BY SCOTT
HADDOW
Drew Bannister may have been born in Belleville, but he's a
Greater Sudbury boy through and through. The 34-year-old
recently capped off a remarkable 2007-08 season in Germany with
the Kassel Huskies where he won the league championship, scored
the series finale overtime goal and was named best defenceman.
Bannister moved to Sudbury when he was seven with his family
and played AAA minor hockey here until being drafted by the
Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds in 1990. The six-foot-two defender
then played four seasons with the Greyhounds, winning two OHL
championships, the Memorial Cup and a gold medal at the World
Junior Championship (WJC). Bannister then embarked on his
professional career which has seen him play in the United
States to Finland to Russia and Germany since 1994, winning one
AHL championship (with Hartford in 2000).
Bannister was drafted into the NHL by Tampa Bay in 1992, 26th
overall. He played 164 NHL games with Tampa Bay, Edmonton and
Anaheim.
Recently, Bannister took time to talk with Northern Life
reporter Scott Haddow about life and hockey in Europe, his
fondest memories and the impact a car accident had on him and
his entire family when he was young.
Q: Winning the German championship, what did it mean to you?
A: Last year, we lost the finals. This year, we were the
favourites and there was a lot of pressure on the team. It was
a tough grind and we faced a lot of adversity, but we pushed
through it and won. It had been a while since I had won a
league championship. It was a special feeling. It makes me
wonder if it was my last chance to win a championship. With me
getting up in age, to win another championship is a big
accomplishment.
Q: You scored the overtime, championship-winning goal in
Germany. How did that feel?
A: Growing up as a kid, for me, I played street hockey and
dreamed of scoring an overtime goal to win the Stanley Cup.
It's a great individual achievement...but I played with a lot
of guys who did a lot of great things during the season that
gave me the chance to score. It's a feeling that's hard to
describe.
Q: What are you getting out of the hockey experience in
Europe?
A: If I was still in North America, I would probably have never
gone to Europe and seen all the different places I've seen. It
made me appreciate the things we have here in North America.
Europe doesn't have the vast amounts of land or lakes. A lot of
people don't own houses, they live in apartments. I feel
privileged I can come home and sit down in my backyard or go to
camp and enjoy everything we have here.
Q: What kind of cultural differences have you noticed or had
to adjust to?
A: Nothing really blows my mind over there. The language
barrier was something I had to get used to, but English is a
second language in Europe and I've been able to get by and even
learned some German. The cultural is more laid-back than North
America...there's no crazy rush and people speeding in their
cars. They live a relaxed lifestyle. It's an easy life to get
used to. There's a lot of similarities...people work hard and
have fun in their time off like we do. Where I live in Kassel,
a week doesn't go by were I don't hear about somebody digging
up a bomb leftover from the Second World War...it's crazy.
Q: You were named Top Defenceman in Germany for two straight
seasons. What does it mean to you?
A: It sure looks good on paper. I got the trophies and I can
say it's a bit of an ego boost. I played on some great teams
and with great players. When it comes down to it in the end, if
you don't win the championship, individual awards don't matter
to me. Last year, I would have traded the Top Defenceman award
for a championship without hesitation. I would have done it
this year. The most important thing is to win as a team...going
through everything with a team. It's more of an
accomplishment.
Q: Is there anything you would change about your life right
now?
A: There's always been things I've done I would have liked to
change, but would I be where I am now? I can't be more happier
with how my life has turned out. I would have loved to have
played five or 10 more years in the NHL, but I was blessed
enough to play five seasons in the NHL. I wouldn't change
anything hockey-wise. I've met a lot of great people and seen a
lot of great things. I've won league championships...there's
guys who go through their whole careers and never even win a
playoff series. A defining moment in a hockey player's career
is what you've done with a  team and being part of a
championship-winning team. I'm proud I was part if winning
teams at the national, international and professional
levels.
Q: You were born in Belleville, but grew up in Sudbury from
age seven. Do you consider yourself to be a Sudbury boy?
A: Yes. I've always considered myself to be from Sudbury. I
played all my minor hockey here. I went to play Major Junior
hockey when I was 16, but I always came back here in the
summer. I'm back now and I'm rooted here...my family is still
here and my wife, Katie, is a teacher in Chelmsford. There's no
place I would rather be than Sudbury.
Q: What does Sudbury mean to you?
A: Sudbury people are the salt of the earth. I grew up here and
learned all my values from my family, coaches and friends I had
in Sudbury. Sudbury is a small city, but it's a big city.
Everyone is always interested in how you're doing. Guys I've
played with, who played in Sudbury, always talk about how great
it was...they can't say enough good things about the city. It's
nice to know I come from a city which has meant so much to
other people.
Q: What do you like most about Sudbury?
A: I love the outdoors and fishing. Where else can I live where
there's 300 lakes at my back door? When I played in the United
States, I loved coming home to go fishing or just walking in
the bush. I drag my wife out onto the lake just to get an extra
line in the water. This is why I love coming home.
Q: You've also won other major hockey championships -
Memorial Cup (1993, along with two OHL titles in 1991 and 92),
WJC Gold medal in 1994 and AHL Calder Cup in 2000. What do you
remember most about each championship?
A: For the Memorial Cup, it was our third time in a row going
there. We beat Peterborough to earn the right to host the
Memorial Cup. At the time, the steel plant in Sault Ste. Marie
had a shut down and people were struggling. Our team was
something to keep people's minds off their troubles. We ended
up winning on home ice and it was absolute pandemonium. I can
remember the Zamboni driving down the street...it was crazy.
The WJC in the Czech Republic was a totally different
experience. We were big underdogs and had to beat Sweden in our
final game to win gold, which we did. To win for my country was
emotional especially knowing there were so many people watching
back home. The Calder Cup was my first professional
championship and the first season I played in the AHL. Our
coach was John Paddock and he made us believe in ourselves and
we bought into it and won.
Q: What kind of demands do you put on yourself?
A: I am my toughest critic and I've always been that way. I'm
in better shape now than I was when I was 23. I'm always in the
gym...it's a commitment which goes hand-in-hand with hockey. I
enjoy pushing myself to be better. I'm in a leadership role, so
I put pressure on myself to be in top shape and be ready for my
teammates.
Q: Your father, Bob, was seriously injured in a car accident
when you were in Grade 6 which left him paralyzed on one side
of his body. What kind of effect did that have on you?
A: I didn't have to sacrifice anything. I was the youngest in
the family and my mother, and older sister and brother had to
make all kinds of sacrifices. My mom had to go back to school
and take care of the family. My older brother, Kent, had to
become the man of the house and my sister, Jody, had to do the
things our mother had been doing. They had to sacrifice a lot
and couldn't do certain things. They decided, as a group, to
allow me to keep playing AAA hockey. They wanted me to keep
playing and I know I wouldn't be where I am without what they
did. Today, my dad is very independent and active. I'm lucky to
have him around. He loves hockey and still goes to every
Sudbury Wolves game at the Sudbury Arena.
Q: What's next for you?
A: I have one more year left on my contract with Kassel. I'm
looking to extend it another two or three seasons. The drive to
play is still there. I still love going to the rink. They'll
have to kick me out of the game before I leave.
