Goalie Amanda Leveille re-signs with Whitecaps

The former Gophers standout led the team to the NWHL championship in 2019.

June 18, 2020 at 5:14PM
Whitecaps goalie Amanda Leveille
Whitecaps goalie Amanda Leveille (Star Tribune/The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Minnesota Whitecaps goalie Amanda Leveille (29) makes a save during the first period of their game with the Metropolitan Riveters during the NWHL semifinals Friday, March 15, 2019, at Tria Rink in St. Paul, MN.]
(Star Tribune/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Amanda Leveille, the goalie who helped the Whitecaps win the 2019 NWHL championship and led the team to this year's title game, re-signed with the team for the 2020-21 season.

Leveille, 26, ranked second in the NWHL in goals-against average (2.08), save percentage (.935) and wins (16) in 2019-20 as the Whitecaps advanced to the championship game, which was canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic. She had three shutouts in the regular season and blanked the Metropolitan Riveters 1-0 on 28 saves in the league semifinals.

"My NWHL experience can be summed up in the crease at TRIA Rink," Leveille said in a statement. "I hear the PA announcer say, 'Welcome, your Minnesota Whitecaps!' and our fans get loud. To my side is a young goaltender that I coach, because we include the players of the future in our game. I cannot thank the NWHL enough for those heartfelt moments.''

A three-time NCAA champion for the Gophers, Leveille backstopped the Whitecaps to the Isobel Cup as an expansion team in 2019 when she posted a 13-4 record with a 1.96 GAA and .929 save percentage. The three-time NWHL all-star also won the Isobel Cup with the Buffalo Beauts in 2017 and was the league's goaltender of the year in 2018.

"Lev is a competitive athlete and her teammates know she will come to each game ready to give her best," Whitecaps co-head coach Ronda Engelhardt said. "She always challenges herself to grow as a player.''

The NWHL plans to start its 2020-21 season in November, with the six teams playing a 20-game schedule.

about the writer

Randy Johnson

College football reporter

Randy Johnson covers University of Minnesota football and college football for the Star Tribune, along with Gophers hockey and the Wild.

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