Portland, ME – Portland Pirates head coach Kevin Dineen said he wouldn’t go into the weekend shorthanded and he followed through with the signing of forward Justin Bowers to a PTO on Thursday.

Bowers, 25, has played for the Greenville (S.C.) Road Warriors of the ECHL this season where he’s scored nine goals, 16 assists for 25 points with a plus-7 rating in 23 games.

His points total has him listed in the top-10 in scoring in the ECHL.

Bowers signing came as a result of the Pirates only playing with 10 forwards due to long-term injuries to Mark Parrish (hip) and Travis Turnbull (shoulder) and the recalls of Luke Adam and Mark Mancari by the Buffalo Sabres.

The 6-0, 200-pound native of Halifax, NS spent last season with the Allen Americans of the CHL where he tallied 23 goals, 50 assists in 49 games. The Americans would make it to the CHL finals led by Bowers who posted 12 goals, 18 assists as they fell to Rapid City.

Bowers, who has played in 29 career AHL games, attended training camp with Adirondack last September and it expected to arrive in time to practice with the Pirates before departing for Providence for Friday night’s game against the Providence Bruins.