IL1 Toledo Mud Hens

Strength in the Goal; Strength on the Line Return

Published on August 14, 2015 under International League (IL1)
Toledo Mud Hens News Release


Toledo, OH - The Toledo Walleye announced tonight live on the Toledo Mud Hens pregame show "Around the Bases" that Goaltender Jeff Lerg and Forward A.J. Jenks have agreed to terms with the team for the 2015-16 season.

Lerg finished a tremendous 2014-15 season with a Walleye record 32 wins, to go along with a 2.37 goals against average and a Walleye best .920 save percentage. His four shutouts and 45 appearances last season were also Toledo Walleye records. The 29-year-old was named to the ECHL Second Team following the regular season and finished second in voting for the ECHL Goaltender of the Year.

"A significant returner for us coming off of a spectacular season," said Head Coach Derek Lalonde. "He will again be a core piece of building our culture of success."

He was named ECHL Goaltender of the Month in November for going 7-0-1 with a 2.65 goals against average and .922 save percentage and he also picked up Goaltender of Week honors March 16-22 (3-0-0-0, 0.65GAA and .975SVP). Lerg finished with a 7-4-4 record in the playoffs with a 2.20GAA and .924SVP.

Lerg spent the three seasons playing in France and Italy. The native of Livonia, Michigan posted a goals against average of 3.32 with a save percentage of .910 in 2013-14 while between the pipes for Villard-de-Lans in France and was named French League "Best Goaltender". He spent the 2010-11 ECHL season with Trenton appearing in 27 games with a 12-12-1 record, a 3.15 GAA, and a .903 SVP.

Jenks, a native of Wolverine Lake, Michigan, appeared in 42 games this past season with the Walleye collecting 16 goals and 9 assists plus 12 more points (5G, 7A) in 20 playoff contests. He also spent 27 games in the AHL with the Charlotte Checkers picking up six points (2G, 4A). Since 2009, the 25-year-old appeared in 110 total ECHL games between Toledo, Florida, Cincinnati and Charlotte with 69 points (38G, 31A).

"AJ elevated his game and was a top performer during our playoff run," Head Coach Derek Lalonde said. "He is key in every situation for us and will again be a go-to player."

The former fourth-round pick of the Florida Panthers in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft has also collected 44 points (17G, 27A) in 178 games played in the AHL between Rochester, San Antonio and Charlotte. Prior to turning professional, Jenks spent four years with Plymouth of the OHL. He had 193 points (79G, 114A) over 249 games with the Whalers. He set career highs in assists (40) and points (63) in 2009-10 while being a captain for the Whalers.

The 2015-16 home opener is Saturday, November 7 against Adirondack-- the first and only time those two teams play each other in 2015-16. Game Plan ticket packages and single-game tickets are on sale now. For more information call 419-725-WALL or visit www.toledowalleye.com.

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International League Stories from August 14, 2015


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