NASHVILLE, TN -- Colgate senior goaltender Mark Dekanich (North Vancouver, B.C.) has signed an entry-level contract with the NHL's Nashville Predators, the team that held his draft rights, the club announced on Monday, April 14. Dekanich, who recently spent a week in Milwaukee with the club's AHL affiliate on an amateur tryout agreement (ATO), is expected to report to the Admirals next season.

During his time as a Raider, Dekanich 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 13th in the nation. In early February, Dekanich put together a shutout streak of 217:16, which ranks seventh in NCAA history and broke the Colgate and ECAC Hockey records.

Nashville's third choice, 146th overall (fifth round), in 2006 Entry Draft, Dekanich won the Ken Dryden Award as the ECAC Hockey Goaltender of the Year in 2006, 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.