University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers in the Pros: Amanda Leveille
4/12/2017 12:00:00 AM | Women's Hockey
MINNEAPOLIS - The 2016-17 season marked Amanda Leveille's first season playing professional hockey with the Buffalo Beauts of the National Women's Hockey League (NWHL). The 2016 Golden Gopher alumna reflects on life after college and her first season in the NWHL.
Gopher Sports: What was it like having the dream of playing professional hockey come true this season?
Amanda Leveille: It's truly amazing to see how much the game has grown in such a short period of time. When my mom was a child, girls were not allowed to play organized hockey in her hometown and now women are being paid to do so. I hope to play a part in women's hockey that grows the game for the future so girls can also share the joy that I do when I pull that professional sweater over my head.
GS: What was the biggest adjustment going from college hockey to professional hockey?
AL: The speed and quick release of the players.
GS: What was your biggest highlight or favorite moment from the 2016-17 season?
AL: The entire Isobel Cup final game, starting with Megan Bozek scoring in the first few minutes of the game with a laser beam to being able to hold the Isobel Cup. The vast majority of people assumed that Boston would easily become two-time Isobel Cup champions except for the girls on our team, and seeing the belief that we had in each other pay off was incredible -- definitely something I will remember all my life.
GS: How did your time playing for the Gophers prepare you for to play professional hockey?
AL: Exactly one year before I was part of the Isobel Cup championship team, I was part of the NCAA national championship team. My entire time as a Gopher prepared me to be successful beyond the rink and the University of Minnesota. The four values that the Gopher program installed in me (to be tough, grateful, disciplined, and devoted) were invaluable during my first year as a professional hockey player. For example, my first game as a pro didn't go quite as planned, and I had to be tough and devoted to getting better. When the salaries were cut, I had to be disciplined and remain grateful to have the opportunity to be a professional athlete, despite the circumstances.
GS: What advice do you have for the young hockey players who look up to you?
AL: The best advice that I can give youth hockey players is to have fun playing hockey. As you get older, it gets tougher and tougher with on-ice and off-ice workouts and sometimes you encounter tough coaches. Remembering why we play hockey for fun and the love of the game will help to get you through those inevitable tough times.
GS: What's life like for you living in Buffalo? What do you do for fun out there?
AL: Without the ability to have another job in addition to hockey and no school, I had a lot more free time than I normally do. To fill my time, I started to learn a second language and went on goofy adventures with my goalie partners in full gear, making videos and posting them to my instagram account @mandy_leveille to help promote the league through social media.
GS: What's next for you?
AL: Hopefully get on The Ellen Show or win the lottery! I am planning to train over the summer and then play in the NWHL again next season.
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