Daultan Leveille Explained

Played For:Hamilton Bulldogs
Dragons de Rouen
Binghamton Senators
Position:Centre
Shoots:Left
Height Ft:5
Height In:11
Weight Lb:160
Birth Date:10 August 1990
Birth Place:St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada
Draft:29th overall
Draft Year:2008
Draft Team:Atlanta Thrashers
Career Start:2012
Career End:2017

Daultan Michael Leveille (born August 10, 1990) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. He was drafted by the Atlanta Thrashers in the first round, 29th overall,[1] in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, becoming the first player in NHL history to be drafted out of a Jr. B level league in the first round.[2] He never played a game in the NHL.

Playing career

Junior

Leveille was born in St. Catharines, Ontario. After playing 'AAA' hockey for the St. Catharines Minor Hockey Association all his childhood, Leveille was drafted by the Ottawa 67's in the ninth round of the 2006 OHL Priority Draft.[3] However, Daultan decided to stay close to home, and played two years for the St. Catharines Falcons of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League, a Jr. B level league part of the Ontario Hockey Association. During his two seasons with the Falcons, Leveille totaled 48 goals and 101 points in 93 games. In his final year, Leveille, along with six other individuals (including Michael Stone of London, Ontario) was awarded the OHA Top Prospect Award.[4] During his second year, Leveille began to be highly scouted among National Hockey League (NHL) teams,[5] [6] and was selected as high as 27th overall in mock drafts for the 2008 NHL Entry Draft. During his final year Leveille also played with Riley Sheahan, who would be drafted 21st overall by the Detroit Red Wings in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.

Leveille finished his freshman season with the Michigan State Spartans of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association with 17 points in 38 games. He finished second on the team in goals and points, behind senior Matt Schepke. However, Leveille finished the season with a plus/minus of -19, and the Spartans finished with a disappointing 10–23–5 record. Leveille had 25 points the following season and an improved plus/minus of +14.

Professional

Leveille was drafted by the Atlanta Thrashers during the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, being selected 29th overall with a pick acquired from the Pittsburgh Penguins during the 2007-08 NHL season trade deadline. His rights were transferred from the Atlanta Thrashers to the Winnipeg Jets on June 22, 2011, due to the Thrashers' franchise relocating. After spending three seasons as a Thrashers/Jets prospect, Leveille was not tendered an offer from the Jets and became an unrestricted free agent on August 15, 2012.[7]

On September 18, 2012, Leveille was signed to a one-year, two way contract by the Hamilton Bulldogs.[8] On October 4, Leveille was released from Bulldogs' training camp and assigned to the San Francisco Bulls of the ECHL.[9] Several days later, Leveille was reassigned to the Bulldogs' ECHL affiliate in Wheeling. Coincidentally, the Nailers share an affiliation with the Pittsburgh Penguins, who once owned the draft pick that was used to draft Leveille.

Leveille scored his first professional goal on October 26, 2012, against the Reading Royals at WesBanco Arena. He scored 12:13 into the 2nd period, putting the Nailers up 5–1.

On July 23, 2013, Leveille signed as a free agent to his third ECHL club, the Evansville IceMen, on a one-year contract.[10] In the 2013-14 season with the IceMen, Leveille contributed with 22 goals and 47 points in 66 games.

On April 29, 2014, Leveille signed a one-year contract abroad with French club, Dragons de Rouen of the Ligue Magnus. In his single season in Europe, Leveille posted 17 points in 26 games before returning to North America in signing a one-year AHL contract for the 2015–16 season with the Binghamton Senators on May 28, 2015.[11]

As a free agent from the Senators in the following off-season, Leveille continue his tenure in the ECHL, signing a one-year deal with the Elmira Jackals on August 18, 2016.[12]

Career statistics

  Regular season Playoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGPGAPtsPIMGPGAPtsPIM
2006–07St. Catharines FalconsGOJHL48 19 26 45 3014 5 6 11 6
2007–08St. Catharines FalconsGOJHL45 29 27 56 3816 14 16 30 14
2008–09Michigan State SpartansCCHA38 9 8 17 12
2009–10Michigan State SpartansCCHA38 6 19 25 16
2010–11Michigan State SpartansCCHA34 8 10 18 18
2011–12Michigan State SpartansCCHA 21 3 6 9 4
2012–13Hamilton BulldogsAHL19 0 2 2 4
2012–13Wheeling NailersECHL25 4 3 7 6
2012–13San Francisco BullsECHL6 2 1 3 0
2013–14Evansville IceMenECHL66 22 25 47 26
2014–15Dragons de RouenFRA26 9 8 17 124 1 1 2 2
2015–16Evansville IceMenECHL55 24 20 44 26
2015–16Binghamton SenatorsAHL5 1 1 2 2
2016–17Elmira JackalsECHL12 3 5 8 0
2016–17Wichita ThunderECHL10 0 3 3 8
2016–17Brampton BeastECHL9 1 1 2 41 0 0 0 0
ECHL totals183 56 58 114 701 0 0 0 0
AHL totals24 1 3 4 6

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Daultan Leveille Taken 29th in NHL Entry Draft . 20 June 2008 . .
  2. Web site: MSU freshman has speed, needs strength . https://archive.today/20130127162317/http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/article/20090115/GW03/901150344/1023/GW . dead . 27 January 2013 . Neil . Koepke . 15 January 2009 . . . East Lansing, MI .
  3. Web site: OHL Priority Selection . May 6, 2006 . . May 6, 2006 . https://web.archive.org/web/20060519110137/http://www.ontariohockeyleague.com/ps2006/ . May 19, 2006.
  4. Web site: 2007–2008 OHA Awards . . May 15, 2008 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090916183553/http://www.ohahockey.org/page/show/43955-2007-2008-oha-awards . September 16, 2009 .
  5. Web site: Interest in Leveille growing . Bob . McKenzie . Bob McKenzie (broadcaster) . 7 April 2008 . . On any given night in St. Catharines recently, scouts from 10 to 15 NHL teams have been there to watch Leveille ... .
  6. Web site: Daultan Leveille goes out with a bang . Bob . McKenzie . Bob McKenzie (broadcaster) . 9 April 2008 . .
  7. Web site: The Hockey News Forecaster: Daultan Leveille Profile Page . The Hockey News.
  8. Web site: Bulldogs sign Chaput, Fortier, and Leveille . HamiltonBulldogs.com . September 18, 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140730040719/http://www.hamiltonbulldogs.com/pressbox/news/?article_id=49 . 2014-07-30 .
  9. Web site: Hamilton Bulldogs Release 14 From Training Camp. HamiltonBulldogs.com. September 18, 2012. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20140719221232/http://www.hamiltonbulldogs.com/pressbox/news/?article_id=59. July 19, 2014.
  10. Web site: Leveille lands in Evansville . . 2013-07-23 . 2013-07-23 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130725023300/http://www.evansvilleicemen.com/news-post/leveille-lands-in-evansville#.Ufz7KpJkRIF . 2013-07-25 .
  11. Web site: B-Sens ink four skaters for next season . . 2015-05-28 . 2015-05-28.
  12. Web site: Jackals sign former first-round pick Leveille . . 2016-08-18 . 2016-08-18.