Jeff Lerg

Jeff Lerg (born April 9, 1986) is an American former professional ice hockey goaltender who played in the North American minor league, most notably for the Toledo Walleye of the ECHL, and Europe.

Jeff Lerg
Born (1986-04-09) April 9, 1986
Livonia, Michigan, United States
Height 5 ft 6 in (168 cm)
Weight 163 lb (74 kg; 11 st 9 lb)
Position Goaltender
Caught Left
Played for Toledo Walleye
HC Asiago
Ours de Villard-de-Lans
San Diego Gulls
Rungsted Seier Capital
Rapaces de Gap
River City Lancers
Omaha Lancers
Michigan State University
Trenton Devils
NHL Draft Undrafted
Playing career 2009–2019

Playing career

Prior to his college hockey career, Lerg played for the Omaha Lancers of the USHL. He led the league in shutouts, GAA, wins, minutes played and ranked second in save percentage. Lerg broke the USHL record for wins in a season with 36 in helping lead Omaha to a share of the regular-season title. Lerg joined the Michigan State Spartans in 2005 and was named CCHA Rookie of the Year for his outstanding performance as a freshman. He was a member of Michigan State's 2007 NCAA Championship team where he held a 1.25 GAA and .954 save percentage in the tournament. In 2008, he was selected as a finalist for the James E. Sullivan Award, given to the top amateur athlete in the United States each year.[1]

He led the Michigan State Spartans as captain during the 2008–09 season, in which he broke the CCHA saves record and placed second on the NCAA all-time saves list on Senior night at the Munn.[2]

On July 31, 2009, Lerg signed with the Lowell Devils of the American Hockey League.[3] After two injury hampered seasons within the Lowell Devils, playing primarily for ECHL affiliate. the Trenton Titans, Lerg spent a season with HC Asiago of the Serie A. During the 2011–12 season, Lerg played in 24 games with HC Asiago and held a 2.64 GAA and a .921 save percentage.

On April 23, 2012, Lerg signed with Ours de Villard-de-Lans of the Ligue Magnus. After two successful seasons with Villard, Lerg returned to North America and signed a one-year contract with the Toledo Walleye of the ECHL on July 16, 2014.[4]

On November 20, 2014, Lerg was signed to a Professional Try Out by the Grand Rapids Griffins.[5] Following the game on November 21, the Griffins released Lerg from his professional try out.[6] On March 9, 2015, Lerg was signed to a second professional try out by the Griffins.[7]

Lerg was named the ECHL Goaltender of the Month for the month of November. He went 7–0–1, with one shutout, a 2.65 GAA and a .922 save percentage in eight appearances during the month as the Walleye went 10–2–1 in November. Lerg allowed two goals or less in four of his eight appearances.[8]

Lerg was named the CCM ECHL goaltender of the week for the week ending March 22. Lerg went 3–0–0 with one shutout, a 0.65 GAA and a .975 save percentage in three appearances last week, helping the Walleye extend their unbeaten streak to eight games (7–0–1).[9] Lerg set a Walleye franchise record for the most wins in one season, with 31 wins, and most shutouts in one season, with four shutouts. His 31 wins is tied for first in the league, while he ranks second with a 2.32 GAA, and third with a .921 save percentage.[10]

On December 28, 2015, Lerg was signed to a professional try-out by the Grand Rapids Griffins. Lerg played in 17 games with the Toledo Walleye, ranking eighth among ECHL goaltenders with a 2.01 GAA to go along with a 12–3–0 record, a 0.929 save percentage and one shutout.[11]

On July 21, 2016, Lerg opted to return overseas, signing a one-year deal as a free agent with Danish club, Rungsted Seier Capital, of the Metal Ligaen.[12] After 23 games and unable to guide Capital to the post-season, Lerg returned to rejoin the Toledo Walleye on January 28, 2017.

After another season in the Ligue Magnus with Rapaces de Gap, Lerg returned for one more stint with the Toledo Walleye of the ECHL at the tail end of the 2018–19 season as an emergency goaltender. In the penultimate game of the regular season, Lerg made his lone and last appearance in a 6-3 defeat to the Brampton Beast on April 6, 2019, finishing as the Walleye's All-time leader with 92 appearances.[13]

Personal life

Lerg is the cousin of Bryan Lerg. They were teammates at Michigan State University from 2005–06 to 2007–08.

Career statistics
Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP W L T/OT MIN GA SO GAA SV% GP W L MIN GA SO GAA SV%
2003–04 River City Lancers USHL 35245219637242.20.917 3 0 2 183 0 7 2.29 .929
2004–05 Omaha Lancers USHL 5236114310511262.16.916 5 2 3 298 1 10 2.01 .931
2005–06 Michigan State University CCHA 31176618406031.96.928 — — — — — — — —
2006–07 Michigan State University CCHA 422613324659932.41.913 — — — — — — — —
2007–08 Michigan State University CCHA 412412524649142.22.926 — — — — — — — —
2008–09 Michigan State University CCHA 32920319219422.94.917 — — — — — — — —
2009–10 Trenton Devils ECHL 21101201105.50.810 — — — — — — — —
2010–11 Trenton Devils ECHL 271212115458103.15.903 — — — — — — — —
2011–12 HC Asiago ITL 241311014756532.64.921 3 0 3 139 0 12 5.16 .844
2012–13 Ours de Villard-de-Lans FRA 251211115050873.47.912 4 1 3 242 14 0 3.47 .929
2013–14 Ours de Villard-de-Lans FRA 261311215490863.33.910 8 4 4 505 28 0 3.32 .907
2014–15 Toledo Walleye ECHL 453293263510442.37.920 15 7 8 956 35 0 2.20 .924
2015–16 Toledo Walleye ECHL 422811325149132.17.925 5 1 3 256 13 0 3.05 .902
2015–16 San Diego Gulls AHL 100025000.001.000 — — — — — — — —
2016–17 Rungsted Seier Capital DEN 23——————2.59.903 — — — — — — — —
2016–17 Toledo Walleye ECHL 53113001703.40.890 10 6 4 565 24 1 2.55 .913
2017–18 Rapaces de Gap FRA 3825112227310412.75.902 4 — — — — — 3.61 .861
2018–19 Toledo Walleye ECHL 101060606.00.854 — — — — — — — —
ECHL totals 12176348711430472.56.915 30 14 15 1777 72 1 2.43 .917

Awards and honors
Award Year
USHL Dave Tyler Junior Player of the Year Award 2005 [14]
USHL Goaltender of the Year 2005
USA Hockey Junior Player of the Year 2005
All-CCHA Rookie Team 2005–06
CCHA Rookie of the Year 2005–06
CCHA All-Tournament Team 2006 [15]
CCHA Most Valuable Player in Tournament 2006
All-NCAA All-Tournament Team 2007 [16]
USA Hockey College Player of the Year 2007 [17]
All-CCHA First Team 2007–08 [18]
AHCA West Second-Team All-American 2007–08
All-CCHA Second Team 2008–09 [18]
Senior CLASS Award 2009
NCAA Top VIII Award 2010 [19]
Ligue Magnus Jean Ferrand Trophy 2014
All-ECHL Second Team 2014–15 [10]
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References
  1. Vega, Michael (April 7, 2007). "Lerg is a breath of fresh air for Spartans". Boston.com. Retrieved February 3, 2010.
  2. "Spartans swept, Lerg sets CCHA saves record". statenews.com. March 20, 2009. Retrieved April 5, 2012.
  3. "Jeff Lerg player profile". The Hockey News. May 18, 2011. Retrieved May 18, 2011.
  4. "Jeff Lerg Returns To ECHL, Signs With Toledo". mes-tv.com. July 16, 2014. Retrieved July 16, 2014.
  5. "Roster Shake-Up". Grand Rapids Griffins. November 20, 2014. Retrieved November 20, 2014.
  6. "Monsters Complete Comeback". Grand Rapids Griffins. November 21, 2014. Retrieved November 21, 2014.
  7. "Four Shifts". Grand Rapids Griffins. March 9, 2015. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
  8. "Lerg named ECHL Goaltender of the Month". ECHL. December 3, 2014. Retrieved December 3, 2014.
  9. "Lerg named CCM ECHL Goaltender of the Week". ECHL. March 24, 2015. Retrieved March 24, 2015.
  10. "Jeff Lerg and Tyler Barnes earn ECHL honors". Toledo Walleye. April 10, 2015. Retrieved April 10, 2015.
  11. "Time to Tango". Toledo Walleye. December 28, 2015. Retrieved December 28, 2015.
  12. "American Jeff Lerg to Rungsted" (in Danish). RungstedSeierCapital.com. 2016-07-21. Retrieved 2016-07-21.
  13. "Despite return of Lerg, Walleye fall in last regular season home game". ToledoBlade.com. April 7, 2019. Retrieved April 7, 2019.
  14. "USHL award winners announced". United States Hockey League. May 1, 2005. Archived from the original on August 7, 2011. Retrieved May 6, 2012.
  15. "2012–13 CCHA Media Guide". ISSUU.com. Retrieved April 23, 2014.
  16. "NCAA Frozen Four Records" (PDF). NCAA.org. Retrieved June 19, 2013.
  17. "Lerg, Petry Honored by USA Hockey". Michigan State Spartans. May 30, 2007. Retrieved May 2, 2012.
  18. "All-CCHA Teams". College Hockey Historical Archives. Retrieved July 27, 2013.
  19. "Lerg Named NCAA Award Winner". Michigan State Spartans. December 18, 2009. Retrieved December 18, 2009.
Awards and achievements
Preceded by
Bill Thomas		 CCHA Rookie of the Year
2005–06		 Succeeded by
Mark Letestu
Preceded by
Jeff Tambellini		 CCHA Most Valuable Player in Tournament
2006		 Succeeded by
David Brown
Preceded by
Jeff Jakaitis		 Perani Cup Champion
2006–07		 Succeeded by
Kevin Porter
Preceded by
Michael Eickman		 CCHA Scholar-Athlete of the Year
2007–08		 Succeeded by
Jordan Pearce
Preceded by
Justin Abdelkader		 Ilitch Humanitarian Award
2008–09
Shared With
Jerad Kaufmann		 Succeeded by
Dion Knelsen
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