Stefanos Lekkas

{{Infobox ice hockey player

| name = Stefanos Lekkas

| image =

| image_size =

| position = Goaltender

| shoots = Left

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 0

| weight_lb = 180

| team = KalPa

| league = Liiga

| prospect_team =

| prospect_league =

| former_teams = Rochester Americans

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1996|1|17|mf=y}}

| birth_place = Elburn, Illinois, U.S.

| career_start = 2020

| career_end =

| draft = Undrafted

| draft_year =

| draft_team =

| played_for =

}}

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.

Playing career

=Junior=

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.{{cite web|url=https://www.amerks.com/news/detail/amerks-sign-lekkas-to-professional-tryout|title=Amerks sign Lekkas to professional tryout|website=Rochester Americans|date=March 17, 2021|access-date=May 5, 2021}}

=College=

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).{{cite web|url=https://www.mychamplainvalley.com/sports/former-uvm-mens-hockey-goaltender-stefanos-lekkas-signs-with-ahls-rochester-americans/|title=Former UVM men's hockey goaltender Stefanos Lekkas signs with AHL's Rochester Americans|first=Angelique|last=Martinez|website=MyChamplainValley.com|date=March 17, 2021|access-date=May 5, 2021}}

=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.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/blackhawks/news/feature-elburn-native-stefanos-lekkas-looks-to-impress-hometown-club/c-308284870|title=Elburn-native Stefanos Lekkas looks to impress hometown club|first=Austin|last=Siegel|website=NHL.com|date=July 17, 2019|access-date=May 5, 2021}} Instead, he returned to college, and signed with the Fort Wayne Komets of the ECHL after his senior season.{{cite web|url=https://www.wfft.com/content/sports/Lekkas-eager-to-get-back-with-Komets-571516721.html|title=Lekkas eager to get back with Komets|first=Justin|last=Prince|website=WFFT-TV|date=June 26, 2020|access-date=May 5, 2021}}

He was loaned to the Rochester Americans of the AHL on March 15, 2021.{{cite web|url=https://www.wane.com/sports/komets/komets-goalie-lekkas-loaned-to-ahls-rochester-americans/|title=Komets goalie Lekkas loaned to AHL's Rochester Americans|first=Glenn|last=Marini|website=WANE-TV|date=March 15, 2021|access-date=May 5, 2021}} The team signed him to a professional tryout contract two days later. Lekkas was signed to a one-year contract by the NHL's Buffalo Sabres on May 5, 2021.{{cite web|url=https://www.wane.com/sports/komets/komets-goalie-lekkas-signs-one-year-contract-with-nhls-sabres/|title=Komets goalie Lekkas signs one-year contract with NHL's Sabres|first=Glenn|last=Marini|website=WANE-TV|date=May 5, 2021}}

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.{{cite web| url = https://www.echl.com/en/news/2021/7/komets-add-three-players | title = Komets add three players | publisher = ECHL | date = July 29, 2021 | access-date = July 29, 2021}} Lekkas was later released and bounced around between the Orlando Solar Bears and Wheeling Nailers, before being traded to the Maine Mariners.{{cite press release|url=https://marinersofmaine.com/news/mariners-trade-for-goaltender-stefanos-lekkas/|title=MARINERS TRADE FOR GOALTENDER STEFANOS LEKKAS|date=March 3, 2022|publisher=Maine Mariners}} 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.{{cite press release|url=https://marinersofmaine.com/news/mariners-trade-for-goaltender-stefanos-lekkas/|title=Lekkas joins Chicago Wolves|date=May 6, 2022|publisher=Maine Mariners}}

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.{{cite web| url = https://metalligaen.dk/nyheder/odense-henter-amerikansk-malmand/ | title = Odense picks up American goalkeeper | publisher = Odense Bulldogs | date = June 16, 2022 | accessdate = June 16, 2022 | language = Danish}}

His European career continued in next season, as he signed with Finnish team, KalPa from Kuopio.