ECHL: Adirondack Thunder Sign Rookie Forward and Defenseman

The Adirondack Thunder added two more rookies to their roster on Thursday afternoon as they signed defensemen Ty Gibson and forward Zach Bannister for the 2024-25 season. Both players will be entering their rookie year in the league. I expect both players to be depth pieces for the Thunder when the season begins next month.

“Ty Gibson is a young defenseman who plays the game with his head up at all times and has excellent skating ability,” said Head Coach Pete MacArthur.
-Head Coach Pete MacArthur on the signing of Ty Gibson (Via Adirondack Thunder Press Release)

Gibson, 21, joins the Thunder after spending parts of the last five seasons in the WHL with the Everett Silvertips and Regina Pats. In 215 games at the WHL level, Gibson would put up ten goals and 61 assists for 71 points. He would add two assists in 11 playoff games. The Victoria, BC, native becomes the eighth defenseman to sign with Adirondack for next season and will likely be a depth piece for Head Coach Pete MacArthur. Gibson should fit in well with Adirondack and should transition easily to the ECHL, seeing that he had a similar schedule in the WHL to what he will have now in his first year of pro.

“Zach Bannister will look to make his mark as a hard-nosed player who plays a 200-foot game and could add to our toughness,” said Head Coach Pete MacArthur. “Ty Gibson is a young defenseman who plays the game with his head up at all times and has excellent skating ability.”
-Head Coach Pete MacArthur on the signing of Zach Bannister (Via Adirondack Thunder Press Release)

Bannister, 25, joins the Thunder after spending the 2023-24 season with Stevenson University, putting up ten goals and 17 assists for 27 points in 28 games before he joined the Norfolk Admirals for two games and picked up his first career assist. Prior to the 2023-24 season, Bannister would spend three years at the University of Wisconsin-Superior, where he put up 12 goals and 18 assists for 30 points in 60 games and would win a WIAC Championship in 2021 with the Yellowjackets. The Grant Praire, Alberta native, will be a young depth piece to the Thunder heading into the 2024-25 season.