Top draft pick brings excitement to Wolves' den

David Levin may be Israeli by birth, but his passion for Canada's national sport would rival that of any Canuck.

The 15-year-old hockey standout was selected first overall by the Sudbury Wolves in the 2015 OHL Priority Selection. The announcement was made April 10, heading into Saturday's official draft.

Born and raised in Israel, Levin moved to Canada at the age of 12 to live with relatives in the Toronto area and pursue his dream of playing professional hockey.

Since he has lived in the country for the past three years, he was cleared by officials at the national level to be eligible for the OHL's Priority Selection, rather than the Import Draft, making him the first Israeli-born player to be chosen.

“I want to thank my family for letting me leave my country and letting me make my dream come true,” he said. “I still can't believe it. It's real big for me, especially for my family. I was working for them, I wanted to show them I could do it, and here I did. They're really proud of me.”

Growing up playing the inline version of the game under the coaching guidance of his father, Levin's move to Canada also marked the beginning of his on-ice hockey experience. His stick-handling skills were easily transferable, but he said the ice took a bit of getting used to.

“The first time on the ice was really hard, but really exciting,” he said. “It is difficult, but a couple times on the ice and (I was) getting better and better, adjusting to the turns and everything. Now I'm fresh and 100 per cent with the ice.”

Playing with the Don Mills Flyers last season, Levin led the team in scoring with 80 points in 55 games, including 39 goals. Despite his flare for finding the back of the net, Levin maintains a team-focused mentality.

“What the coach tells me to do, I will do. If it's to sit on the bench, then I will sit on the bench and watch my teammates. I am a teammate, so I am only there to help my team build.”

Wolves' head scout Andrew Shaw said Levin is one of those “players that don't come around very often.”

“David has improved in leaps and bounds in each of his three short years he has been playing hockey here in Canada,” Shaw said. “If his development continues to improve at the same rate, his potential as an OHL player is off the charts.”

Wolves president and GM Blaine Smith described Levin as a complete package.

“He has hockey smarts, play-making skills, an ability to score goals and he plays with an edge. He has all the skills necessary to be a top player in the Ontario Hockey League.”

Interim head coach David Matsos said watching Levin slide into the Wolves jersey Friday morning elevated the excitement for the upcoming season.

“Sudbury has been starving for a dynamic, top-end forward like this for a while now,” he said.

When speaking with various prospects leading up to the draft, Wolves brass asked the young players who they would want as a teammate out of any of the teams they played against.

“I would say 90 per cent of the responses were David Levin,” Matsos said. “I think that says a lot when his peers that are playing against him would love to have him as a teammate.”

Wolves' fans will get their first look at the newest Sudbury Wolves' forward on April 25 and 26 when the team hosts its annual Rookie Orientation Camp at the Countryside Arena.

The Wolves also had the first overall pick in 2008 when they selected John McFarland. McFarland was subsequently drafted by the NHL's Florida Panthers in the second round of the 2010 NHL Draft.