Nicky Leivermann was put in about as difficult a spot possible for a hockey player. The ECHL defenseman played only three games in the AHL this season and last played a hockey game in general on April 13 with the South Carolina Stingrays.
Sixty-eight days later, after spending the last two months-plus as a practice player, Leivermann was thrust into the Hershey Bears’ lineup to make his AHL postseason debut in one of the most crucial games of Hershey’s season. Down 2-1 in the 2024 Calder Cup Finals, Bears head coach Todd Nelson inserted Leivermann into his lineup with three of the team’s best defenders out due to injury to try and, in his words, “fight fire with fire” against a quick strike Coachella Valley Firebirds team.
Nelson didn’t protect the black ace either; he threw him on the first pairing with team captain Dylan McIlrath.
Projected lineup for Game 4! 📝
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Not only did Leivermann play well — he created several chances with nice breakout passes from the defensive zone — but he also finished the game with a plus-minus of 0. He wasn’t on the ice for an opposing goal, stopping the Bears’ bleeding defensively at five-on-five.
After the game, Leivermann was awarded the Bear Head for player of the game by alternate captain Mike Vecchione.
“Sheppy hell of a job,” Vecchione began giving props to Hunter Shepard in goal. “Line 1 got us going on all three goals, but Leivo stepping in”
One of the loudest cheers in the Bears’ locker room filled the air.
“Alright boys, Sheppy, hell of a battle in the third,” Leivermann said. “That was unbelievable. Two more, eh? Let’s go!”
He then did the ROAR celebration.
“He did a great job,” Nelson said postgame. “He’s a guy that can skate well, move the puck really well. For not playing a couple months — two and a half months — he stepped in in a very tough situation and had a very strong game for us.”
Not only did Leivermann have to come in and play well during a huge game, but Nelson also adjusted the team’s system to “get [the players] excited for the game.”
“He was asking some questions about our systems that he wasn’t quite familiar with that we gave him in a quick easy answer,” Ethen Frank said. “He seems pretty confident in his game. He’s been working hard with the other guys that are staying ready to play. He deserves it. He’s a great player and he added some new dynamic to our game tonight.”
A Colorado Avalanche seventh-round pick in the 2017 NHL Draft, Leivermann led all South Carolina Stingrays defensemen with 10 goals and ranked third in points with 34 during the 2023-24 season. Leivermann jumped into the action with Aaron Ness, Lucas Johansen, and Vincent Iorio out due to injuries.
“Not a lot of nerves, it’s just a hockey game,” Leivermann said at first intermission to FOX43’s Todd Sadowski.
