USHL Spotlight | Levshunov's 4,771 Miles
USHL Spotlight | Artyom Levshunov
4,771 miles. That’s the distance between
Artyom Levshunov’s hometown in Belarus, Zhlobin, and Green Bay, Wis.
A defenseman for the Green Bay Gamblers in the United States Hockey League, Levshunov made the trek to America’s Dairyland last summer in the hopes of making the next step in his hockey journey. He had tallied 25 goals and had 38 assists for 63 points in 46 games playing for Belarus Vysshaya at the U18 level and had played internationally for Belarus at the U20 D1A world championship over the course of the 2021-22 campaign. The decision as to what was next for his development was an important decision.
“I talked with my agents before coming over and they thought at this point in my development for this season it was a good idea to play in the USHL and I ended up in Green Bay,” said Levshunov. “Yes, it’s far from home, but I talk with my parents almost every day and I’m following my dream. Like a lot of hockey players.”
A case could be made that Levshunov is not “like a lot of hockey players.”
A connection between Levshunov’s representatives and the Gamblers proved to be an important part of the process with Green Bay selecting Levshunov in the USHL 111th overall pick in the 2022 USHL Phase II Draft.
“We saw him on video,” said Green Bay head coach and general manager
Mike Leone, who’s in his first season with the Gamblers after coaching at the junior, collegiate and professional levels as he was an assistant at NTDP U17 (2019-2022), Bowling Green State University (2018-19) as well as with the ECHL’s Quad City Mallards (2017-18). “And it was a long process to get him here as we were working on his visa. But once he got here for our camp, it didn’t take long, the first couple skates, where as a staff it appeared we were gifted an elite player.”
Although not eligible for the National Hockey League Draft until 2024, Levshunov was already on the radar of pro scouts and during the 2022-23 season in the USHL he’s been turning heads in his first season in North America. Blessed with good size with a 6-2, 200-lb.- frame, the righthanded-shooting defenseman has been described as a good skater who’s strong and physical.
“Out of all the players I’ve coached, he’s the most gifted player I’ve ever been around,” said Leone. “He’s your modern day defenseman. He’s big, can skate and plays in all situations. He’s only 17 and still growing, so he’s going to get even better.”
A two-time USHL Defenseman of the Week this year, Levshunov ranks as the top-scoring rookie blue liner in the league with 12 goals and 29 assists for 41 points in 59 games.
“He didn’t speak the language and when he came to training camp, outside of hockey, all he wanted to do was go fishing,” said Leone. “But he’s a typical teenager that loves Panda Express. It’s been impressive to do what he’s doing, taking a chance with us and not really being all that familiar with the USHL. But he’s been a big part of our success. He works really hard, has good mobility and strength. He’s really a special player.”
It was first it was hard,” said Levshunov, who mentioned that another Gambler’s player who speaks Russian, Kiev, Ukraine native
Mykailo Danylov, has helped him adapt with some of the language barriers. “Communicating was something that was hard at first and now it’s o.k. My coaches and teammates here have really been helpful and, for me, I’m at the point where I’m really focusing on hockey.”
And as for his progression and the team’s progression as the season has gone along, he mentions that it’s been more than an individual mind-set. “I think the coaches trust me on the power play (he’s scored six power goals) and I like to play for the team. I’m a team player and I’m competitive like everyone and we like to win.”
The Gamblers, who are tied for fourth in the Eastern Conference have qualified for the USHL Clark Cup play-offs for the first time since 2018. And Levshunov has played a big part in his team’s success.
“I think we want to win every game,” said Levshunov. “That’s it. There’re good people here and we want to win.”
And for Leshunov, maybe nearly 5,000 miles isn’t that far to go when you’re chasing your dreams.
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