Bruins Sign Former Vernon Viper Collins To Professional Try Out:

The American Hockey League (AHL) Providence Bruins have signed former Vernon Vipers forward Mike Collins to a Professional Try Out (PTO) contract.

Collins finished his fourth and final season at Merrimack College.  In 29 games this year Collins collected (12-goals-13-assists-25-points). Collins played two season's in Vernon (2008-2010) In 119 regular season games with the Vipers Collins recorded (55-goals-71-assists-126-points).

Mike Collins Player Profile:

http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=122117

This is posted on the Warriors website:

Collins Inks PTO Contract with Providence Bruins

March 11, 2014

SENIOR WINGER MIKE COLLINS SIGNS WITH PROVIDENCE BRUINS

NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – Senior forward Mike Collins (Boston, Mass.) of the Merrimack College men's ice hockey team has signed a Professional Try Out (PTO) contract with the Providence Bruins of the American Hockey League (AHL) and will join the organization this week.

The first non-goalie to achieve All-Hockey East First Team honors in program history, as well as a Second-Team All-American and First-Team All-New England honoree, Collins wrapped up his career with 118 points in 138 career games, ranking 31st in scoring in the program's history.

"I couldn't be more excited to be given this opportunity," Collins said of the signing. "I'm very thankful and I couldn't be more excited to be in the Bruins organization being from Boston. I owe Merrimack so much for allowing me to get to this point and will always be proud of my time as a Warrior."

A Boston native, Collins becomes the 10th Merrimack player to sign a contract in an NHL organization under ninth-year head coach Mark Dennehy, and the first since 2012 graduate Karl Stollery did so with the Colorado Avalanche organization last spring.

"I couldn't be happier for Mike," Dennehy added. "He was a productive player since his arrival, and turned himself into an excellent player in all three zones. On behalf of the entire coaching staff and Merrimack hockey family, we wish him the best of luck going forward!"

Collins never scored less than 10 goals or 25 total points in his four years with the Warriors and was also a Hockey East All-Rookie Team selection in 2010-11. As a senior, he posted a team-leading 25 points (12g, 13a); as a freshman, he helped the Warriors reach the 2010 Hockey East Tournament Championship for the first time in program history before also helping the team earn its first-ever No. 1 national ranking during his sophomore campaign.

His best year came as a junior in 2012-13, when he finished second in the Hockey East scoring race and was the Player of the Year runner-up after posting a 17-21—38 scoring line to earn All-American, all-conference and All-New England status. He was also a semifinalist for the prestigious Walter Brown Award, an honor given to the top collegiate hockey player in New England.

The Providence Bruins will host the Worcester Sharks at the Dunkin Donuts Center (Providence, R.I.) this Friday before a road tilt at Springfield on Saturday before a return trip home to face the Hartford Wolfpack the following afternoon.

The Bruins, currently third in the AHL's Atlantic Division, have 15 games remaining in the regular season.