Drew Bannister

Drew Bannister (born April 9, 1974) is a former professional ice hockey defenceman and current coach of the Springfield Thunderbirds in the American Hockey League. He played in the NHL for the Tampa Bay Lightning, Edmonton Oilers, Mighty Ducks of Anaheim and New York Rangers. He finished his playing career as player and head coach for the Braehead Clan of the British Elite Ice Hockey League. Bannister was born in Belleville, Ontario.

Drew Bannister
Born (1974-04-09) April 9, 1974
Belleville, Ontario, Canada
Height 6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight 201 lb (91 kg; 14 st 5 lb)
Position Defence
Shot Right
Played for Tampa Bay Lightning
Edmonton Oilers
Mighty Ducks of Anaheim
New York Rangers
Kärpät
Severstal Cherepovets
Espoo Blues
Nürnberg Ice Tigers
Kassel Huskies
Hull Stingrays
Braehead Clan
NHL Draft 26th overall, 1992
Tampa Bay Lightning
Playing career 19942012

Playing career

Bannister was selected in the second round of the 1992 NHL Entry Draft, 26th overall, by the Tampa Bay Lightning. Bannister was drafted from the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) where he won a Memorial Cup in 1993 and was chosen to the Memorial Cup All-Star team 1991–92 and 1992–93. He also won a World Junior Championship with Canada in 1994. Upon completing his junior eligibility, Bannister spent a year and a half with the Atlanta Knights of the International Hockey League, Tampa Bay's farm team.

Bannister played in the minors for most of his career, but saw time in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, Edmonton Oilers, Tampa Bay Lightning, and New York Rangers. His most successful season came in 1996–97, when he played 65 games, scored a career-high 18 points, and played in 12 playoff games for the Oilers.

In 2002, Bannister moved to Europe and played for teams in Finland, Russia and Germany. He played in Kassel, Germany, in the 2005–06 and 2006–07 seasons where he was chosen the best defenseman in the 2. Gbun, Germany's second highest league. He also scored the deciding goal in the playoff finals and Kassel returned to the top-tier DEL after two years.

On August 6, 2009, Bannister made a return to North America after seven seasons, signing a one-year deal with the Ottawa Senators.[1] He spent the majority of the season with their AHL affiliate Binghamton Senators, serving as captain. Binghamton's then-assistant coach, former AHL defenseman Mike Busniuk, happened to be Bannister's father-in-law.

Coaching career

On November 16, 2010, Bannister signed for the Hull Stingrays in the British Elite Ice Hockey League as a player and assistant coach. On July 29, 2011, Bannister was announced as a player and head coach of the Braehead Clan in the British Elite Ice Hockey League for the 2011–12 season, replacing Bruce Richardson.[2]

On June 2, 2012, Bannister was announced as an assistant coach for the OHL's Owen Sound Attack, which effectively ended his playing career.[3] On July 10, 2015, he left the assistant coaching job in Owen Sound to become a head coach for the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds.[4]

On June 5, 2018, he was hired as the head coach of the San Antonio Rampage in the American Hockey League (AHL), the top development team for the St. Louis Blues of the NHL.[5]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GPGAPtsPIM GPGAPtsPIM
1990–91 Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds OHL 41281051 40000
1991–92 Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds OHL 6442125122 163101336
1992–93 Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds OHL 5952833114 1827912
1993–94 Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds OHL 5874350108 14691520
1994–95 Atlanta Knights IHL 72571274 502222
1995–96 Atlanta Knights IHL 6131316105 30004
1995–96 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 130114
1996–97 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 644131744
1996–97 Edmonton Oilers NHL 10110 1200030
1997–98 Edmonton Oilers NHL 3402242
1997–98 Mighty Ducks of Anaheim NHL 2706647
1998–99 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 2112324
1998–99 Las Vegas Thunder IHL 1621373
1999–00 Hartford Wolf Pack AHL 4461420121 18291153
2000–01 Hartford Wolf Pack AHL 7393039143 50226
2000–01 New York Rangers NHL 30000
2001–02 Cincinnati Mighty Ducks AHL 301101157 30116
2001–02 Mighty Ducks of Anaheim NHL 10000
2002–03 Kärpät SM-l 412121481 1420242
2003–04 Severstal Cherepovets RSL 30004
2003–04 Blues SM-l 36281042 903326
2004–05 Nürnberg Ice Tigers DEL 461121397
2005–06 Kassel Huskies DEL 449122179
2006–07 Kassel Huskies GER-2 4393241109 81678
2007–08 Kassel Huskies GER-2 4111273873 154121628
2008–09 Kassel Huskies DEL 342151784
2009–10 Binghamton Senators AHL 574101477
2010–11 Hull Stingrays EIHL 345152050 20222
2011–12 Braehead Clan EIHL 55134245114
NHL totals 16452530161 1200030
Medal record
Representing  Canada
Ice hockey
World Junior Championships
1994 Czech Republic

International

Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
1994 Canada WJC 7 0 4 4 10
Junior totals 7 0 4 4 10

Transactions

References

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