| Stefanos Lekkas | |
|---|---|
| Born | January 17, 1996, Elburn, Illinois, U.S. |
| Height Weight |
6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 180 lb (82 kg; 12 st 12 lb) |
| Position | Goaltender |
| Shoots | Left |
| Liiga team F. teams |
KalPa Rochester Americans |
| NHL Draft | Undrafted |
| Playing career | 2020–present |
Stefanos Lekkas (born January 17, 1996) is an American professional ice hockey goaltender who is currently playing with KalPa in Finnish top-tier ice hockey league Liiga.
Playing career[]
Junior[]
Lekkas played for the Springfield Jr. Blues of the NAHL and the Sioux Falls Stampede of the USHL. He helped lead the Stampede to a Clark Cup championship in the 2014–15 season.[1]
College[]
Lekkas played four seasons for the University of Vermont. He played 134 games for the Catamounts and set a Hockey East record for the most career saves (3,913). He also left as the Catamounts' all-time leader in save percentage (.918).[2]
Professional[]
After his junior season at Vermont, Lekkas was invited to development camps by the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks and Florida Panthers but was not signed.[3] Instead, he returned to college, and signed with the Fort Wayne Komets of the ECHL after his senior season.[4]
He was loaned to the Rochester Americans of the AHL on March 15, 2021.[5] The team signed him to a professional tryout contract two days later.[1] Lekkas was signed to a one-year contract by the NHL's Buffalo Sabres on May 5, 2021.[6]
After he was not tendered a qualifying offer by the Sabres to retain his rights, Lekkas returned his ECHL club, the Fort Wayne Komets, agreeing to a one-year contract on July 29, 2021.[7] Lekkas was later released and bounced around between the Orlando Solar Bears and Wheeling Nailers, before being traded to the Maine Mariners.[8] After helping the Mariners reach their first postseason appearance in franchise history, Maine loaned him to the Chicago Wolves of the AHL for the 2022 Calder Cup playoffs.[9]
On June 16, 2022, Lekkas as a free agent opted to pursue a European career in agreeing to a one-year contract with Danish club, Odense Bulldogs of the Metal Ligaen.[10]
His European career continued in the next season, as he signed with Finnish team KalPa.
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Amerks sign Lekkas to professional tryout (March 17, 2021).
- ↑ Martinez, Angelique (March 17, 2021). Former UVM men's hockey goaltender Stefanos Lekkas signs with AHL's Rochester Americans.
- ↑ Siegel, Austin (July 17, 2019). Elburn-native Stefanos Lekkas looks to impress hometown club.
- ↑ Prince, Justin (June 26, 2020). Lekkas eager to get back with Komets.
- ↑ Marini, Glenn (March 15, 2021). Komets goalie Lekkas loaned to AHL's Rochester Americans.
- ↑ Marini, Glenn (May 5, 2021). Komets goalie Lekkas signs one-year contract with NHL's Sabres.
- ↑ Komets add three players. ECHL (July 29, 2021).
- ↑ Maine Mariners (March 3, 2022). MARINERS TRADE FOR GOALTENDER STEFANOS LEKKAS. Press release.
- ↑ Maine Mariners (May 6, 2022). Lekkas joins Chicago Wolves. Press release.
- ↑ Odense picks up American goalkeeper (Danish). Odense Bulldogs (June 16, 2022). Retrieved on June 16, 2022.
External links[]
- Career statistics and player information from Eliteprospects.com, or The Internet Hockey Database