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The Wheeling Nailers have announced that they’ve signed forward Zach Bannister for the 2026-27 season. Bannister, 27, played in one game with the Maine Mariners last season before joining the Royals. In 30 games with the Royals, he had four goals and five assists for nine points. He is expected to be a bottom-six forward for the Nailers heading into the upcoming season. Wheeling now has 22 players signed for the 2026-27 season.

The Grand Prairie, Alberta, native will be joining his sixth ECHL team in his short three-year career. Over the course of 76 ECHL games, Bannister has put up eight goals and seven assists for 15 points. Prior to going pro, he played four years of DIII hockey in the NCAA. He spent his first three years at the University of Wisconsin-Superior, where he had 12 goals and 18 assists for 30 points in 60 games and won a WIAC Championship in 2021 before transferring to Stevenson University. In his only season with the Mustangs, he had 10 goals and 17 assists for 27 points in 28 games.

Bannister also spent parts of three years in the SJHL with three different teams. Over the course of 133 games in the SJHL, he put up 47 goals and 88 assists for 135 points, while also playing in one playoff game with the Flin Flon Bombers.

This article first appeared on Inside The Rink and was syndicated with permission.

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