ANCHORAGE (Feb. 17) - UAA junior goaltender John DeCaro has been selected US College Hockey Online/ITECH men's hockey Division I national defensive player of the week. DeCaro recorded 108 total saves in two games against the Golden Gophers, including a school-record 57-save effort in last Friday's 3-2 victory.

Starting for the first time since Nov. 20, DeCaro broke Ron Benton's 23-year-old record of 56 saves, set Feb. 28, 1982. DeCaro followed up his record-setting performance by registering 51 saves, including 23 in the first period, in Saturday's 5-5 tie. DeCaro's back-to-back 50-save performances were the first by a Seawolf goalie in the 26-year history of the program.

The Marysville, Wash., native is the seventh UAA netminder to save 50 or more shots in a single game. DeCaro earlier was selected WCHA defensive player of the week for his efforts.