After two years as head coach of the Blues’ AHL affiliate in San Antonio, Bannister was set to coach the Blues’ new affiliate — the Springfield (Mass.) Thunderbirds.
Bannister has yet to make it to Springfield. On Jan. 4, the day after the Blues reported to training camp, Springfield announced it was opting out of the season for COVID-related reasons. The Blues worked out an arrangement with Utica, where Trent Cull was beginning his fourth season as head coach.
Bannister became the associate head coach.
“Working under Trent this year was a great experience for me,†Bannister said. “I learned some things on how he would run things, and what I liked, and maybe changes that I would make. Different ideas.
“It gives you a different perspective in the game, and how you’re dealing with players. I appreciated this year in that fact for myself.â€
Bannister didn’t retire as a player until 2012. So for someone still relatively new to the coaching game, particularly at the pro level, it was a valuable learning experience to watch Cull run the show in Utica.
Bannister still ran, by his estimation, about 40 percent of each practice. He ran the power play and the pre-scout video. But Cull was still the head coach.
Bottom line, though, Bannister’s job is to develop prospects into future Blues. And for those young men, this was a trying season — unlike any other.
