Thrashers Sign Free Agent Goaltender Dave Caruso
Atlanta-Area Native to Participate in Annual Prospect Development Camp Beginning Tomorrow in Duluth

ATLANTA (July 6, 2006) -- The Atlanta Thrashers have signed free agent goaltender Dave Caruso, an Atlanta-area native, according to Executive Vice President and General Manager Don Waddell. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Caruso was born in Long Island, N.Y., but grew up in Roswell and became the first youth hockey player trained and developed in the Atlanta area to reach NCAA Division I hockey. A 2000 graduate of Roswell High School, Caruso has participated as in the past three Prospect Development Camps with the Thrashers from 2002-04 and will take part in the 2006 camp beginning tomorrow, July 7 at the Duluth Ice Forum.

The 6-1, 215-pound goaltender posted a 52-32-9 record, 11 shutouts, 2.07 goals-against average and a .919 save percentage in 96 games with Ohio State University (CCHA) from 2002-06. He owns the school record for career GAA (2.03), shares the record for career shutouts (nine) and owns the three-lowest single-season GAAs in Buckeye history (1.97 in 2004, 2.14 in 2005 and 2.15 in 2006). Caruso, who is tied for third on the school' s all-time wins list, was named All-CCHA Honorable Mention in 2005 and 2006, earned a spot on the 2005 InsideCollegeHockey.com's All-CCHA Team, received OSU's MVP Award in 2005, and won OSU's Players' Player Award in 2004.

Caruso, 24, posted a 13-18-5 record, finished fourth in the CCHA with a 2.15 GAA, and tied the school record with five shutouts last season. Caruso set an OSU record with a career-high 25 victories to rank second in the CCHA and third in Division I in 2005. He notched a 9-3-0 record and career-best 1.97 GAA in 14 games as a sophomore in 2003, and went 5-2-0 with a 1.56 GAA as a red-shirt freshman. Prior to joining Ohio State in January 2002, Caruso played two seasons with the independent Boston Bulldogs from 1999-2001.