The legacy of Frank Banham

“Loose puck at centre! Banham in over the line… takes the shot… scores! Move over Gerry Pinder! You have company at the top of the heap.”

That iconic Les Lazaruk goal call echoed across Saskatoon airwaves on Tuesday, March 12th, 1996. Saskatoon Blades history was made that evening at Saskatchewan Place (now referred to as SaskTel Centre) with the Red Deer Rebels in town. 8,690 Bridge City Faithful witnessed 20-year-old forward Frank Banham tie Blades legend Gerry Pinder’s single-season goal record in franchise history.

“A lot of people didn’t know if it would ever happen,” said Lazaruk, the Blades play-by-play announcer for 30 seasons and counting, “We were already seeing goaltenders be better, teams become more defensively capable of shutting other players down. Even though teams knew Frank was on this sort of a roll, you couldn’t stop him.”

The celebration inside the arena was one where the energy can’t be described but only felt. Fans rose to their feet to shower Banham with praise. Born and raised in the tiny hamlet of Calahoo, AB, a place with a population of 85 people as of 2016, Banham’s solidified his name forever in the Paris of the Prairies. That moment is memorable in Banham’s storied career, but it’s not the only one that defines him.

Rewind nearly three decades earlier to the days of forward Gerry Pinder. The Saskatoon native scored 78 goals in 55 games during the 1966-67 season. His time with the organization was short but effective. In 108 games across two seasons as a Blade, Pinder scored 112 goals and 221 points.

Years went by and it appeared no one would touch Pinder’s single-season record. Fast forward to the beginning of the 1992-93 season, a 16-year-old kid named Frank Banham entered the WHL. Not only did Frank go on to surpass Pinder’s record, but he went on to become the most prolific goal scorer the organization has ever seen.

A couple months earlier, forward Clarke Wilm made his WHL debut with the Blades in the 1991-92 playoffs. The Central Butte, SK product managed to get in one game during the club’s run to the league finals that year where they were defeated at the hands of the Kamloops Blazers. The following season, Wilm and Banham became mainstays on the roster. Their relationship together along with elite playmaker Mark Deyell would define Blades hockey for nearly the next half decade.

“We were both rookies together,” said Wilm, “We spent lots of time on the bus, and he was such an exciting player. He loved to score goals.”

And score goals did he ever. Banham put up 29 goals and 62 points through 71 games his rookie year in 1992-93. The 6-foot sniper went on to collect two goals and nine points in as many playoff games that spring, but it was only scratching the surface of what was to come for the skilled winger.

“As a 17-year-old, he had the great flow,” said Blades alumnus Paul Buczkowski, “He was one of those guys that was sharp looking and dressed well. Everybody wanted to be Frank Banham, and that included players such as myself who were the same age.”

Buczkowski suited up for 329 games as a member of the Blades organization between 1991-1996. The Saskatoon product played a full season in 1991-92 prior to Banham cracking the roster. It didn’t take long for the former defenceman to see the talent Banham had.

“We watched in awe,” said Buczkowski, “Frank was way ahead of the game. It’s not that he was trying the Michigan yet, but he was doing things of equal value, and we were always in astonishment of his skill.”

Banham enjoyed a successful sophomore campaign. He scored 28 goals and 67 points in six fewer games from the previous season. The playoffs were where Banham’s magic really began to shine.

The Blades returned to the league finals in the spring of 1994 hungry for their first Ed Chynoweth trophy. The right-handed sniper was electric on the team’s run, scoring eight goals and 19 points in 16 playoff games. An incredible run by the Blades unfortunately fell short, losing to the Blazers in Game 7 in a finals rematch from two years prior.

“Passion is probably what stands out most about Frankie for me,” said Blades head athletic therapist Blaine Whyte, “He always wanted to be on the ice, and his career went forever.”

“He was one of the first guys on the ice and one of the last guys off the ice,” said Buczkowski, “He just practiced shooting. He was trying to hit something the size of a toonie. That’s what separated him from being an amazing goal scorer to those of us that were just average in nature. Frank’s work ethic separated him, but his skill level separated him even more.”

The 1994-95 season is where Banham put any doubt people had about his ability to bed. Banham exploded for 50 goals and 89 points in 70 games, helping Saskatoon to another successful regular season.

“He could score from anywhere,” said Lazaruk, “I remember him scoring goals from neutral ice. Frank Banham could do that to you. He could make those things happen because he had a sneaky good release, and the ability to score from just about anywhere.”

“I compare his scoring prowess to somebody like a Dave Andreychuk, who scored hundreds and hundreds of goals in the NHL and could score from all over the place,” said Buczkowski.

Banham was doing more than just putting the puck in the back of the net.  He helped unite a city around one of the WHL’s oldest franchises and provided inspiration to the next generation of hockey players in Saskatoon. One of those kids was former Blade Ryan Keller, who played for the Blue and Gold between 2001-2005.

“Being a young local kid, we came to a lot of games. Frank was the player that stood out for me,” said Keller.

Every goal Banham scored didn’t just register on the scoreboard. It also created a memory teammates and fans carried with them.

“One of the memories that stands out as a kid was before they added seats in the one end,” began Keller, “We were sitting down behind the net, and the other team shot the puck down. Norm Maracle, a goalie, fired it up to the far blue line. Frank took one step in and scored with a slap shot.”

“Frank got hit really hard along the boards and wasn’t ready for it, but he got up,” recalled Buczkowski, “Frank dusted himself off, got the puck, made two or three unbelievable moves around some of the best defencemen in the league and ended up scoring from the goal line. I think this was one of the first times that I’ve seen anybody at this level try to bounce the puck off the back of the goalie’s leg. That was one of the goals that I still remember where he scored from almost behind the net, and he was meaning to. It wasn’t one of those fluke shots like some of the goals that I got in my career.”

Skill was a big aspect to Banham’s game, and fans loved him for it. He was also tough, determined, and never backed down from a challenge put in front of him.

“He went to hard places to score those goals,” said Buczkowski, “I remember Lorne Molleken (head coach) coming into the dressing room and saying, ‘It hurts to win, boys.’ Every single day after a game, Frank would have an ice pack on his shoulder or on his leg but never complained about it.”

Those who knew Banham will tell you how he was as fierce of a competitor as they come. Unlike some high-level athletes, Banham had the ability to switch it off.

“Frankie was a character,” chuckled Wilm, “Him and Wade Belak roomed together. Rest in peace, Wade. We wish he could be here. They used to have a car. On one side it had 39, and on the other side it had number three. They cruised around town. I think it was an old 64 Comet that Frankie bought, but that’s a nice memory.”

“I remember Frank telling the story of him driving down 51st Street with a police light that he actually put on the roof of his car to pull people over to speak,” laughed Buczkowski, “I still don’t know 100 percent why he pulled them over, but he was one of those characters that was always the life of the party.”

Above all else, Banham was the ultimate teammate.

“He was the first guy to be able to give you his shirt off his back if he needed it,” said Buczkowski, “He would always sacrifice whatever he was doing to help out a teammate.”

“Frank loved being part of the community,” said Wilm, “Even though he was a very high scoring player and a star for the Blades, he’d go out and play street hockey with the kids and go to the ODR and stuff like that.”

“We had a golf tournament in my hometown, and I just picked up the phone and called Frank, and he came. He’s just that kind of guy, he’d do anything for you,” said Whyte.

Banham’s first three seasons in the WHL is something most players who enter the league can only dream of. There was still plenty of story left to tell in his final season.

“I remember that year when he got 83 goals,” said Wilm, “Frank would say, ‘I’m feeling it. I’m going to get four or five tonight.’ Sure enough, he’d go out and do it.”

Banham went on to score 83 points and 152 points in 72 games during his senior year in the league. On Jan. 14th, 1996, Banham’s 50th goal of the year 7:19 into the first period against the Regina Pats set a new Blades all-time record with 157 career goals, surpassing forward Tracey Katelnikoff. The Blades beat the Pats that night 7-3.

Banham made history again vs the Pats on Feb. 23rd, 1996. Banham collected his 345th career WHL point for a new all-time record in franchise history. Saskatoon emerged victorious 8-5.

That brings us back to March 12th. Banham’s tied Pinder’s single-season goal record. At the 8:31 mark of the third period, Banham gathered the puck along the near wall and flew down the ice. Fans stood and cheered in anticipation for the inevitable that was about to transpire. In vintage Banham fashion, the franchise’s all-time leading goal scorer slapped home his 79th goal of the season, placing himself all alone at the top.

Banham finished his career as a Blade with 278 games played. The Washington Capitals third-round pick in 1993 scored 190 goals and 370 points in that span, both the most in franchise history nearly 28 years later.

The Blades will immortalize Banham’s number 39 to the rafters Saturday, March 9th at SaskTel Centre when the Blades welcome the Edmonton Oil Kings to town.

“This is long overdue,” said Lazaruk, “You’re not the leading goal scorer in franchise history by being a fluke. This was something that he earned, and as such, earned having his name and number in the rafters of SaskTel Center.”

Banham’s name will forever hang in the rafters alongside Pinder and Brent Ashton (#7), Brian Skrudland (#10), Bob Bourne (#12), Bernie Federko (#15), and Wendel Clark (#22).

“He doesn’t get the recognition he deserves just based on not having the NHL career that some of those guys had. He’s right up there with the best goal scorers I think ever came through this league. To see him get his number up there and recognized is pretty cool,” said Keller.

“Frank is one of the best Western Hockey League players to ever play. I am very happy for Frank and obviously the Saskatoon community to be able to recognize Frank as one of the best ever.” said Buczkowski.

For tickets to Frank Banham’s jersey retirement, click HERE