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Jeff Lerg

{{Short description|American ice hockey player (born 1986)}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}

{{Infobox ice hockey player

| caption =

| alt =

| name = Jeff Lerg

| image = {{CSS image crop| Image = Jeff Lerg.jpg|bSize = 500|cWidth = 200|cHeight = 450|oTop = 25|oLeft = 15|Location = center}}

| image_size = 230px

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1986|4|9|mf=y}}

| birth_place = Livonia, Michigan, U.S.

| height_ft = 5

| height_in = 6

| weight_lb = 163

| position = Goaltender

| catches = 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

| career_start = 2009

| career_end = 2019

| draft = Undrafted

}}

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 in Europe.

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.{{Cite news| last = Vega | first = Michael | url = http://www.boston.com/sports/colleges/mens_hockey/articles/2007/04/07/lerg_is_a_breath_of_fresh_air_for_spartans/ | title = Lerg is a breath of fresh air for Spartans | newspaper = Boston.com | date = April 7, 2007 | accessdate = February 3, 2010}}

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.{{cite web| url = http://statenews.com/index.php/article/2009/03/spartans_swept_lerg_sets_ccha_saves_record | title = Spartans swept, Lerg sets CCHA saves record | website = statenews.com | date = March 20, 2009 | accessdate = April 5, 2012}}

On July 31, 2009, Lerg signed with the Lowell Devils of the American Hockey League.{{cite magazine| url = http://forecaster.thehockeynews.com/hockeynews/hockey/player.cgi?7028 | title = Jeff Lerg player profile | magazine = The Hockey News | date = May 18, 2011 | accessdate = May 18, 2011}} 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.{{cite web| url = http://www.mes-tv.com/jeff-lerg-returns-to-echl-signs-with-toledo/ | title = Jeff Lerg Returns To ECHL, Signs With Toledo | website = mes-tv.com | date = July 16, 2014 | accessdate = July 16, 2014}}

On November 20, 2014, Lerg was signed to a Professional Try Out by the Grand Rapids Griffins.{{cite web| url = http://griffinshockey.com/news/releases/?article_id=2947 | title = Roster Shake-Up | publisher = Grand Rapids Griffins | date = November 20, 2014 | accessdate = November 20, 2014 }} Following the game on November 21, the Griffins released Lerg from his professional try out.{{cite web| url = http://griffinshockey.com/news/releases/?article_id=2948 | title = Monsters Complete Comeback | publisher = Grand Rapids Griffins | date = November 21, 2014 | accessdate = November 21, 2014 }} On March 9, 2015, Lerg was signed to a second professional try out by the Griffins.{{cite web| url = http://griffinshockey.com/news/releases/?article_id=3064 | title = Four Shifts | publisher = Grand Rapids Griffins | date = March 9, 2015 | accessdate = March 9, 2015 }}

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.{{cite web| url = http://www.toledowalleye.com/site/story/lerg-named-echl-goaltender-of-the-month | title = Lerg named ECHL Goaltender of the Month | publisher = ECHL | date = December 3, 2014 | accessdate = December 3, 2014 }}

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).{{cite web| url = http://www.echl.com/lerg-named-ccm-echl-goaltender-of-the-week-p196960 | title = Lerg named CCM ECHL Goaltender of the Week | publisher = ECHL | date = March 24, 2015 | accessdate = March 24, 2015 }} 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.{{cite web| url = http://www.toledowalleye.com/site/story/lerg-named-to-the-all-echl-second-team | title = Jeff Lerg and Tyler Barnes earn ECHL honors | publisher = Toledo Walleye | date = April 10, 2015 | accessdate = April 10, 2015 }}

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.{{cite web| url = http://griffinshockey.com/news/releases/?article_id=3263 | title = Time to Tango | publisher = Toledo Walleye | date = December 28, 2015 | accessdate = December 28, 2015 }}

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.{{cite web| url = http://rungsted.is/index.php/nyheder/31-spillernyheder/1239-amerikansk-spraellemand-i-rungsted-malet | title = American Jeff Lerg to Rungsted | publisher = RungstedSeierCapital.com | date = 2016-07-21 | accessdate = 2016-07-21 | language = Danish}} 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.{{cite web| url = https://www.toledoblade.com/sports/walleye/2019/04/06/despite-return-goalie-jeff-lerg-walleye-lose-brampton-beast/stories/20190406134 | title = Despite return of Lerg, Walleye fall in last regular season home game | publisher = ToledoBlade.com | date = April 7, 2019 | accessdate = April 7, 2019}}

Personal life

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

Career statistics

border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" style="text-align:center; width:75%"
ALIGN="center" bgcolor="#e0e0e0"

! align="center" colspan="3" bgcolor="#ffffff" |

! align="center" rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff" |

! align="center" colspan="9" bgcolor="#e0e0e0" | Regular season

! align="center" rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff" |

! align="center" colspan="8" bgcolor="#e0e0e0" | Playoffs

ALIGN="center" bgcolor="#e0e0e0"

! 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

| 35

245219637242.20.917

| 3

| 0

| 2

| 183

| 0

| 7

| 2.29

| .929

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2004–05

| Omaha Lancers

| USHL

| 52

36114310511262.16.916

| 5

| 2

| 3

| 298

| 1

| 10

| 2.01

| .931

2005–06

| Michigan State University

| CCHA

| 31

176618406031.96.928

| —

| —

| —

| —

| —

| —

| —

| —

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2006–07

| Michigan State University

| CCHA

| 42

2613324659932.41.913

| —

| —

| —

| —

| —

| —

| —

| —

2007–08

| Michigan State University

| CCHA

| 41

2412524649142.22.926

| —

| —

| —

| —

| —

| —

| —

| —

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2008–09

| Michigan State University

| CCHA

| 32

920319219422.94.917

| —

| —

| —

| —

| —

| —

| —

| —

2009–10

| Trenton Devils

| ECHL

| 2

1101201105.50.810

| —

| —

| —

| —

| —

| —

| —

| —

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2010–11

| Trenton Devils

| ECHL

| 27

1212115458103.15.903

| —

| —

| —

| —

| —

| —

| —

| —

2011–12

| HC Asiago

| ITL

| 24

1311014756532.64.921

| 3

| 0

| 3

| 139

| 0

| 12

| 5.16

| .844

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2012–13

| Ours de Villard-de-Lans

| FRA

| 25

1211115050873.47.912

| 4

| 1

| 3

| 242

| 14

| 0

| 3.47

| .929

2013–14

| Ours de Villard-de-Lans

| FRA

| 26

1311215490863.33.910

| 8

| 4

| 4

| 505

| 28

| 0

| 3.32

| .907

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2014–15

| Toledo Walleye

| ECHL

| 45

3293263510442.37.920

| 15

| 7

| 8

| 956

| 35

| 0

| 2.20

| .924

2015–16

| Toledo Walleye

| ECHL

| 42

2811325149132.17.925

| 5

| 1

| 3

| 256

| 13

| 0

| 3.05

| .902

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2015–16

| San Diego Gulls

| AHL

| 1

00025000.001.000

| —

| —

| —

| —

| —

| —

| —

| —

2016–17

| Rungsted Seier Capital

| DEN

| 23

——————2.59.903

| —

| —

| —

| —

| —

| —

| —

| —

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2016–17

| Toledo Walleye

| ECHL

| 5

3113001703.40.890

| 10

| 6

| 4

| 565

| 24

| 1

| 2.55

| .913

2017–18

| Rapaces de Gap

| FRA

| 38

25112227310412.75.902

| 4

| —

| —

| —

| —

| —

| 3.61

| .861

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2018–19

| Toledo Walleye

| ECHL

| 1

01060606.00.854

| —

| —

| —

| —

| —

| —

| —

| —

bgcolor="#e0e0e0"

! colspan="3" align="center" | ECHL totals

! 121 !! 76 !! 34 !! 8 !! 7114 !! 304 !! 7 !! 2.56 !! .915

! 30

! 14

! 15

! 1777

! 72

! 1

! 2.43

! .917

Awards and honors

class="wikitable"

! Award

! Year

!

USHL Dave Tyler Junior Player of the Year Award

| 2005

| {{cite web|url=http://www.ushl.com/news/story.cfm?id=3312 |title=USHL award winners announced |publisher=United States Hockey League |date=May 1, 2005 |accessdate=May 6, 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110807025238/http://www.ushl.com/news/story.cfm?id=3312 |archivedate=August 7, 2011 }}

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

| {{cite news|title=2012–13 CCHA Media Guide|url=http://issuu.com/cchahockey/docs/2012-13_ccha_media_guide_final_2a_compressed#|publisher=ISSUU.com|accessdate=April 23, 2014}}

CCHA Most Valuable Player in Tournament

| 2006

|

All-NCAA All-Tournament Team

| 2007

| {{cite news|title=NCAA Frozen Four Records|url=http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/frozen_4/2009/f4recs.pdf|publisher=NCAA.org|accessdate=June 19, 2013}}

USA Hockey College Player of the Year

| 2007

| {{cite web| url = http://msuspartans.cstv.com/sports/m-hockey/spec-rel/053007aaa.html | title = Lerg, Petry Honored by USA Hockey | publisher = Michigan State Spartans | date = May 30, 2007 | accessdate = May 2, 2012}}

All-CCHA First Team

| 2007–08

| {{cite news|title=All-CCHA Teams|url=http://www.augenblick.org/chha/ccha_all.html|publisher=College Hockey Historical Archives|accessdate=July 27, 2013}}

AHCA West Second-Team All-American

| 2007–08

|

All-CCHA Second Team

| 2008–09

|

Senior CLASS Award

| 2009

|

NCAA Top VIII Award

| 2010

| {{cite web| url = http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-hockey/spec-rel/121809aaa.html | title = Lerg Named NCAA Award Winner | publisher = Michigan State Spartans | date = December 18, 2009 | accessdate = December 18, 2009 }}

Ligue Magnus Jean Ferrand Trophy

| 2014

|

All-ECHL Second Team

| 2014–15

|

References

{{reflist|2}}

External links

  • {{icehockeystats}}

{{s-start}}

{{s-ach}}

{{succession box | before = Bill Thomas | title = CCHA Rookie of the Year| years = 2005–06| after = Mark Letestu}}

{{succession box | before = Jeff Tambellini | title = CCHA Most Valuable Player in Tournament | years = 2006 | after = David Brown}}

{{succession box | before = Jeff Jakaitis| title = Perani Cup Champion| years = 2006–07| after = Kevin Porter}}

{{succession box | before = Michael Eickman| title = CCHA Scholar-Athlete of the Year| years = 2007–08| after = Jordan Pearce}}

{{succession box | before = Justin Abdelkader | title = Ilitch Humanitarian Award| years = 2008–09 | with = Jerad Kaufmann | after = Dion Knelsen}}

{{end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lerg, Jeff}}

Category:1986 births

Category:Living people

Category:American expatriate sportspeople in France

Category:American expatriate sportspeople in Italy

Category:American men's ice hockey goaltenders

Category:Asiago Hockey 1935 players

Category:Ice hockey players from Michigan

Category:Michigan State Spartans men's ice hockey players

Category:Omaha Lancers players

Category:Ours de Villard-de-Lans players

Category:Ice hockey people from Livonia, Michigan

Category:San Diego Gulls (AHL) players

Category:Toledo Walleye players

Category:Trenton Devils players

Category:AHCA Division I men's ice hockey All-Americans

Category:NCAA men's ice hockey national champions