Royals Agree to Terms with Defenseman Mike Banwell

Former University of Maine Black Bear Has Played Sixty-Six AHL Games in Two Pro Seasons

The Reading Royals of the ECHL, affiliate of the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League and Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League, today announced that the organization has agreed to terms with defenseman Mike Banwell. The Royals now have fourteen players announced as signed for the 2013-14 season. In addition to Banwell, the others are: Matt Campanale (d), Louie Caporusso (f), Julien Cayer (f), Ethan Cox (f), David Marshall (f), Bryant Molle (d), Ian O’Connor (f), Ryan Santana (f), Bobby Shea (d), Yannick Tifu (f), Brad Walch (d), Sean Wiles (f), and Marc Zanette (f).

Banwell (6’2) (199), a third year pro from Scarborough, Ontario, began last season with the Trenton Titans where he recorded one assist and ten penalty minutes in ten games before earning a call-up to the Worcester Sharks of the AHL. Banwell logged a total of nineteen games with the Sharks, scoring one goal, assisting on two others (three points) and recording fifteen penalty minutes. Banwell was released by Worcester in late January and was promptly picked up by the Springfield Falcons of the AHL, playing nineteen additional games with the Falcons (0g-2a) (30 pims).

Banwell split his rookie season, 2011-12, between Trenton in the ECHL (0g-1a, 10 pims in eleven games) and the Albany Devils in the AHL, where he picked up three helpers and twenty penalty minutes in twenty-four AHL games. Banwell, who has played a total of sixty-six AHL games in his first two years of pro, began his pro career late in March of 2011 with Albany after completing a four year collegiate career at the University of Maine. While with the Black Bears, Banwell, who tied for the team lead in plus-minus in his sophomore year, registered eighteen points (5g-13a) and 160 penalty minutes in 109 total college games.

Season Tickets for the 2013-14 Reading Royals ECHL season are currently available. Call 610-898-7825 for more information or log onto www.royalshockey.com.