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Hockey Canada<\/span><\/span> has announced its coaching staff for the 2026 IIHF U18 Men\u2019s World Championship, with former Soo Greyhounds<\/span><\/span> defenceman and head coach Drew Bannister<\/span><\/span> is set to serve as head coach.<\/p>\n

Bannister, a Belleville, Ont. native, brings a strong Ontario Hockey League r\u00e9sum\u00e9 both behind the bench and as a player. He spent four seasons patrolling the blue line with the Greyhounds from 1990-94, capturing back-to-back OHL championships in 1991 and 1992 before helping the club claim the 1993 Memorial Cup.<\/p>\n

Over 222 career OHL regular-season games, Bannister recorded 18 goals, 100 assists, and 118 points, adding 37 points in 52 playoff contests. His most productive season came in 1993-94 when he tallied 50 points in 58 games.<\/p>\n

Bannister later returned to the OHL in a coaching role, spending three seasons as an assistant with the Owen Sound Attack<\/span><\/span> before taking over as head coach of the Greyhounds from 2015-18. In his final season behind the bench, he guided Sault Ste. Marie to a historic 55-7-3-3 record, earning both the Matt Leyden Trophy as OHL Coach of the Year and the Brian Kilrea Coach of the Year Award<\/span><\/span> at the CHL level.<\/p>\n

Bannister will be joined on staff by assistant coaches Matt Anholt and Mark O’Leary<\/span><\/span>, who also has OHL experience as a player. A native of Owen Sound, Ont., O\u2019Leary skated in 182 OHL games between the Mississauga IceDogs<\/span><\/span> and Guelph Storm<\/span><\/span> from 2003-06, recording 51 points while adding 114 penalty minutes in his final season with Guelph.<\/p>\n

Now the head coach of the Moose Jaw Warriors<\/span><\/span>, O\u2019Leary captured a WHL championship in 2024 and brings both major junior and international experience to Canada\u2019s bench.<\/p>\n

Canada will open the tournament on April 22 in Slovakia, looking to capture a third straight gold medal at the IIHF U18 Men\u2019s World Championship.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Drew Bannister will lead Canada\u2019s National Men\u2019s Under-18 Team at the 2026 IIHF U18 World Championship, bringing a decorated OHL coaching and playing background that includes Coach of the Year honours and multiple championships.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":297423,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"article","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[186],"tags":[{"term_id":1404,"name":"Drew Bannister","slug":"drew-bannister","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":1416,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":22,"filter":"raw","term_order":"1683"},{"term_id":37,"name":"Hockey Canada","slug":"hockey-canada","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":395,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":588,"filter":"raw","term_order":"1895"},{"term_id":2673,"name":"OHL 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The Barrie Colts doubled-up the Ottawa 67’s in Game 1 of their second round series Thursday night.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Barrie Colts doubled-up the Ottawa 67’s in Game 1 of their second round series Thursday night.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":607,"featured_media":297420,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"video","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2788],"tags":[{"term_id":3679,"name":"2026 OHL Playoffs","slug":"2026-ohl-playoffs","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":3679,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":51,"filter":"raw","term_order":"30"},{"term_id":98,"name":"Barrie 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HQ: Kitchener Rangers vs. Soo Greyhounds"},"content":{"rendered":"

(1) Kitchener Rangers (47-14-5-2) vs. (5) Soo Greyhounds (39-23-1-5)<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

The Western Conference semifinals bring together the top seed and a dangerous underdog, as the Kitchener Rangers host the Soo Greyhounds in what could be a series full of surprises. On paper, Kitchener is the clear favourite, but the Greyhounds have already proven this postseason that they are not to be underestimated, and the history between these two clubs suggests this series could be closer than the seedings imply.<\/span><\/p>\n

The season series belongs to the Soo, who edged out Kitchener three games to one. Two of those wins came in overtime, and the Greyhounds are also one of only two teams to have shut out the Rangers during the regular season. Those are not the kinds of numbers that inspire confidence for Kitchener, and they serve as a reminder that the Rangers will need to be at their best from the opening puck drop.<\/span><\/p>\n

Kitchener arrives in excellent form, having swept the Saginaw Spirit in the first round, and will open this series at home, where they have been virtually unbeatable, going 15-1 in their last 16 games at their own barn. Jack Pridham, who was recently named OHL Overage Player of the Year, has continued his productivity with five points in the postseason. The Rangers will also lean on the veteran presence of Christian Humphreys, who leads the club with nine points, as well as Sam O’Reilly and Dylan Edwards, each sitting at five. One of Kitchener’s most dangerous weapons throughout the regular season was their shorthanded game, where they scored a league-leading 19 goals, with Pridham and O’Reilly combining for 13 of them. While that threat did not materialize in the first round, it remains something the Greyhounds will need to be mindful of every time they go on the power play. Between the pipes, Christian Kirsch has been solid throughout, coming up with timely saves in close games when the Rangers needed him most. This group also knows what it takes to turn things around if needed, having reverse-swept Windsor in the second round just a year ago, and that playoff experience could be invaluable as the series wears on.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Greyhounds come in having dispatched the reigning Memorial Cup Champions, the London Knights, in five games, a result that speaks less to a shocking upset and more to a Greyhounds team that was simply ready for the moment against a Knights squad with plenty of playoff pedigree. Their game is built on balanced scoring, speed, and puck movement from the back end, which is anchored by 2026 NHL Draft prospect Chase Reid, who provides that offensive push from behind the play. Up front, Marco Mignosa leads the club with 10 points, while captain Brady Martin, returning from injury, has already contributed seven in the first round. The Greyhounds also bring a strong penalty kill into this matchup, which could prove critical against a Kitchener power play that opposing teams have struggled to contain. But perhaps the most compelling storyline for Soo is in goal. Carter George has long been regarded as one of the best goaltenders in the league, and he is finally making it out of the first round. Many expect him to have the edge in this goaltending matchup, and if he can replicate the form that made him so dangerous in the regular season, the Greyhounds have the pieces to make this a very long series for Kitchener.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ultimately, the Rangers hold the edge in the standings and on home ice, but the Greyhounds have shown they can play with anyone. With a goaltender capable of stealing games and the confidence of a team that has already beaten Kitchener three times this season, the Soo arrive ready to make some noise in the second round.<\/p>\n

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Series Schedule:<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

* <\/span>if needed<\/span><\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

Game 1 – Fri., April 10 at Kitchener, 7:00pm<\/span><\/p>\n

Game 2 – Sun., April 12 at Kitchener, 7:00pm<\/span><\/p>\n

Game 3 – Tues., April 14 at Sault Ste. Marie, 7:07pm<\/span><\/p>\n

Game 4 – Thurs., April 16 at Sault Ste. Marie, 7:07pm<\/span><\/p>\n

Game 5 – Fri., April 17 at Kitchener, 7:00pm*<\/span><\/p>\n

Game 6 – Sun., April 19 at Sault Ste. Marie, 7:07pm*<\/span><\/p>\n

Game 7 – Tues., April 21 at Kitchener, 7:00pm*<\/span><\/p>\n

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Season Series:<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

Soo wins 3-1<\/span><\/p>\n

Oct. 10 – KIT 4 at SOO 5 \u2013 OT<\/span><\/p>\n

Nov. 14 – SOO 4 at KIT 0<\/span><\/p>\n

Dec. 10 – KIT 2 at SOO 3 \u2013 OT<\/span><\/p>\n

Mar. 6 – SOO 0 at KIT 3<\/span><\/p>\n

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Playoff History:<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

This marks the sixth time that Kitchener and Soo have met in the OHL Playoffs.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

2018 SOO def. KIT 4-3 \u2013 Third Round, 2008 KIT def. SOO 4-1 \u2013 Third Round, 2003 KIT def. SOO 4-0 \u2013 First Round, 2000 SOO def. KIT 4-1 \u2013 First Round, 1992 SOO def. KIT 4-3 First Round.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

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Who will win the second round series between Kitchener and Soo?<\/strong><\/p>