Leverton transforms from grinder to scoring star

Leverton is tied for third in the WHL in goals with already 11 on the season and he leads the league in power play goals with seven. He also leads the Raiders in goals and points (18) through 18 games this year.

Goals haven’t always come this easy for the ‘Debden Dangler.’ Heading into this season, Leverton had 16 career goals in 153 games played. At the rate he’s scoring this season, Leverton might surpass that total by December. He’s already posted career highs in goals and points, as well.

Predictably, the team-first Leverton immediately deflected this year’s success to his linemates. He started the year making magic on the All-Sask All-Star line with Prud’Homme’s Jordan Tkatch and Humboldt’s Reid Gardiner, but has since has been playing with overager Jayden Hart for the last six games since Gardiner suffered an upper body injury.

But Leverton also gives credit to the Raiders coaching and management staff for putting faith in him to produce.

“Having a staff that really has confidence in me is something that’s been beneficial for me,” said Leverton. “I know they believe in me and I have the freedom to go out and play my game and not have to worry about getting benched or scratched if I make a mistake or two.”

Included in that staff is the guy that brought him to Prince Albert in the first place, Raiders general manager Bruno Campese.

Back on Sept. 17, 2013, Campese acquired Leverton from the Lethbridge Hurricanes in exchange for forward Spencer Meyer.

It’s pretty easy to see who won that deal.

Leverton has been the Raiders’ top scorer early this season, while Meyer went pointless in 26 games for the Hurricanes last year, played three games with the Spokane Chiefs and is now currently playing in the BCHL for his hometown Surrey Eagles.

But when Campese acquired him, Leverton’s production was far from what it is today. The former second round pick had seven goals and 17 assists in 61 games with the Lethbridge Hurricanes as a 17-year-old.

But Campese made the deal anyway, going back to Leverton’s success in his minor hockey days. Leverton scored 47 goals and 90 points in just 22 games in his second year of bantam with the Warman Wildcats, then followed that up with 32 points in 33 games on a stacked Saskatoon Contacts team in 2010-2011.

“He always had real good numbers in minor hockey and for some reason, it wasn’t translating to the next level,” said Campese. “He was putting up okay numbers for a young guy, but we did know looking at his prior history that there was some skill. If you give him opportunities like he’s getting right now, he’ll be successful.

“I’m extremely happy for Levey, he really studies the game hard,” added Campese. “He’s a little bit of a walking encyclopedia—little tidbits that you just don’t know about. He really wears the Raiders crest at heart and he’s proud to be a Raider and things have worked out for him so far.”

Leverton and the Raiders are preparing for a tilt against the Seattle Thunderbirds Friday at the Art Hauser Centre. The game also falls on Conexus Baseball Night and will feature a special guest appearance from former Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Jack Morris.

The Raiders will also have home games next week against the Regina Pats on Wednesday and the Moose Jaw Warriors on Friday.

jdandrea@panow.com

On Twitter: @jeff_dandrea

by Jeff D'Andrea

Leverton transforms from grinder to scoring star

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