The Toledo Walleye will be in the market for a new primary goaltender after John Lethemon signed with Lukko of Liiga, the top professional ice hockey league in Finland.
The Toledo Walleye will need a new primary goaltender as John Lethemon has signed a one-year contract with Lukko of Liiga, the top professional ice hockey league in Finland.
"I talked with Josh Kestner, who told me a lot of information about the city and the organization," Lethemon said in a statement. "He praised Lukko a lot and gave me good information about how things work at Rauma. In addition, I also talked with other players who have experience in the League. Everyone I talked to said that Luko is a top organization and that Luko's supporters are very passionate, Lethemon tells how he got information about Luko and Rauma."
The 27-year-old spent the last two seasons in the Detroit Red Wings organization, mostly in the ECHL, but also played ten games in the AHL. Last season, Lethemon achieved a record of 26-7-2 with a 2.90 goals-against average and a 0.892 save percentage in 37 appearances.
He split time with Jan Bednar in net, and together they spearheaded Toledo's historic 22-game win streak, spanning the final 14 regular-season games and the first eight postseason games.
Lethemon recorded a 6-2-1 record in nine outings in the 2024 Kelly Cup Playoffs, along with a 2.46 goals-against average and a 0.899 save percentage.
Last year, he achieved an 18-1-3 record with a 1.99 goals-against average, 0.930 save percentage, and four shutouts, earning him the title of the ECHL's Goaltender of the Year for the 2022-23 season.
Before joining the Walleye, Lethemon spent two seasons with Los Angeles Kings' affiliates, mainly playing in the ECHL. He signed with the organization after his senior season with the Michigan State Spartans.