In all walks of life the time usually comes where a person figures out that the next chapter of their life needs to be opened, while turning the page on the story that they’ve already written. In the case of Kevin Leveille, that time has come and he couldn’t be more at peace with his decision. Leveille has officially announced his retirement from professional lacrosse, as he awaits the birth of his first child and looks to his future off the field.
Leveille, the captain of the Rochester Rattlers for the past couple of seasons, is one of the sports’ and Major League Lacrosse’s best and most respected talents. He is widely considered the greatest finisher in the game, and leaves the sport in second place for all-time career goals. Leveille was the first to surpass the milestone this season, but was eventually upended by MLL’s championship MVP and future Hall of Famer John Grant Jr.
When asked to comment on Leveille and his leadership ability, Head Coach Tim Soudan said “He has very good communication skills and does a great job motivating his teammates. He’s also been a great role model for the game of lacrosse with his talent and his humble nature. He represents the game, the team and his family very well.
Having one of the best seasons of his career in 2014, he led the upstart Rattlers to their first post season since 2008, making it to the title game (losing 12-11 to Denver) in Atlanta on August 23rd. When commenting on Leveille as a player and what has made him so successful, Soudan continued “he knows what is important about the dynamics of a team and worked very hard to help cultivate the culture of our locker room. He’s like having another coach out on the field and is always playing full speed with great hustle and an unbelievable set of hands.”
He is revered within the game, and hopes to maintain his presence one way or another in the sport. “His work ethic and passion for the game after 11 years continued to grow stronger, and he will leave behind a legacy and traditions with this team that will last for many years to come” Soudan concluded.
As the game itself moves forward and continues to grow, Leveille can be proud that he made an impact that made a difference. His calm and laid back demeanor garners admiration, and his intensity on the field demands respect. Game officials, opposing players and owners, fans and teammates have all alluded to how much they like and appreciate what Kevin brought to the game.
“If every athlete in every sport presented and handled themselves the way Kevin Leveille always has, the sporting world would be an even more wonderful place” Rattlers COO Brad Ford said. “Maybe one of, if not the classiest guys I’ve ever met in my life. He deserves to walk away from a sport he impacted so positively knowing that he made so many around him that much better.”
