Defenseman Mike Banwell Loaned to Springfield

Reading, PA – The Reading Royals of the ECHL, affiliate of the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League and the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League, today announced that defenseman Mike Banwell has been loaned to the Springfield Falcons of the AHL. In separate transactions also announced today, the Royals activated forward Yannick Tifu from the 21-day Injured Reserve and defenseman Aaron Gens from the ECHL Reserve List. In another transaction previously completed, the Royals released forward Ryan Santana from his ECHL contract.

This marks the second call-up of the season for Banwell, a third year pro from Scarborough, Ontario. Banwell played two games with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers of the AHL in early December without registering any points or penalty minutes. In forty-nine games with Reading this season, Banwell has fourteen points (2g-12a) and forty-two penalty minutes and played to a plus-9 (+9).

Tifu, who has thirty-two points (12g-20a) in forty-three games with the Royals, missed eleven games with the team after sustaining an upper body injury on February 9 against the Wheeling Nailers. Gens, who has fifteen points (4g-11a) and thirty-four penalty minutes in thirty-two games with Reading, has missed seventeen consecutive games since January 25 due to injury. He is riding a five-game assist streak dating back to his last game played. Santana picked up four penalty minutes in twelve games with the Royals.

The Royals return to action tonight (Friday, March 7 @ 7:05 pm) when the Wheeling Nailers visit Santander Arena in Reading, Pennsylvania. Tonight, the first 2500 fans will get a Royals’ team trading card set courtesy of Rieck’s Printing. Friday’s game night broadcast will kick off at 6:35 pm on CBS Sports Radio 1240 am and 98.5 with the Highmark Blue Shield Warm-Up Show on the Royals Broadcast Network presented by Boscov’s Travel and Apple Vacations.

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