Jeff Lerg is a goaltender for the Toledo Walleye of the ECHL. He is 5 foot 6 and will turn 30 in April, so the Michigan State graduate’s chances of ever reaching the NHL are slim to none.
That doesn’t mean the diminutive puck stopper isn’t making the most of his time in the minors.
In overtime against the Fort Wayne Komets on Sunday night, Lerg was a dead man walking. Garrett Meurs of the Komets took a perfect pass on a 2-on-1 rush and had Lerg scrambling and out of position as he shifted to his backhand. Showing a David Eckstein-esque level of scrappiness required in all undersized professional athletes, Lerg reached back with his glove hand to deny Meurs and preserve a 2-2 tie.
The Walleye would win 3-2 in a shootout.
Now that you’ve read the name “Lerg” five times, are you also reminded of Futurama‘s Lrrr? “I am Lrrr, ruler of the planet Omicron Persei 8!” Hopefully the Walleye play that clip or a parody of it after big saves by Lerg, because that would be great. “I am Lerg, ruler of the Toledy Walleye net.” Or something like that.
Look, it was either end this with a Futurama reference or with the fact that Lerg is second in ECHL save percentage at .929. A clip of Lrrr seems to be the smart play.
(Via CBS Sports)
