Edmonton Oilers' Levi gets Gladiator-themed shoutout from Russell Crowe
Are you not entertained by Devon Levi and the Edmonton Oilers?
The 24-year-old goaltender recorded his first career NHL shutout on Saturday night, stopping all 19 shots he faced against the Toronto Maple Leafs in a 1-0 win. Levi improved to 9-1-0 on the season, setting a franchise record for the best 10-game stretch to start a career with the Oilers.
He’s exceeded expectations early on and is starting to look like the goalie that Oilers fans have been craving for years. His stellar play has also caught the attention of one of Hollywood’s most famous actors.
Levi told Sportsnet’s Kyle Bukauskas after the game that one of his on-ice superstitions of pressing his bare hand on the ice was actually inspired by a scene in Gladiator, where Maximus grabs at sand before a fight.
The actor who played Maximus, Russell Crowe, saw Levi’s explanation and gave him a shoutout on X.
“Strength and Honour, young man. Devon Levi from the Edmonton Oilers,” Crowe posted on Sunday morning.
Strength and Honour young man. Devon Levi from the Edmonton Oilers. pic.twitter.com/FAxgQrIqrw
— Russell Crowe (@russellcrowe) November 15, 2026
That gladiator mindset seems to have paid off for Levi, who has quickly established himself as a legitimate NHL goaltender this season. His strong play and calm demeanour have also made him an early fan-favourite among the Edmonton faithful.
Levi’s explanation of the ritual, beyond the Gladiator inspiration, is fairly interesting.
“Just a little ritual to connect with the ice,” Levi said. “Just something that I just started doing at the beginning of the year, and I enjoy it. Kinda locks me in, like feeling the cold.”
Apart from his superstition of holding his hand to the ice, Levi has also been seen meditating on his knees between whistles to reset his mind and focus on the task at hand.
It’s well-known just how weird hockey goalies can be, but you can’t argue with the results Levi has put up while sticking to these odd rituals.