John DeCaro Returns to Mudbugs
 
BOSSIER CITY, LA – On the same day the new owners of the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs were formally introduced, the team also announced its first player signing for the 2009-2010 Central Hockey League season. Goaltender John DeCaro has signed to return to Bossier-Shreveport for his third year with the club after spending last season with the ECHL’s Las Vegas Wranglers.
 
“I’m totally excited to have Johnny back,” said Head Coach Scott Muscutt. “He was a great goaltender for us when he was here and his numbers have been impressive everywhere he’s been. I’m looking forward to his addition and I’m also very encouraged by the number of players from last year’s team who have persevered through this roller coaster ride with us and will hopefully be returning.”
 
During his first two professional seasons, DeCaro shattered numerous CHL goaltending records on his way to helping the Mudbugs win back-to-back Governor’s Cup regular season titles. Now the 26-year-old is back with the ‘Bugs to work toward his first professional Championship.
 
“I’m coming back with the sole purpose of trying to win it all,” DeCaro said. “There’s just something about Bossier-Shreveport. I like it there and my family likes it there. It’s a good organization to be a part of and Coach Muscutt is always going to put together a strong team. It’s going to be a fun year.”
 
DeCaro was named the CHL’s Most Outstanding Goaltender in both 2007 and 2008, compiling a record of 50-13-7 in two seasons with Bossier-Shreveport. The 6-3, 217-pound netminder was named to the All-CHL team and played in the CHL All-Star game both years, posting franchise bests with a 1.91 goals-against average and a .936 saves percentage in that time.
 
DeCaro enjoyed maybe the finest season of goaltending in CHL history in 2007-08, setting new league records with a 1.63 GAA, .941 SV% and 11 shutouts on his way to a 27-6-3 record. He also broke the CHL record with an individual shutout streak of 265:52 and teamed with Ken Carroll to reach a new mark for team shutout streak at 218:57 as Bossier-Shreveport recorded the lowest single-season team goals-against average in league history at 1.91.
 
Last season DeCaro appeared in 21 games for the Las Vegas Wranglers of the ECHL, finishing with a 2.06 GAA and .929 SV% on his way to an 11-7-0 mark. The Marysville, Washington native then appeared in seven playoff games for Las Vegas as the Wranglers advanced to the National Conference Finals before falling to Alaska. DeCaro also appeared in three American Hockey League games last season, going 3-0-0 with a 2.92 GAA and a .922 SV% for the Portland Pirates before an injury forced him out of their lineup.