Michigan State University Athletics
Lerg Honored at CCHA Awards Show
3/20/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
March 20, 2009
EAST LANSING, Mich. - - Michigan State senior netminder Jeff Lerg (Livonia, Mich.) received four honors at the CCHA Awards Show on Thursday, March 19 at the Fox Theatre in Detroit, Mich. Lerg was named the co-recipient of the ninth annual Mike and Marian Ilitch Humanitarian Award as the CCHA's top citizen in addition to earning Second Team All-CCHA honors, was MSU's Perani Cup winner, and MSU's representative for the Scholar Athlete Award.
 Jeff Lerg had Brandon Gordon's "Stay Strong, Do It" motto painted on his helmet  | |
The Ilitch Award was presented to two outstanding individuals: Michigan State senior goaltender Jeff Lerg (Livonia, Mich.) and Nebraska-Omaha senior goaltender Jerad Kaufmann (Roseville, Minn.). Lerg has been involved in a multitude of community service activities including American Lung Association (Blow the Whistle on Asthma), Children's Miracle Network, Make A Change (collecting money at home football games for cancer research), Project Read at local elementary schools, "Jump Start Your Heart" (health and fitness), Junior Spartan Tailgate, "Fall into Fitness" (promoting health and wellness), Trick or Treating for Kids with Cancer, Teams for Toys (team adopts a local family every Christmas), Family Skate Night with local elementary schools, the CCHA's Have Fun, Play Hockey clinics, participated in fundraising wheelchair hockey games for a local wheelchair hockey team, MSU Athletics Fan Fest, and served as a celebrity speaker for Hike For Hospice.
Perhaps the two things closest to Lerg's heart was his involvement with two young men, Malik Wilcox and Brandon Gordon; Lerg dedicated the award to the two young men for being great inspirations to his life. The MSU senior was involved with the Big Brothers program, and has developed a strong relationship with his "little", Malik, over his four years. Spartan Buddies, started by 2006 Ilitch Award winner Drew Miller, brought MSU athletes to Sparrow Hospital to visit critically and terminally ill children. It was through this program that Lerg and other players met Brandon Gordon in February of 2007, and Gordon grew to have a special bond with the hockey team. Justin Abdelkader, who won the Ilitch Award last year, found Brandon to be such an inspiration that he spearheaded the start of "Shoot for a Cure", which raises money for Cure Kids Cancer at Sparrow Hospital. Jeff and Brandon had an equally strong bond, and the pair spent considerable time together, much like Jeff does with Malik. Lerg had Brandon's "Stay Strong, Do It. Gordie #22" bracelet painted onto the back of his helmet in advance of his senior season, and dedicated his efforts not only for Brandon and his family, but also for the "Shoot for a Cure" initiative that raised more than $15,000 for cancer research during this season alone and $20,000 since the program's inception in January 2008. Sadly, Brandon lost his battle with cancer on Feb. 22, and both Lerg and Abdelkader served as casketbearers in the teen's funeral, which was held at Munn Ice Arena.
While the Spartans struggled this season, Lerg was certainly a bright spot, as he consistently performed at a high level throughout the season. Lerg leads the country in saves (1,050) and became the CCHA's All-Time saves leader in the last week of the regular season - his 3,996 career saves places him second all-time on the NCAA's career list as well. Lerg compiled a 2.94 goals against average and .917 save percentage in his senior season; in his career, his .921 save percentage ranks second all-time in the MSU annals and tied for 15th all-time in the NCAA recordbook. He ranks among the all-time leaders in no fewer than 10 categories in the MSU all-time goaltending records. This season, Lerg was named the CCHA Goaltender of the Week three times, was a finalist for the Coach Wooden Citizenship Cup, and is a finalist for both the Hockey Humanitarian and the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award.
 Jeff Lerg and Brandon Gordon at the 2008 CCHA Banquet | |
