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 (1996-01-17) January 17, 1996 (age 28)
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

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Junior

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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

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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

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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 next season, as he signed with Finnish team, KalPa from Kuopio.

References

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  1. ^ a b "Amerks sign Lekkas to professional tryout". Rochester Americans. March 17, 2021. Retrieved May 5, 2021.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ Siegel, Austin (July 17, 2019). "Elburn-native Stefanos Lekkas looks to impress hometown club". NHL.com. Retrieved May 5, 2021.
  4. ^ Prince, Justin (June 26, 2020). "Lekkas eager to get back with Komets". WFFT-TV. Retrieved May 5, 2021.
  5. ^ Marini, Glenn (March 15, 2021). "Komets goalie Lekkas loaned to AHL's Rochester Americans". WANE-TV. Retrieved May 5, 2021.
  6. ^ Marini, Glenn (May 5, 2021). "Komets goalie Lekkas signs one-year contract with NHL's Sabres". WANE-TV.
  7. ^ "Komets add three players". ECHL. July 29, 2021. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
  8. ^ "MARINERS TRADE FOR GOALTENDER STEFANOS LEKKAS" (Press release). Maine Mariners. March 3, 2022.
  9. ^ "Lekkas joins Chicago Wolves" (Press release). Maine Mariners. May 6, 2022.
  10. ^ "Odense picks up American goalkeeper" (in Danish). Odense Bulldogs. June 16, 2022. Retrieved June 16, 2022.
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