« Hockey 2008-09

Jeff Lerg

School
Michigan State
Position
Goaltender
Major
Finance
GAA
2.84
SV%
.921
Jeff Lerg Winner

Classroom

Jeff maintains a 3.77 GPA as a finance major and has had two 4.0 semesters.  He was named the 2008 CCHA Scholar-Athlete of the Year and was listed as a MSU hockey All-Academic team pick in 2007 and 2008.  In addition, Lerg was listed on the CCHA All-Academic Team.

Character

Lerg was an unanimous pick for 2008-09 team captain (was an assistant captain as a junior) and is just one of just two goaltenders to ever serve as captain of the Spartans.  Despite multiple challenges including being a severe asthmatic who has to use a nebulizer twice daily and being perhaps the smallest player in Division I hockey (5-6, 155 pounds), Jeff is a nominee for Coach Wooden Citizenship Cup due to his efforts on the ice.

Community

Despite a demanding athletic training schedule, Jeff continues to make his community a priority.  He is/has been involved in numerous activities including Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Lansing, “Shoot for a Cure” (MSU hockey fundraising initiative for Cure Kids Cancer.  Jeff has the Cure Kids Cancer bracelet painted on his helmet), Spartan Buddies (visiting critically/terminally ill children at local hospital), and the American Lung Association (Blow the Whistle on Asthma).  In addition, he has also volunteered for the Children’s Miracle Network, Make A Change (collecting money at football games for cancer research), and the Junior Spartan Tailgate.  The list doesn’t end there, Lerg has also participated in Project Read at local elementary schools and helps young people focus on fitness through “Jump Start Your Heart” (health and fitness) and “Fall into Fitness” (promoting health and wellness).  Other community service projects include:  Trick or Treating for Kids with Cancer, “Mad About Micah” (fundraiser for a local high school student who suffered a traumatic brain injury), Teams for Toys (team adopts a local needy family at Christmas), Family Skate Night (with local elementary schools), Have Fun, Play Hockey clinics (introducing youths to the sport), Wheelchair Hockey games (fundraiser for local wheelchair hockey team), and MSU Athletics Fan Fest.  Jeff has also dedicated a portion of his free time to serve as a celebrity speaker for Hike For Hospice.

Competition

As a Junior in 2007-08, Jeff compiled amazing stats:  41 GP/41 GS; 2464:14 Minutes Played; .926 Sv%, 2.22 GAA, 24-12-5 record, 4 shutouts.  He was listed as Preseason First-Team All-CCHA and as an InsideCollegeHockey.com Preseason All-American.  He was a six-time CCHA Goaltender of the Week and was named RBC Financial CCHA Player of the Month and HCA National Player of the Month in January.  Lerg was a finalist for the AAU’s Sullivan Award, honoring top amateur athlete in the United States.  A First Team All-CCHA, and CCHA Player of the Year finalist, Jeff was listed as a member of the NCAA West Regional All-Tournament Team.  He was an AHCA Second-Team All-American, and was tabbed the Michigan College Athlete of the Year and MSU’s George Alderton Male Athlete of the Year.  To top off his accomplishments as a junior, Lerg was selected as one of ten finalists for the Hobey Baker Memorial Award.  So far in his senior campaign, Jeff is already recording great stats:  8 GP/8 GS; 483:36 Minutes Played; .944 Sv%, 1.74 GAA, 3-3-1 record, 1 shutout.  He has already been named a Preseason First-Team All-CCHA, Inside College Hockey Pre-season All-America (Second Team), and a member of the Icebreaker All-Tournament Team.  He has earned CCHA Goaltender of the Week status twice this season, and became MSU’s all-time saves leader on Oct. 31.  In the Michigan State recordbooks, Jeff is fifth in wins (70), third in games played (122), third in goal-against average (2.18), first in saves (3,192), second in saves percentage (.924), and fourth in shutouts (11).