Earlier than Rousek emerged as a dynamic winger and playmaker this spring within the Calder Cup Playoffs, Amerks coach Seth Appert watched video of the Czech Republic striker’s video games to find out about his ability set. and the way he may match into the lineup.

In September 2021, Rousek, 23, underwent ACL reconstruction in his proper knee that compelled him to overlook the primary 57 video games of this season. As a result of harm and the Covid-19 pandemic, he had by no means skated in entrance of Appert.

“To be trustworthy, we had no concept what we have been going to get,” stated Michael Peca, an assistant coach at Rochester who received two Selke trophies throughout his 14-year NHL profession. “Apps had seen a tape about him and he actually appreciated it.”

As soon as cleared to observe with the Amerks in March, it did not take lengthy for Rousek to determine himself as a professional prospect for the Buffalo Sabers. The 5-foot-11 ahead scored two targets and 6 factors in 10 video games throughout Rochester’s run to the third spherical of the playoffs, step by step incomes extra ice time and possibilities because the run went on.

Rousek earned a number of rounds of applause from the group at LECOM Harborcenter on Saturday along with her outstanding passing potential through the Sabers’ 3-on-3 event to cap the franchise’s first improvement camp in three years, serving to the Perreault crew win the championship trophy.

Rousek, a sixth-round draft choose in 2019, stood out in a camp that featured eight first-round picks and 5 gamers with NHL expertise. He made excellent passes and used his fast fingers to attain a breakaway purpose through the title sport.

“He is so good,” stated Sabers prospect Jack Quinn, Rousek’s teammate in Rochester and through the 3-on-3 event. “He’s actually good. He is a superb man to play with. He’s so good and makes different gamers round him higher.”

Twice, Rousek didn’t have her title within the NHL Draft. In 2017, Rousek was not picked, regardless of his league-leading 37 targets and 82 factors in 40 video games within the Czech Republic’s under-18 league. He performed skilled hockey in his residence nation the next season, however did not present sufficient to get chosen.

Frank Musil, the Sabers’ newbie scout within the space, passionately defended Rousek earlier than the 2019 draft. The winger averaged greater than a degree per sport within the Czech Republic’s second-tier professional league, received 34 video games on the degree highest and capped his closing draft-eligible season with an impressive playoff efficiency.

Rousek watched from the stands at Vancouver’s Rogers Middle as 159 different gamers have been drafted earlier than him. Lastly, the wait was over when the Sabers referred to as his title within the sixth spherical.

“It was my first dream,” Rousek stated after a improvement camp observe this week. “I couldn’t consider it. However now, my second dream is to play within the NHL.”

Following his choice, Rousek had a few spectacular seasons within the Czech Republic’s prime skilled league and signed a two-year entry-level cope with the Sabers in April 2021 with the intention of constant his improvement in Rochester.

Final summer time, when Rousek was working along with her expertise coach to arrange for the Sabers’ Prospect Problem and coaching camp, she suffered what she thought was a minor harm whereas doing a routine spin with the puck. It wasn’t till he was seen by crew docs in Buffalo that he obtained the analysis. His ACL required a whole reconstruction that may require six to 9 months to recuperate.

“I assumed possibly two, three weeks,” he recalled. “So he advised me, ‘Six or 9 months.’ He was loopy. He could not consider it.

Nonetheless, Rousek was not discouraged. On observe days final season, Rousek was usually the primary participant to reach at Blue Cross Area. He would do his rehab exercises, he would watch his teammates on the ice and sit within the locker room, listening to his jokes. Rousek was decided to be taught English. He paid shut consideration to phrases and phrases. When Rousek wasn’t certain about one thing, he requested Rochester winger Matej Pekar, a fellow Czech who has spent a number of years in North America.

The 2 have been roommates and rapidly turned shut buddies. Pekar translated interviews for Rousek all through the season. In improvement camp, Rousek did not want any assist. He spoke with confidence and conviction as he described the adversity he encountered earlier than the playoff race.

“He is an outgoing, enjoyable man,” stated Pekar, who’s recovering from shoulder surgical procedure. He’s at all times himself. He realized English by being near me and getting used to the American lifestyle. It got here naturally to him, and we have been at all times collectively.

“I knew how he performed from his time within the Czech Republic. And he is among the finest passers I’ve ever seen.”

Throughout Rousek’s restoration, the teaching workers confirmed him quite a few movies to arrange him for the day he can be cleared to play video games. Appert and Peca weren’t certain the place they’d put Rousek within the lineup as a result of they have been uncertain of his strengths and weaknesses in opposition to skilled American Hockey League gamers.

Rousek put her worries to relaxation when she lastly received clearance for the contact. He started making performs in observe that wowed his teammates, passing the puck by means of tight areas to arrange a standout purpose.

“I used to be coming off a whole ACL reconstruction and it normally takes some time to get again to one hundred pc,” Peca stated. “I believe it is a testomony to how laborious he labored, how badly he needed to return again and show himself. … When he stepped in, he wowed guys day by day in observe along with his passing potential and his imaginative and prescient.”

Rousek took some time to unleash her potential in opposition to opponents. He had zero factors in his first six video games and completed the common season with simply 4 in 19 video games. Nonetheless, he step by step earned extra time on the ice and the belief of the coaches, and located solace when the playoffs started.

Rousek scored within the first sport of the playoffs by fooling Belleville goalie Filip Gustavsson with a formidable stick-handling show, beginning Rochester’s comeback from a three-goal deficit early within the third interval. Rousek additionally had 4 factors within the closing three video games of the Amerks sequence win over Utica.

“The primary 5 video games have been powerful,” Rousek stated. “It is a completely different form of hockey, and I hadn’t performed in 11 months. The primary 5 video games have been loopy. However each sport after that was higher and higher, and at 15 video games, 5 within the playoffs, I felt good.”

Rousek is slated to play a distinguished function in Amerks’ lineup subsequent season that’s anticipated to incorporate 2021 draft picks Isak Rosen and Aleksandr Kisakov. With a younger crop of forwards on the NHL roster, the Sabers can afford to be affected person with Rousek and others. His play in improvement camp, together with some nifty passes to arrange Quinn, was one of many week’s many examples that confirmed the group amassed a wealth of expertise within the prospect pipeline.

Quinn and Owen Energy of Staff Perreault and Staff Martin respectively led the event with two targets every and met within the championship.

Though Quinn was the perfect striker on the ice (Rousek, JJ Peterka and Jiri Kulich weren’t far behind), it was the goalkeepers who have been the primary attraction. Erik Portillo and Devon Levi had a mixed 54 saves on Saturday. The duo recorded shutouts in regulation time throughout each of their matchups, forcing a shootout.

“You will most likely by no means see me on document saying I loved two 0-0 video games,” Sabers coach Don Granato stated. “However they performed two video games 0-0 there and it was enjoyable to observe them.”

Earlier than Rousek emerged as a dynamic winger and playmaker this spring within the Calder Cup Playoffs, what little data Amerks coach Seth Appert had on the 21-year-old was gleaned from a video of video games on Czech Republic.

And people recordings have been from at the least 11 months earlier, earlier than Rousek underwent ACL reconstruction in his proper knee that compelled him to overlook the primary 57 video games of the season.

“To be sincere, we had no thought what we have been going to get,” mentioned Michael Peca, an assistant coach at Rochester who received two Selke trophies throughout his 14-year NHL profession. “Apps had seen a tape about him and he actually appreciated it.”

As soon as cleared to apply with the Amerks in March, it did not take lengthy for Rousek to ascertain himself as a official prospect for the Buffalo Sabers. The 5-foot-11 ahead scored two targets and 6 factors in 10 video games throughout Rochester’s run to the third spherical of the playoffs, regularly incomes extra ice time and probabilities because the run went on.

Rousek earned a number of rounds of applause from the group at LECOM Harborcenter on Saturday together with her outstanding passing means in the course of the Sabers’ 3-on-3 event to cap the franchise’s first improvement camp in three years, serving to the Perreault staff win the championship trophy.

Rousek, a sixth-round draft decide in 2019, stood out in a camp that featured eight first-round picks and 5 gamers with NHL expertise. He made excellent passes and used his fast arms to attain a breakaway aim in the course of the title sport.

“He is so good,” mentioned Sabers prospect Jack Quinn, Rousek’s teammate in Rochester and in the course of the 3-on-3 event. “He’s actually good. He is a good man to play with. He’s so sensible and makes different gamers round him higher.”

Twice, Rousek didn’t have her title within the NHL Draft. In 2017, Rousek was not picked, regardless of his league-leading 37 targets and 82 factors in 40 video games within the Czech Republic’s under-18 league. He performed skilled hockey in his residence nation the next season, however did not present sufficient to get chosen.

Frank Musil, the Sabers’ newbie scout within the space, passionately defended Rousek earlier than the 2019 draft. The winger averaged greater than some extent per sport within the Czech Republic’s second-tier professional league, received 34 video games on the degree highest and capped his last draft-eligible season with an excellent playoff efficiency.

Rousek watched from the stands at Vancouver’s Rogers Heart as 159 different gamers have been drafted earlier than him. Lastly, the wait was over when the Sabers known as his title within the sixth spherical.

“It was my first dream,” Rousek mentioned after a improvement camp apply this week. “I couldn’t imagine it. However now, my second dream is to play within the NHL.”

Following his choice, Rousek had a few spectacular seasons within the Czech Republic’s high skilled league and signed a two-year entry-level take care of the Sabers in April 2021 with the intention of constant his improvement in Rochester.

Final summer season, when Rousek was working together with her expertise coach to arrange for the Sabers’ Prospect Problem and coaching camp, she suffered what she thought was a minor harm whereas doing a routine spin with the puck. It wasn’t till he was seen by staff docs in Buffalo that he acquired the analysis. His ACL required an entire reconstruction that will require six to 9 months to get better.

“I assumed possibly two, three weeks,” he recalled. “So he advised me, ‘Six or 9 months.’ He was loopy. He could not imagine it.

Nevertheless, Rousek was not discouraged. On apply days final season, Rousek was usually the primary participant to reach at Blue Cross Area. He would do his rehab exercises, he would watch his teammates on the ice and sit within the locker room, listening to his jokes. Rousek was decided to be taught English. He paid shut consideration to phrases and phrases. When Rousek wasn’t positive about one thing, he requested Rochester winger Matej Pekar, a fellow Czech who has spent a number of years in North America.

The 2 have been roommates and shortly turned shut pals. Pekar translated interviews for Rousek all through the season. In improvement camp, Rousek did not want any assist. He spoke with confidence and conviction as he described the adversity he encountered earlier than the playoff race.

“He is an outgoing, enjoyable man,” mentioned Pekar, who’s recovering from shoulder surgical procedure. He’s at all times himself. He realized English by being near me and getting used to the American lifestyle. It got here naturally to him, and we have been at all times collectively.

“I knew how he performed from his time within the Czech Republic. And he is among the best passers I’ve ever seen.”

Throughout Rousek’s restoration, the teaching employees confirmed him quite a few movies to arrange him for the day he can be cleared to play video games. Appert and Peca weren’t positive the place they’d put Rousek within the lineup as a result of they have been not sure of his strengths and weaknesses in opposition to skilled American Hockey League gamers.

Rousek put her worries to relaxation when she lastly acquired clearance for the contact. He started making performs in apply that wowed his teammates, passing the puck by tight areas to arrange a standout aim.

“I used to be coming off an entire ACL reconstruction and it normally takes some time to get again to one hundred pc,” Peca mentioned. “I believe it is a testomony to how exhausting he labored, how badly he needed to return again and show himself. … When he stepped in, he wowed guys every day in apply together with his passing means and his imaginative and prescient.”

Rousek took some time to unleash her means in opposition to opponents. He had zero factors in his first six video games and completed the common season with simply 4 in 19 video games. Nevertheless, he regularly earned extra time on the ice and the belief of the coaches, and located solace when the playoffs started.

Rousek scored within the first sport of the playoffs by fooling Belleville goalie Filip Gustavsson with a powerful stick-handling show, beginning Rochester’s comeback from a three-goal deficit early within the third interval. Rousek additionally had 4 factors within the last three video games of the Amerks collection win over Utica.

“The primary 5 video games have been robust,” Rousek mentioned. “It is a totally different type of hockey, and I hadn’t performed in 11 months. The primary 5 video games have been loopy. However each sport after that was higher and higher, and at 15 video games, 5 within the playoffs, I felt good.”

Rousek is slated to play a outstanding function in Amerks’ lineup subsequent season that’s anticipated to incorporate 2021 draft picks Isak Rosen and Aleksandr Kisakov. With a younger crop of forwards on the NHL roster, the Sabers can afford to be affected person with Rousek and others. His play in improvement camp, together with some nifty passes to arrange Quinn, was one of many week’s many examples that confirmed the group amassed a wealth of expertise within the prospect pipeline.

Quinn and Owen Energy of Crew Perreault and Crew Martin respectively led the event with two targets every and met within the championship.

Though Quinn was the perfect striker on the ice – Rousek, JJ Peterka and Jiri Kulich weren’t far behind – it was the goalkeepers who have been the principle attraction. Erik Portillo and Devon Levi had a mixed 54 saves on Saturday. The duo recorded shutouts in regulation time throughout each of their matchups, forcing a shootout.

“You may most likely by no means see me on report saying I loved two 0-0 video games,” Sabers coach Don Granato mentioned. “However they performed two video games 0-0 there and it was enjoyable to observe them.”

By way of each experiences, Levi solid a relationship with Sabers normal supervisor Kevyn Adams, who defined his plan to construct a winner in Buffalo and the function of the record-setting goaltender within the group as soon as he concludes his faculty profession within the Northeastern College.

“It is actually cool to see what a pleasant individual he’s,” Levi mentioned Thursday after his second improvement camp apply at LECOM Harborcenter. “Normally whenever you’re a child, you see all these transactions and it is a enterprise and everybody tells you it is a enterprise. He actually makes it appear to be dwelling. He’s actually snug.”

Adams additionally discovered extra about Levi’s resolution to return to highschool for his junior season, somewhat than signal an entry-level contract with the Sabers. Levi, 20, impressed his boss by explaining why he is in no hurry to start out a profession. He desires to expertise taking part in underneath immense stress after a season through which he was awarded the NCAA’s Greatest Goaltender Award, ranked first in save proportion (.952) amongst all Division I male goaltenders, set data schoolchildren and represented Canada on the Winter Olympics.

Levi would not need to cease there both. Throughout his speech on the varsity hockey awards in Boston, he wowed the group by expressing his want to assist his teammates accomplish what they could not within the spring after they misplaced their first recreation within the varsity match. NCAA. And Levi has proven all through his profession that he has the self-awareness to diagnose what’s finest for his improvement.

“You play so many seasons that after a very good season, how are you going to do it once more?” Levi defined. “That is the query. Lots of people wrestle with that. It is easy to get caught up in considering you are the very best and you’ve got had a extremely good season and also you’re making an attempt to handle expectations. So I am actually trying ahead to that problem, deal with it and discover ways to do it. … I feel I’ll be one step extra able to go subsequent 12 months.”

Levi’s potential to self-assess is uncommon for a participant of his age and expertise. He performed three years of midget-level hockey when most of that age strikes to the next junior league ASAP. Doing so helped Levi emerge as a reputable NHL prospect, as he totaled a .941 save proportion in 37 video games within the junior-level Central Canada Hockey League.

The choice might need contributed to Levi dropping to the seventh spherical of the 2020 draft, however his breakout efficiency on the IIHF World Junior Championship made him the Sabers’ goal within the commerce that despatched Sam Reinhart to Florida.

Levi showcased his exact method throughout a tournament-record efficiency through which his .964 save proportion surpassed the mark beforehand held by Carey Value. Nonetheless, an harm prevented Levi from competing with Northeastern as a freshman, depriving him of an necessary developmental season.

He authored an distinctive sophomore marketing campaign in 2021-22 that included the next achievements:

• Nationally, he ranked sixth in complete saves, tied for second in complete shutouts, third in targets towards common, and seventh in wins.
• Along with the Mike Richter Award for finest NCAA goaltender, he received the Nationwide Rookie of the 12 months Award, Hockey East Goaltender of the 12 months, and was a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award, which is given to the very best participant in Division I males’s hockey.
• Levi holds the Northeast report of 121:25 earlier than giving up a purpose to start out a run.

“I actually hadn’t seen a lot earlier than,” Northeastern goalkeeping coach Mike Condon, who performed elements of 5 seasons within the NHL, informed The Buffalo Information in a telephone interview. “If Devon sees the puck, he’ll cease it. He is a kind of goalkeepers, when there is a breakaway, you are not frightened. When there is a two-on-one, you are not frightened. I used to be so impressed together with his efficiency within the recreation, however I am very impressed. together with his conduct as an individual and what he brings to the workforce and the way a lot he actually cares about being a teammate.”

Though a bit small at 6-foot, Levi makes use of his athleticism, quickness and intuition to make robust stops look simple. He stunned his teammates in improvement camp Wednesday with some notable saves in a fast-paced, offense-driven apply that included quite a few odd-man runs.

Nonetheless, the season was not excellent. On January 22, the morning after a loss at UMass, Levi spent two hours on the observe coaching in a digital actuality headset. Again on the ice that night time for the rematch, he had considered one of his worst performances of the season, permitting 4 targets on 12 photographs.

Condon needed to remind Levi that goaltenders, like baseball pitchers, must handle their workload. Work laborious however work sensible, Condon mentioned. It is a lesson Condon taught all through the season and the 2 wished to spend one other 12 months crafting the Levi’s routine. He has an insatiable urge for food for enchancment and a cerebral strategy to the job. He usually stays on the ice 40 minutes after apply to do additional work with teammates, which Condon referred to as “extra.”

Condon, 32, has grow to be a mentor to Levi and is utilizing his function to assist put together the Sabers prospect for the challenges {of professional} hockey. Even the social dynamic on a workforce adjustments when a participant goes from faculty to professional. Condon would not need Levi to go dwelling each night time obsessing over hockey. Psychological breaks are needed in an 82-game NHL season.

Condon’s presence at Northeastern is likely one of the causes Levi selected to return for one more season. And the Sabers present extra teaching and recommendation via goalkeeping improvement coach Seamus Kotyk.

“I am making an attempt to instill in Devon that whenever you get to the following degree, you may’t at all times be working on a regular basis,” Condon mentioned. “Everybody desires to grind, they usually suppose that can serve them nicely. And I did for a lot of my profession. However I bumped into lots of accidents, I bumped into lots of power points and fatigue over the course of the 12 months. So I am making an attempt to show you about effectivity, prioritizing what must be accomplished. … It is about discovering that candy spot in order that day-after-day whenever you come to the observe, you are feeling recent.

“You may learn as many books as you need on easy methods to put together for skilled hockey. You may discuss to as many former gamers as you need. Nevertheless it’s one thing you must be taught firsthand. We nonetheless have lots of work to do to refine our course of.” There may be nonetheless so much to be taught and so much to achieve.”

Needing a beginning goalie, the Sabers opted for a short-term answer this offseason over a long-term choice. Adams would not need to cease Levi or fellow prospect Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen from taking on as franchise goalkeeper.

Eric Comrie, a 27-year-old with simply 28 NHL video games, has signed a two-year deal to work alongside Craig Anderson subsequent season, and Luukkonen will proceed his improvement in Rochester, the place he’ll begin on a younger and gifted from Amerks. On this week’s improvement camp, the Sabers even have Erik Portillo, who turns into an unrestricted free agent if he would not signal by subsequent summer time, and up to date second-round decide Topias Leinonen.

All of a sudden, it is a sturdy place within the prospect pool, however Levi is not frightened about having to move one other goalie on the depth chart. He expressed confidence that he would be the one within the crease if he offers together with his personal improvement. And whereas Levi’s resolution to return to highschool disrupted the Sabers’ short-term plans, he eased any potential considerations together with his nuanced rationalization and his dedication to be a greater goalie subsequent spring when it is time to signal a contract. contract.

“As a goalie, there’s actually no rush,” Levi mentioned. “I’ve taken a slower path my entire life the place it was late improvement. … I solely give attention to my improvement and I’m bettering day-after-day. I’ve by no means actually pursued the very best degree. I simply let it come. When the time is correct, it is going to come. So, I am simply ready for that.

“I really feel superb and I’m assured in my skills to have the ability to play. However I do not suppose it is a unhealthy factor to return to school for one more 12 months, enhance and are available again much more ready.”