Portland Calls for DeCaro; Las Vegas Goalie Heading To AHL

Published on January 21, 2009 under ECHL (ECHL)
Las Vegas Wranglers News Release


LAS VEGAS, NV - The Las Vegas Wranglers® announced today that goalie John DeCaro has been signed by the Portland Pirates of the American Hockey League. The Wranglers will host Victoria for three games this weekend starting this Friday, January 23rd at 7:30 PM.

DeCaro ranks second among active goalies in the ECHL with a 1.94 goals against average and he ranks third with a .933 save percentage. In 17 appearances with Las Vegas this year, the third-year goalie posted a 10-4-0 record with one shutout. DeCaro returns to the AHL where he played two games during his rookie season in 2006-07 with the Philadelphia Phantoms.

DeCaro is in his third full season of professional hockey after spending the last two years with the CHL's Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs. DeCaro set CHL single season records with 11 shutouts, a 1.63 goals against average and a .941 save percentage. The Marysville, WA native posted a 27-6-3 mark in 38 appearances with the Mudbugs in 2007-08. For his efforts, the 2008 CHL All-Star garnered CHL Goalie of the Year Honors and was selected to the All-CHL team for the second straight season. In his rookie season with Bossier-Shreveport in 2006-07, DeCaro posted a 23-7-4 record with a 2.20 goals against average and a .931 save percentage with two shutouts. The 25-year old capped off his rookie season as the CHL Goalie of the Year, a 2007 CHL All-Star and he was a member of the CHL's All-Rookie Team. In all, the third year goalie posted a 50-13-7 record, a 1.91 goals against average, a .936 save percentage and 13 shutouts in his first two seasons with the Mudbugs.

DeCaro made a two-game appearance with the AHL's Philadelphia Phantoms during his rookie season in 2006-07. During his brief stint with the Phantoms, DeCaro posted a 0-2-0 record with a 3.49 goals against average. DeCaro began his pro career in 2005-06. After two seasons at the University of Alaska-Anchorage, DeCaro signed with the Alaska Aces for the final month of the season in 2005. He made four appearances with the Aces, going 1-1-2 with a 2.65 goals against average. Prior to playing at UAA, DeCaro played one season at Ferris State University before transferring. In three seasons of collegiate hockey, DeCaro went 12-24-4 with a 3.71 goals against average and a .892 save percentage.

The Reading Royals, the City of Reading and the Sovereign Center will host the 17th Annual ECHL All-Star Game on January 21, 2009. The game will be telecast online free-of-charge on ECHLALLSTARTV by B2 Networks, the "Official Broadband Broadcast Provider of the ECHL". Fans may also watch the televised live at 4:00 pm (Pacific) on Wednesday on the NHL Network in Canada and on NHL Center Ice.

The Wranglers will return home to host Victoria starting Friday, January 23rd at 7:30 PM. The Salmon Kings will stay in town for games on Saturday, January 24th at 7:30 PM and Sunday, January 25th at 2:05 PM. Blue Man Group will perform at the game on Saturday the 24th. Las Vegas will host "Prison Uniform Night" on Friday, January 30th against Bakersfield.

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