Stefanos Lekkas (born January 17, 1996) is an American professional ice hockey goaltender who is currently playing with KalPa in the Finnish top-tier ice hockey league, Liiga.
| Stefanos Lekkas | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Born |
January 17, 1996 Elburn, Illinois, U.S. | ||
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (183 cm) | ||
| Weight | 180 lb (82 kg; 12 st 12 lb) | ||
| Position | Goaltender | ||
| Shoots | Left | ||
| Liiga team Former teams |
KalPa Rochester Americans | ||
| NHL draft | Undrafted | ||
| Playing career | 2020–present | ||
Playing career
editJunior
editLekkas 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
editLekkas 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
editAfter 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 next season, as he signed with Finnish team, KalPa from Kuopio.
References
edit- ^ a b "Amerks sign Lekkas to professional tryout". Rochester Americans. March 17, 2021. Retrieved May 5, 2021.
- ^ Martinez, Angelique (March 17, 2021). "Former UVM men's hockey goaltender Stefanos Lekkas signs with AHL's Rochester Americans". MyChamplainValley.com. Retrieved May 5, 2021.
- ^ Siegel, Austin (July 17, 2019). "Elburn-native Stefanos Lekkas looks to impress hometown club". NHL.com. Retrieved May 5, 2021.
- ^ Prince, Justin (June 26, 2020). "Lekkas eager to get back with Komets". WFFT-TV. Retrieved May 5, 2021.
- ^ Marini, Glenn (March 15, 2021). "Komets goalie Lekkas loaned to AHL's Rochester Americans". WANE-TV. Retrieved May 5, 2021.
- ^ Marini, Glenn (May 5, 2021). "Komets goalie Lekkas signs one-year contract with NHL's Sabres". WANE-TV.
- ^ "Komets add three players". ECHL. July 29, 2021. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
- ^ "MARINERS TRADE FOR GOALTENDER STEFANOS LEKKAS" (Press release). Maine Mariners. March 3, 2022.
- ^ "Lekkas joins Chicago Wolves" (Press release). Maine Mariners. May 6, 2022.
- ^ "Odense picks up American goalkeeper" (in Danish). Odense Bulldogs. June 16, 2022. Retrieved June 16, 2022.
External links
edit- Biographical information and career statistics from Eliteprospects.com, or The Internet Hockey Database