Talented two-way NCAA veteran D-man Bamber returning home to bolster Griffins' blueline
Jefferson Hagen
MacEwan Athletics
EDMONTON – Amid a ton of recent success with ex-pat former NCAA players, the Griffins are bringing defenceman Brett Bamber home to continue a promising post-secondary hockey career.
The St. Albert product has spent the past three seasons in the NCAA Div. 1 ranks, playing for the University of Alaska-Anchorage from 2022-24 and last season at American International College in Springfield, Mass.
After 27 years at Div. 1, AIC has made the decision to drop its program to Div. II next season, and that had Bamber looking for a new team.
"They're getting rid of their Div. 1 program, so he was in the transfer portal and was looking for a place to play," said Griffins head coach Zack Dailey. "I don't think he found what he was looking for in Div. 1. He's a St. Albert kid, he knows some of the guys on my team, so it was a good fit that way.
"He's someone who's coming in with Div. 1 experience, which is the best league for that age in the world. So, that's going to be important."
The right shot defenceman had 18 points in 35 games for AIC last season and finished with 41 points in 96 NCAA Div. 1 contests.
"He played quite a bit, played on the powerplay there," said Dailey. "He's got a really good one-timer, a good shot. So, we're expecting he's going to come in and fill the void of some of these graduating guys and help our returning D.
"He's someone I see playing a big role for us right away."
Considering the Griffins have lost three key powerplay defenceman from last season – Sean Comrie, Hunter Donohoe and Loeden Schaufler – to graduation, the lane is wide open for Bamber to star.
The past few seasons, some of the Griffins' top players have been NCAA returners, including longtime captain Comrie, 2022-23 leading scorer Merritt Oszytko, 2024-25 leading scorer Marc Pasemko and two-time MacEwan Male Athlete of the Year, goaltender Ashton Abel.
