Jeff Jakaitis

Jeff Jakaitis (born June 9, 1983) is an American professional ice hockey goaltender who is currently playing for the South Carolina Stingrays of the ECHL.

Career
Jakaitis played college hockey for the Lake Superior State Lakers in the CCHA (NCAA Division I). He was named to the All-CCHA First Team at the completion of the 2005–06 season and to the All-CCHA Second team at the completion of the 2006-07.

Jakaitis began his professional career in the 2007–08 season with the Columbia Inferno of the ECHL. He played in 36 games in his first pro season posting a 2.92 GAA and .909 save percentage. For the 2008–09 season Jakaitis signed with the Charlotte Checkers and played 47 ECHL games that year along with 1 American Hockey League game for the Portland Pirates.

Jakaitis relocated to Italy to play with HC Pustertal Wölfe of the Elite.A (at the time called Serie A). While with the Italian club he played in 39 games.

After one season in Italy Jakaitis returned to North America by signing with the Dayton Gems of the Central Hockey League for the 2010–11 season playing 42 games with that club and played in the 2011 Central Hockey League All-Star Game. During this season he earned tryouts with the Worcester Sharks and the Portland Pirates but was unsuccessful on both occasions.

For the 2011-12 season he signed with the Rochester Americans but did not play for them during that season as he was reassigned to play with the Gwinnett Gladiators of the ECHL, he played in 26 ECHL games and won the ECHL Goaltender of the Year award for his play.

In 2012-13 Jakaitis started out without a team, but was signed briefly by the Gladiators as an emergency backup before being signed by the South Carolina Stingrays on December 11, 2012. He was signed to a professional tryout contract by the Houston Aeros of the AHL but was returned to the Stingrays the next day without playing a game for the team.

On September 13, 2013 the Stingrays resigned Jakaitis.