The Wranglers signed standout goalie John DeCaro to a contract two weeks ago and will announce the acquisition Thursday.
DeCaro, 25, had a sterling goals-against average of 1.91 over the past two seasons for Bossier-Shreveport in the Central Hockey League.
He recorded 13 saves in that span, including 11 last season when he went 27-6-3, had a save percentage of .941 and yielded a paltry 1.63 goals a game. A Wranglers official called DeCaro on Tuesday to confirm the validity of that paltry goals-against figure. Yes, DeCaro said. It's true.
DeCaro was 23-7-4, with a 2.20 goals-against average and .931 save percentage, two seasons ago. He has won the past two CHL goalie of the year honors.
Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs personnel rave about DeCaro’s skills. In late August, DeCaro told Mudbugs coach Scott Muscutt that he had signed with the Wranglers, according to the Shreveport Times.
DeCaro played at Alaska-Anchorage. He went 1-1-2 in a brief stretch for the Alaska Aces of the ECHL, of which Las Vegas is affiliated.
Kevin Lalande played well in the playoffs for the Wranglers, who lost to Cincinnati in the ECHL Kelly Cup Finals. Lalande was one of five players the parent club Calgary Flames allocated to the Wranglers, but he is expected to play in the American Hockey League this season.
DeCaro is the ninth player signed for the upcoming season by coach and general manager Glen Gulutzan. Others include defenseman Mike Madill, and forwards Tyler Mosienko and Matt Beaudoin.
The Wranglers made the playoffs in four of their first five seasons. They lost to the eventual Kelly Cup champion each time.
Las Vegas opens camp in a few weeks, and the Wranglers play Bakersfield in a preseason game at the Orleans Arena on Oct. 9. Games in Bakersfield (Oct. 11) and Ontario, Calif. (Oct. 12) round out the preseason schedule.
The Wranglers start the 2008-09 season in Alaska, on Oct. 17 and 18, and play the expansion Ontario Reign in their home opener at the Orleans on Oct. 23.
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