After overcoming a career-threatening blood clot and then having a rib removed last summer, Toledo Walleye goaltender John Lethemon no longer takes playing pro hockey for granted.

Lethemon endured a turbulent offseason when a rare disorder caused a blood clot to form near his collarbone.

After having successful surgery to eliminate the clot, Lethemon then had a rib removed — on his 26th birthday on Aug. 15 — to take care of the root cause of the problem.

Six months later, Lethemon is back at the top of his game in his first season with the Walleye. The native of Farmington Hills, Mich., has won seven games in a row and was named the ECHL's goalie of the week on Monday.

“It's been a long process,” Lethemon said. “You can't take things for granted because things can quickly change, obviously. It felt like things could have been taken away. At the end of the day, it was a setback and I knew just wanted to get back to playing hockey. I'm just grateful every day now that I get to step on the ice again.”

The 6-foot-3, 190-pound goaltender had endured a minor surgery before his junior season at Michigan State University in 2017, but nothing prepared him for a condition called Thoracic Outlet Syndrome.

Lethemon, who signed a one-year contract with Toledo's American Hockey League affiliate in Grand Rapids in July, had reported to the Detroit Red Wings' summer camp.

“I noticed my right arm was feeling pretty tight and a little fatigued and it was starting to swell,” Lethemon said. “A trainer rushed me over to [Detroit Medical Center] and I found out that I had a blood clot up near my collarbone. Obviously, a lot of things run through your mind, not knowing how it happened and If you'd be able to play again. So I had surgery to remove as much of it as they could.”

Doctors told him the next day that he had been diagnosed with a condition where blood vessels or nerves are compressed in the space between the collarbone and first rib.

“Essentially, my top rib was pinching and compressing my vein,” he said. “I had to fly to Dallas with my girlfriend Sophia and I had to have my rib taken out.”

Lethemon also had to be put on blood thinners, which also delayed his return to the ice because of the risk of internal bleeding.

“I couldn't practice or take shots or anything,” he said. “I just tried to do what I could to take care of my body and get healthy and put that behind me.”

In mid-September, he was able to skate around his crease. He was taken off blood thinners in November and made his debut with the Walleye on Nov. 25. He made 23 saves in a 6-3 home win over Fort Wayne.

“I'm just so grateful to be a hockey player again,” Lethemon said. “I love stopping pucks and being a part of the team.”

Lethemon has allowed just six total goals during his seven-game winning streak. His save percentage in that span is .971. Lethemon (11-1-3) has lost just once in regulation, and his goals-against average of 2.35 ranks third in the ECHL. He also has two shutouts.

“The poise and his confidence that he has right now is amazing,” Walleye coach Dan Watson said. “He's making the big saves when we need them. You know he's seeing everything.”

Lethemon doesn't dwell on the ordeal.

“It was tough. But I was in great hands. Everyone kept me positive and moving forward,” he said. “I knew I had a great opportunity here. This is the best organization to play for in minor league sports. So it's cool to be here now. It's more than lived up to the expectations. The fans and the crowds you don't get in most places. It's very, very rare to find in minor-league sports.”

Lethemon has spearheaded a quick turnaround for the Walleye, who have won nine of their past 11 games.

“He's a calming influence back there,” Watson said. “We know he's going to make that first save. To have a guy like that back there, it gives our team confidence to play in front of him.”

Toledo (25-15-6) has moved into second place in the ECHL Central Division and third place in the Western Conference with 56 points. They are six points behind first-place Indy. Toledo hosts Kalamazoo on Friday and Iowa on Saturday.

Lethemon said the team has played better in front of him.

“It's the character in the room and the camaraderie that we've been able to build. That's a testament to the entire organization,” he said.

Part of Lethemon's off-ice character is reflected in the retro design of his goalie mask, which features an array of logos of 1980s rock bands. The “VH” of Van Halen is displayed prominently on the front, with Journey, AC/DC, Bon Jovi, Queen, and Def Leppard emblems featured on the sides.

“I'm a big 80s rock guy,” he said. “That was a cool era of music that is very, very unique. I love those bands. They paved the way for future artists. People always comment on my mask. It's kind of a way for a goalie to show off a little bit of your personality.”

Lethemon also was given the unique nickname of “Bail Bonds” by a teammate a Michigan State.

“A goalie is like a bail bondsman. No matter what happens, you have to bail the team out. That's your job,” he said.

The third-year pro, who played his first two seasons for Greenville in the ECHL, said he has started to find his rhythm.

“It's just my confidence. Mentally, I've been able to string together some good minutes lately and you just want to keep building on that,” he said. “It's the same mindset that the team has.”

Lethemon had a 15-11-6 record with a 2.69 goals-against average and .911 save percentage for Greenville last year, and helped the Swamp Rabbits make two postseason appearances. He said he was well aware that the Walleye had made the Kelly Cup Finals in their last two playoff appearances.

“I know that this team and organization has had a lot of success and that the next step is taking it all the way,” he said. “That's my mentality and mindset coming in here. I want to be a part of that. I want to help this team achieve that ultimate goal. And I believe we have the character and talent, offensively and defensively, to do it.”

Playing just an hour from his hometown has augmented Lethemon's comeback.

“Having my family there for me is a really special part,” he said. “With the way everything's gone this year, my parents are there every night at the Huntington Center. It's been fun to have them there.”

First Published February 10, 2023, 12:06 a.m.