Zach Bansley’s junior hockey journey was anything but straightforward, marked by constant movement across teams and leagues before he finally found stability with the Humboldt Broncos.
The forward never had the chance to settle into one team for an entire season before arriving in Humboldt. Beginning in 2022-23, he split time between the Western Hockey League’s (WHL) Lethbridge Hurricanes and the Melville Millionaires.
After starting the following campaign back in Melville, the Tisdale product moved on to the Coquitlam Express of the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL).
In his 19-year-old season, Bansley opened the year with the Grande Prairie Storm of the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) before joining the Drayton Valley Thunder. Midway through the season, he was acquired by the Broncos. After dealing with injuries, he finished the year in Humboldt with six points (2G-4A) in 17 games and added a goal in the Broncos’ first-round series against the Flin Flon Bombers.
While he didn’t quite reach his on-ice expectations in his final junior season, Bansley finally had the opportunity to settle in with one team, suiting up for 52 games in the green and gold, ending up with 13 points (1G-12A).
It was a welcome change for Bansley not having to move partway through the year.
“It was nice not to have to pack up and go somewhere halfway through the year and kind of find a home a little bit the last year, so it’s been nice.”
The strong atmosphere within the Broncos made a lasting impression on him.
“It truly is just the family feel organization, something I haven’t had anywhere else.”
One of Bansley’s best displays of skill came in February during the Broncos’ player shootout, where he advanced into the final rounds alongside Oliver Phillips before Associate Coach Carter Hansen ultimately claimed the win.
Bansley noted that the pace and format of a shootout suit his game well.
“I think in a shootout, there’s no pressure at all,” said the graduating Bronco.
“That’s a kind of time when you can just go do your thing one-on-one with the goalie.”
Zach wasn’t the first Bansley to skate in the SJHL. His grandfather, Ray, played for the Prince Albert Raiders when they competed in the league in the 1970s.
As Zach wrapped up his career, Ray made the trip to watch his grandson’s final games, travelling to rinks in Air Ronge and Kindersley and completing a goal of visiting every SJHL community in which both Bansleys played.
Having his grandfather witness those final moments made the experience especially meaningful for Zach.
“He’s who taught me how to skate, who taught me how to shoot—pretty much everything back on the pond,” Bansley explained. “It’s pretty special to have him watch me now do this.”
Hansen noted that while Bansley didn’t achieve the on-ice success he hoped for in his final season, the growth he showed off the ice was just as important.
“The strides that he made as a person was just phenomenal to see him grow and get better in that regard,” Hansen said following the Broncos’ season finale victory against Warman.
“We are coaching hockey players to make them better hockey players, but we’re also helping these guys become better people and better humans, because hockey only lasts for so long.”
Hansen added, “I think he had an amazing personal year and a half, and I hope that sets him up for success moving forward.”
As he prepared to lace up his skates for the final time with the Broncos last weekend, his message was simple: stay present.
“I like to just tell everyone to live and kind of be in the moment when you can because that’s the stuff you remember.”
In the end, Bansley’s junior career was about the journey itself—finding consistency, building connections, and embracing each moment along the way.
Blaine Weyland - Discover Humboldt
