The Soo Greyhounds in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, have named Drew Bannister as their new head coach on a three-year deal starting July 1, 2026. Bannister is a former Greyhounds player and coach who led the club to its best-ever season in 2017-18.
Bannister, who helped the Greyhounds win the Memorial Cup as a player in 1993, previously coached the team from 2015 to 2018. During his first run behind the bench, he guided the Greyhounds to a franchise-record 55-7-3-3 regular season, earning the Matt Leyden Trophy as Ontario Hockey League coach of the year and the Brian Kilrea Award as the top coach in the Canadian Hockey League.
The move comes after the Greyhounds and former head coach John Dean parted ways on April 29, 2026. Dean spent seven seasons with the club, compiling a 245-178-31-18 record and leading the team to a fifth-place finish in the Western Conference this past season before a second-round playoff exit against the Kitchener Rangers.
General Manager Kyle Raftis said the search for a new coach drew immediate interest. “As soon as the press release went out, there was already people reaching out. We’re going to take our time,” he noted after Dean’s departure.
Bannister arrives with recent NHL experience, having served as head coach of the St. Louis Blues before being dismissed in November 2024. He also guided Team Canada at the 2026 IIHF Under-18 Men’s World Championship in Slovakia.
Bannister called his return “a tremendous honour” and pointed to the organization’s tradition of “hard work, character and excellence.” “I am excited to be back and help lead the next generation of players,” he added. Team president Tim Lukenda said, “Drew Bannister embodies what it means to be a Soo Greyhound. His connection to this organization runs deep. He helped bring a Memorial Cup championship to our city as a player and later returned to build one of the most successful teams in franchise history as head coach.”
That next generation is already making waves. Fourteen current and former Greyhounds are attending NHL development camps this summer, including defenceman Chase Reid, who was chosen seventh overall by the Seattle Kraken at the 2026 NHL Draft. Others in camp include goaltender Carter George with the Los Angeles Kings, goaltender Landon Miller with the Detroit Red Wings, and forward Harris Pangretitsch with the Ottawa Senators.
