Greyhounds Head Coach Drew Bannister Named To Team Canada's Bench For Hlinka-Gretzky Cup
Drew Bannister has been named as one of three coaches to fill out Canada's Hlinka bench
Soo Greyhounds head coach Drew Bannister was named as one of three assistant coaches for Canada's 2026 Hlinka-Gretzky Cup team.
Bannister is one of three coaches named alongside head coach Misha Donskov, a former OHL coach, with the other two CHL leagues represented, Brad Lauer of the WHL's Spokane Chiefs and Jim Hulton from the QMJHL Saint John Sea Dogs.
Named Greyhounds head coach back in June, Bannister is in his second stint with the Soo, having been the team's head coach from 2015-2018.
Bannister won both the OHL and CHL Coach of the Year award in 2018 after a 55-7-0-6 season with a league leading 116 points. The Greyhounds lost in the OHL Finals to the Hamilton Bulldogs.
The 52-year-old Bannister had been an assistant coach last season with the Canadian Spengler Cup team, and head coach of Canada's U18 team that finished a lowly sixth place.
Bannister was previously an assistant coach for the Owen Sound Attack before his first HC stint with the Greyhounds, leaving the OHL for pro hockey in 2018 in the St. Louis Blues system.
Being named as the team's head coach in December 2023 after the firing of Craig Berube, Bannister had a 39-31-6 record in 76 games with St. Louis before his dismissal.
As a player, Bannister also appeared with the Greyhounds before appearing in parts of six NHL seasons with four teams.
Also named to Canada's roster is Erie Otters GM Dave Brown as an Assistant General Manager.
Never want to miss out on any OHL news? Make sure to bookmark THN's OHL siteAlso follow @AustinReporting and @roryyarthur on X/Twitter for more updates.
Read More
