placid, NY from Aug. 8-13.

“I’m very excited for the opportunity,” Levi said.  “I’ve never been quite good enough to make a USA team, but maybe if I put in the work, that dream will come true.  I work out with (AJ) Jenks over the summer, and he told me to go there and do what I do best, play my game and hopefully things will work out for the best.”

Whalers alum AJ Jenks (2006-10) played in the 2010 World Junior Championships for the United States and contributed to a gold-medal winning effort.

After the USA camp, Levi heads to Carolina’s main camp in September aiming high.

“I’m going to go there and try to make the team,” Levi said.  “I want to show them that I’ve worked really hard this summer and last year and show them that I’ve improved and am on the right track to play in The Show.”

No matter what happens this year, Levi is looking forward to the 2011-12 season.

“It’s been an incredible experience and I can’t believe I’m about to start my fourth year,” he said.  “Time has flown by.  I’m very grateful for everything that has happened.  I’m excited about the upcoming year – I think we’re going to have a talented team with a lot of balance and experience this year.” 

Along with the rest of the returning blue line group, Sommariva sees Levi an integral member of the team who figures to improve.

“I know he feels comfortable with the fitness level he has coming into the season and we’re excited to see his progress in Training Camp,” Sommariva said. “19-year-old defensemen can dominate in this league, and without putting pressure on Austin, we think he’s going to have a real good season.”

PLYMOUTH, BY WAY OF COLORADO and COLUMBUS:   Although he lives with his family in Canton, Levi has requested his home town to be listed as Aurora, CO. 

“I was born in Columbus and spent ten years in Colorado,” Levi explained.  “We moved here when I was 14.  I consider Aurora, CO, my home town because that’s when I started playing the game and learned to love it.” 

“I think it’s exciting that Garrett Meurs was selected by the Avalanche (5th round, 123rd overall, 2011 NHL Entry Draft).  I think he’s going to really enjoy Colorado.  It’s a great place to live.”

WHALERS AMERICAN D-MEN IN WJC:  If Levi makes Team USA for the World Junior Championship Team, he’ll be the first Plymouth defenseman to play for the Americans since James Wisniewski, who made the team in 2003 and 2004. 

Other Plymouth defensemen have played for other countries, including Dario Trutmann (Switzerland, 2011), Michal Jordan (Czech Republic in 2008, 2009 and 2010) and Libor Ustrnul (Czech Republic in 2001 and 2002).

Plymouth defensemen who played for Team USA include Paul Mara (1999), Nikos Tselios (1998 and 1999) and Bryan Berard (1995). 

Mara was technically part of the Whalers in 1998, but had not played for Plymouth at the time he was playing in the World Junior Championships for Team USA.  Plymouth acquired Mara in a three-way trade with Windsor and Sudbury on Dec. 18, 1997 while he was with Team USA.

Mara made his Plymouth debut on Jan. 7, 1998 in Erie, scoring the game-winning goal in a 6-3 win over the Otters.

AT LEAST 100 GAMES PLAYED:  The following current Whalers have played at least 100 games in a Plymouth uniform: RJ Mahalak (183), Beau Schmitz (182), Jamie Devane (178), Austin Levi (146), Garrett Meurs (130), Colin MacDonald (124), Nick Malysa (107) and Stefan Noesen (101).

Peter Krupsky is the director of communications and community relations for the Plymouth Whalers.