Son of former Roughnecks owner returns to Calgary
As Mitch Banister goes about his business at training camp, attempting to crack the Calgary Roughnecks’ 2016 lineup, his father can’t help but believe it was meant to be.
“I had to go to practices and I remember him sleeping on the floor at the 52nd Street soccer centre in the dust while we worked,’’ recalled Brad Banister, the original owner and general manager of the National Lacrosse League squad. “He grew up with all those guys, all the veterans. He’s been around that team since Grade 6, so he’s very comfortable around this team. I think it’s his dream come true.’’
After three seasons with the reigning NLL champs Edmonton Rush, who have since moved to Saskatoon, the 25- year- old Okotoks native was signed by Calgary in the off- season, returning to where it all began.
“It’s pretty surreal,’’ agreed the younger Banister, after physicals on the first weekend of camp. “It’s definitely cool coming back, being with Edmonton the last three years, which was a ton of fun. I had an amazing time over there. But coming back here, I’m thankful for the opportunity to compete for a spot on the team.’’
His ties to the Roughnecks are strong; his boss, in fact, is former Calgary defender Scott Forbes.
“The players were like older brothers to me,’’ explained Banister, an electrician by day. “Kaleb Toth and Tracey Kelusky were pretty involved in my life and still are. It was cool to be around them growing up and it led me on the right path and made me realize what I needed to do.’’
A gritty six feet and 175 pounds, Banister in the summer toils for the Maple Ridge Burrards.
“I’ve watched him in junior, he’s in my own backyard in Maple Ridge,’’ noted Calgary head coach Curt Malawsky. “He’s going to bring an impeccable work ethic. He’s going to make everyone around him at camp better because he just works his tail off. He’s a great team guy. Coming out of Coach ( Derek) Keenan’s camp up in Edmonton, he couldn’t help but help his career with the experience he would have grabbed out of there.’’
Indeed, while he had been eyed by the ‘ Necks, the Rush grabbed Banister in the 2012 draft. He didn’t play a whole lot, on a tough roster to make. One game in April, 2014, in Calgary stands out for him, when he assisted on the winning goal for the Rush.
“Especially the first time coming into Calgary ... it was really weird,’’ he admitted. “Throwing on the jersey on the other side and walking in the other side of the arena. I think it took a lot of pressure off myself, too, going somewhere where I wasn’t living in the shadow and kind of start my own career.
“I got to sit behind some of the best defenders in the world in Kyle Rubisch and Chris Corbeil and Ryan Dilks for three years. To sit and watch those guys for three years was pretty amazing. I tried to soak in everything like a sponge and take whatever tools I could from each player and bring it towards my own game.’’
Even when his son was just a young kid hanging with the stars, the elder Banister’s wish was that Mitch would someday suit up in the big league.
“We’d take some kids on the road,’’ Brad Banister remembered. “Mitch actually swung the gate when he was a little bit older at Madison Square Garden. You always hope they can develop into the type of player that can crack a lineup like that.
“It’s fantastic. I’m real proud, I think he has a great shot and I’m trying to stay away from the whole thing, which is killing me. I’m just quietly anticipating and hopefully he’ll stick with them. He plays with a little bit of an edge that hopefully the Roughnecks need.’’
And for the Banister family, it means loyalties won’t be divided anymore.
“He can wear a Roughnecks’ jersey again,’’ grinned Mitch Banister. “The game I played against Calgary he ( wore a Rush jersey), which was nice to see. I think he had it on under his coat, but he still had it on. I think it’ll be a big relief for him.’’