Stefanos Lekkas (born January 17, 1996) is an American professional ice hockeygoaltender who is currently playing with KalPa in the Finnish top-tier ice hockey league, Liiga.
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 next season, as he signed with Finnish team, KalPa from Kuopio.
