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Bannister making his mark in SJHL

Feb 14, 2019 | 1:23 PM

Finally finding some stability, Zach Bannister is having himself a career year in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League.

The 19-year-old Grande Prairie native currently leads the La Ronge Ice Wolves in both goals (24) and assists (35) in 49 games played this season. His 59 points have him sitting in 10th in the SJHL in scoring.

This is the longest tenure Bannister has had with one team in his more than three seasons in junior hockey, allowing him to finally find his game.

The Swan City product spent last season alone on four different teams, in four different leagues. He started last year with the Kirkland Lake Gold Miners of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League (playing in 23 games), before returning home to the Peace Country to play one game with the Fairview Flyers of the NWJHL. He was then picked up by the Olds Grizzlies of the AJHL for nine games, before being traded to the Ice Wolves at last year’s CJHL trade deadline. He totaled just 38 points over those four stops.

Bannister is also the first Ice Wolf since the 2010-2011 season to reach the 58-point plateau. The team, which is currently sitting in last in the SJHL standings, hasn’t made the playoffs since 2015-2016.

Bannister has one more year of eligibility in junior hockey and will continue his search for a Division-I scholarship in the NCAA.