Adirondack Adds Forward Depth with Bannister

The Adirondack Thunder have announced the signing of forward Zach Bannister to a standard player contract for the 2024-25 ECHL season.

Bannister, 25, played two games last season with the Norfolk Admirals and recorded one assist after finishing his final year of college.

The Grande Prairie, Alberta native played three years at NCAA (D3) University of Wisconsin-Superior and recorded 12 goals and 18 assists for 30 points in 60 games. He helped capture a NCAA (D3) WIAC Championship in 2020-21.

During his senior year, the 6-foot-0, 190-pound forward put up 10 goals and 17 assists for 27 points and blocked 15 shots in 28 games with NCAA (D3) Stevenson University. He finished tied for second on the team in goals, second in assists and third in points.

Bannister alternated this off-season with a mixture of training, rest and family time. He believes dipping his toes in the ECHL waters last season will help him adjust to the grind of 70-plus games of professional hockey.

"That was the big thing this off-season, taking care of the body, a lot of mobility, conditioning to try to make sure my body can hold up," Bannister told Thunder PR. "Junior hockey for me, we played around 60 games a year and I loved it. I definitely like that schedule a lot more than the college schedule. I'm really looking forward to playing more games and being in more game-like situations rather than just practicing five days a week and playing on the weekends."

Bannister spent his junior hockey career with the Flin Flon Bombers of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL). Away from the rink, he loves getting outdoors fishing, golfing and even took up pickleball during college.

“Zach Bannister will look to make his mark as a hard-nosed player who plays a 200-foot game and could add to our toughness,” Thunder head coach Pete MacArthur said following the signing.

After several conversations with MacArthur, Bannister felt the Thunder fit his style of play.

"It seemed like it was the most fitting situation for myself coming into the league and being able to play my type of game," Bannister said. "We feel like I can come in and bring an impact to the team."