Features
Canada’s National Junior men’s team’s Jewish goalie: Devon Levi
By BERNIE BELLAN
If Harvey Rosen were still writing for us, I’m sure here is how he would have introduced the following story:
“Readers of this newspaper might be surprised to learn that the stellar goalkeeper for Canada’s National Junior hockey team is a member of the Hebraic persuasion!”
Now, while I might have wondered until now whether that was true or not, it wasn’t until I received an email from reader Debbie Maslowsky that I was able to confirm that Devon Levi is, in fact, a “Member of the Tribe”.
Here’s what Debbie wrote in an email on Dec. 29:
“Just wanted to forward this to you. Devon Levi is the goalie for Team Canada juniors and his talents are creating quite a stir.
“His mother is my first cousin (my mother and her father are brother and sister; her father is 90 or 91 and they live in Montreal).
“I laughed when I talked to a friend in Toronto whose husband said ‘hey, the goalie for Team Canada is Jewish!’…. and I said ‘and MY cousin’! “
Debbie was good enough to attach an article written by someone named David Lisbona for a website titled “The Sports Rabbi”, which is run by someone named Joshua Halickman. According to his website, Halickman “has been covering Israeli sports since 2004. The Sports Rabbi has gone to over 4,000 live sporting events in 25+ countries”.
Now, it’s not clear how Devon Levi’s story fits on to a website covering Israeli sports, but hey, who am I to quibble with what constitutes an Israeli sports story?
Anyway, in his story about Devon Levi, David Lisbona wrote the following:
Devon Levi’s “rise has been nothing short of astonishing. He was not invited to Canada’s junior camp yet his play as MVP at the World Junior A Challenge last year prompted Team Canada’s brass to take another look. Prior to that, Levi toiled in Midget AAA for the Lac St-Louis Lions, the team that represents much of English Montreal.
Devon Levi attended Hebrew Foundation School followed by West Island College where he graduated as valedictorian in 2019. He is now studying and would like to eventually tend goal at Northeastern if Covid-19 will ever oblige. He was drafted by the Florida Panthers with the 212th selection in 7th round.
Now, I am not suggesting that Devon Levi sat defiantly at the front of a bus or that he helped end racial segregation in a movie theatre in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia, but the significance of his achievement cannot be diminished as this was a major glass ceiling that has now been shattered, akin to that of Canadian Prime Minister, we continue to wait on that one. His rise to the top of Canadian Junior hockey will make it easier for others like him.
I hope Devon is eligible to play in the postponed 2022 Maccabiah Games, however, the irony is that he may be too good, his contractual obligations and an unwillingness for anyone to insure him may prevent him from guarding the Canadian net at next year’s Jewish Olympics.
In a year that has been fraught with unexpected surprises, it is refreshing to see Quebec’s most notable contribution to the Canadian National Junior Team as a Jewish kid from the West Island. The fact that it is a position that requires a head covering makes the irony that much more scrumptious. So as Canada gets back to what it does best around the birth of that most famous of Jews this Christmas, the Canadian Jewish community will sit up taller and bask in the glory that their goal is being tended by a native son. Diehard fans forever, hockey is etched in the lore of a Canadian Jewish life, heck even Montreal Passover seders are synonymous with playoff hockey. The only cup more coveted than that of Elijah belongs to Stanley. Devon Levi is proof that we can play the game too.
Levi may have a storied Hall of Fame NHL career or he may never play one game, but he has already achieved greatness and a place in this community’s story or at the very least a notation in the next edition of famous Canadian Jews.
As of the time of writing, Devon Levi has appeared in six games for Canada – all wins, with a Goals Against Average of .53, a save percentage of 97.46 and three shutouts.
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Volatility, Hit Frequency, and RTP: Why the Number Casinos Advertise Is the Least Useful One
The return to player percentage looks clean as a casino data point. It gives players a neat number, usually around 94% to 97% for many online slots, and that number feels easy to compare. A 96.5% game appears better than a 95.2% game. The problem starts when players treat RTP as a forecast for their next 50 spins or one evening.
You may find the RTP listed on slot pages on a leading online casino in Ontario, but the number only tells part of the story. Two games can share the same RTP and create different sessions: one may return small wins often, while the other may drain a balance before one bonus round changes everything.
The RTP Trap
Return to player (RTP) measures the theoretical share of total wagers a game returns across a very large number of rounds. In plain terms, a 96% RTP slot returns about $96 for every $100 wagered in the long run. That does not mean one player who deposits $100 should expect $96 back.
The trap sits in the word “theoretical.” RTP comes from the game’s math model. It works across huge samples, not personal sessions. A player can finish far above that percentage, far below it, or with nothing left after a short run of poor results.
Is it useless then? No, RTP can still help. It gives a baseline cost of play. Lower-RTP games cost more on average than higher-RTP games. Still, once a game passes a reasonable threshold, the next question matters more: how does it distribute that return?
Hit Frequency: The Number That Shapes Session Feel
Hit frequency tells you how often a game produces a winning outcome. This often misleads players because any win can count. A spin that returns $0.10 on a $1 bet may still count as a hit, even though the player lost $0.90 in real terms.
A game can feel active because symbols connect often, sounds play, and the screen keeps celebrating small returns. The balance may still fall. In many modern slots, “win” does not always mean profit on the spin.
Hit frequency answers one practical question: how much silence can you tolerate? Some players dislike long dry spells. Others accept quieter sessions because they chase bonus rounds or larger payouts.
The educational site Get Gambling Facts gives a useful distinction: RTP concerns the percentage of money returned over time, while hit frequency concerns how often a machine stops on a winning combination.
Volatility: The Risk Label Players Need More Often
Volatility, also called variance, describes how unevenly a game pays. Low-volatility games tend to return smaller amounts more often. High-volatility games hold more value in rare events: bonus rounds, premium symbols, multipliers, or jackpots.
Here is where RTP becomes less useful on its own:
- A 96% low-volatility slot may give modest returns and longer play from the same balance.
- A 96% high-volatility slot may burn through funds quickly unless the player hits a strong feature.
- A progressive jackpot game may look exciting, but it often places more value on rare top prizes.
The same RTP can hide very different risk profiles. Players who ignore volatility often blame the casino or the game when the session follows its math design.
Why the Same RTP Can Feel So Different
Picture two slots with 96% RTP. Slot A pays small wins on many spins, has a modest top prize, and rarely creates dramatic balance swings. Slot B pays less often but offers a large max win and volatile bonus rounds. The advertised return matches, but the experience does not.
Slot A may suit a player who wants a slower bankroll drop and more regular feedback. Slot B suits someone who accepts sharper losses in exchange for a shot at a heavier payout.
A Better Way to Read a Slot Page
Most slot pages give players more clues than they notice. The trick is to read the details together rather than chase the highest percentage.
Start with RTP. If two games look similar, the higher number has better long-term value. Then check volatility. If the game uses terms such as high, very high, or extreme variance, lower your bet size or expect shorter sessions. Next, look at the paytable. A huge max win usually means the game saves a lot of its value for rare outcomes.
A sensible pre-play check looks like this:
- RTP: What is the average long-term return?
- Volatility: How rough can the session become?
- Hit frequency: How often will the game show any wins?
- Paytable: Where does most value sit?
To Conclude
Casinos advertise RTP because it looks objective, tidy, and easy to rank. Players should read it, but they should not give it more authority than it deserves. For long sessions, volatility may matter more than a small RTP difference. For comfort, hit frequency may explain the feel better than the payback rate.
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Features
The Popularity of Simpler Slot Games in 2026: Review From Casino Online CrazyTower Experts
Online casinos now fill their libraries with numerous video slots that have dozens of functions, long bonus rounds, complex mechanics, and so on. Interestingly, despite this huge range of modern options, many Canadian visitors at sites like Casino Online CrazyTower here https://crazytower.com/ca/ no longer want complicated gameplay that requires constant attention and long explanations.
Simpler slots now attract a wider audience because they save time and create faster sessions. So, let’s figure out why this change happened and reasons for the popularity of simpler machines.
Why Many Players Are Returning to Basic Gameplay
Modern websites like Casino Online CrazyTower pushed complex video slots for years, but many people now prefer classic formats again. Simple gameplay has fewer interruptions and is simpler in terms of budgeting, which is important when you gamble for fun.
These are a few potential reasons explain why simpler slots became popular again in 2026:
- Faster rounds. Symbols appear quickly, and rounds continue without long animations or extended bonus sequences.
- Easier controls. Most classic slots have simple menus and familiar layouts that don’t confuse new visitors.
- Smaller feature lists. Simple slots usually have standard wilds, scatters, and multipliers instead of dozens of random mechanics.
- Better session flow. People spend more time on gameplay instead of reading explanations about symbols and special functions.
- Lower visual pressure. Simpler slots use calmer designs and shorter effects that don’t overload attention.
Classic gameplay also suits mobile devices better because shorter rounds work well on smaller screens. Plus, many visitors now prefer games that start instantly and explain their mechanics within seconds.
Features That Make Simpler Slots Appealing
Simple machines at Casino Online CrazyTower and similar websites continue to attract attention because they have a high gameplay speed. Many classic titles also replicate older casino machines that people already know from physical casinos.
However, these aren’t the only factors that attract gamblers. So, check out this list:
- Short bonus rounds. Free spins and multipliers finish quickly instead of interrupting gameplay for several minutes.
- Common and standard paylines. Traditional layouts help people understand payouts without long explanations.
- Faster loading times. Simpler graphics reduce waiting time on phones, tablets, and older computers.
- Stable gameplay pace. Long cutscenes and constant pop-up notifications don’t interrupt the session.
- Traditional themes. Fruit symbols, bars, sevens, and classic casino designs still attract large audiences.
- Smaller menus. Important information appears immediately without complicated tabs or hidden sections.
Modern video slots often contain too many mechanics in a single game. Developers now combine expanding reels, random modifiers, mission systems, tournaments, and multiple bonus levels in one title. Many visitors lose interest because gameplay turns repetitive and overloaded with constant interruptions.
Compare this to a session when you get results immediately and aren’t interrupted. These still have free spins and even mini risk games, but not as loaded as innovative titles.
Conclusion
Simple slots usually create better replay value because people understand the mechanics immediately. Common and standard gameplay doesn’t cause frustration and allows faster decisions during casino sessions.
Many classic slots also function better during short breaks because rounds finish quickly without long bonus interruptions. That’s why simpler slots became popular again at many casinos, including Casino Online CrazyTower and such.
