Banwell scored his first professional goal earlier this season for Worcester.
SPRINGFIELD - The Springfield Falcons announced Thursday that they have signed defenseman Mike Banwell to a professional try-out (PTO) and have released forward Chris Collins from his PTO.
Banwell played in 19 games with Worcester this season prior to being released from his PTO earlier this week. With the Sharks, Banwell scored his first professional goal and added two assists for three points in 19 contests. Banwell began this season with the ECHL's Trenton Titans, notching an assist over 10 games.
A second-year pro, Banwell skated his rookie season of 2011-2012 with the Titans and the Albany Devils. Banwell played in 24 contests with Albany, posting three assists, and participated in 11 games with Trenton, recording one helper. He made his professional debut over four games with Albany at the end of the 2010-2011 campaign, registering an assist.
Prior to turning pro, Banwell, a native of Scarborough, Ontario, played four seasons at the University of Maine (NCAA, Division I). In 109 career outings from 2007-2011, Banwell accumulated 18 points (5 goals, 13 assists).
Collins, who signed with Springfield on Dec. 10, played in four games with the Falcons and was scoreless. The seventh-year pro has skated in 373 professional contests between the AHL, ECHL, and Europe, compiling 233 points (107 goals, 126 assists).
Springfield's game against the Albany Devils, originally scheduled for Friday, has been postponed until Apr. 2 at 7 p.m. due to the anticipated snowstorm. Tickets for Friday's contest will be valid on that date.
The Falcons play their only game of the weekend on Sunday at 3 p.m. when they host the Portland Pirates. The first 1,000 fans in attendance will receive a free Falcons baseball hat, courtesy of the University of New Haven.