Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations/General Manager David Poile announced today the club has signed forward Mark Santorelli (MAHRK SAN-tohr-ehl-ee) and goaltender Mark Dekanich (MAHRK DEH-kuh-nihtch) to a entry-level contracts.
Santorelli, 19 (8/6/88), captured the Bob Clarke Trophy in 2007-08 as the top scorer in the Western Hockey League with 101 points (27g-74a) in 72 games with the Chilliwack Bruins. He was also named a 2008 WHL Western Conference Second-Team All-Star, and paced the Bruins in playoff scoring with five points (1g-4a) in four contests.
Nashville's sixth choice, 119th overall (fourth round) in 2007 Entry Draft, the Burnaby, B.C., native posted three-or-more points in a game on 13 occasions in 2007-08, and factored in on a league-high 49.5 percent of his team?s goals. The 6-1, 189-pound center is the younger brother of Nashville prospect Mike Santorelli (drafted with Nashville's sixth choice, 178th overall (sixth round), in 2004 Entry Draft.
Dekanich, 21 (5/6/86), spent the past four seasons at Colgate University (2004-08) where he broke five of the school?s seven career goaltending records, in addition to five single-season records. The North Vancouver, B.C., native finished the 2007-08 season with a 2.16 goals-against average and .924 save percentage, both of which ranked second in the ECAC and among the top 15 in the nation. In early February, Dekanich put together a shutout streak of 217:16, which ranks seventh in NCAA history and set a conference record.
Nashville's third choice, 146th overall (fifth round), in 2006 Entry Draft, the 6-2, 193-pound goalie won the Ken Dryden Award as the ECAC Goaltender of the Year in 2005-06, and was one of 10 finalists for the 2008 Lowe's Senior CLASS Award presented to a senior who exemplifies excellence on and off the ice.
Both Santorelli and Dekanich will report to the Predators? primary developmental affiliate in Milwaukee of the American Hockey League.
Nashville Signs Santorelli, Dekanich