Mike Forbes
Encyclopedia
Michael D. Forbes is a former professional ice hockey
defenceman
, manager and commissioner. Forbes was selected in the third round of the 1977 NHL Amateur Draft
by the Boston Bruins
, 52nd overall.
and St. Catharines Fincups of the OMJHL, and won a silver medal with Team Canada at the 1977 World Junior Championships. Following his draft, Forbes split the 1977–78 season between Boston and their AHL
-affiliate, the Rochester Americans
. Forbes played in Rochester for the 1978–79 season, and was claimed by the Edmonton Oilers
in the 1979 NHL Expansion Draft
.
Forbes would play in only 18 games for Edmonton over the rest of his career, but was productive in the CHL
, first with the Houston Apollos
and later with the Wichita Wind
and Montana Magic
, highlighted by being named to the 1983 CHL All-Star Team. Forbes spent parts of two seasons with the Muskegon Lumberjacks
of the IHL at the tail end of his career, (including on the 1986 Turner Cup
team), before retiring in 1987.
as assistant general manager and co owner until 1992, and was named GM of the Salt Lake Golden Eagles
on May 25, 1993, a position he held for the 1993–94 season. In 1994 Forbes was made commissioner of the Colonial Hockey League, a position he held until 1997. He currently resides in Grand Haven, MI and is the Head Coach of the ACHA
2011 National Champion Division II hockey team at Grand Valley State University
. Forbes was also named the 2011 ACHA D2 Coach of the Year, as well as being appointed to the Coaching staff of the 2012 ACHA D2 Select Team.
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
defenceman
Defenceman (ice hockey)
Defence in ice hockey is a player position whose primary responsibility is to prevent the opposing team from scoring...
, manager and commissioner. Forbes was selected in the third round of the 1977 NHL Amateur Draft
1977 NHL Amateur Draft
The 1977 NHL Amateur Draft was held at the Mount Royal Hotel in Montreal, Quebec.-Selections by round:Below are listed the selections in the 1977 NHL Amateur Draft.Club teams are located in North America unless otherwise noted.-Round one:-Round two:...
by the Boston Bruins
Boston Bruins
The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, and is the league's third-oldest team and its oldest in the...
, 52nd overall.
Playing career
Forbes spent his junior career with the Kingston CanadiansKingston Canadians
The Kingston Canadians were a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League from 1973 to 1988. The team played home games at the Kingston Memorial Centre in Kingston, Ontario, Canada.-History:...
and St. Catharines Fincups of the OMJHL, and won a silver medal with Team Canada at the 1977 World Junior Championships. Following his draft, Forbes split the 1977–78 season between Boston and their AHL
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
-affiliate, the Rochester Americans
Rochester Americans
The Rochester Americans are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League, and a top affiliate of the Buffalo Sabres. The team plays its home games in Rochester, New York, at the Blue Cross Arena at the War Memorial...
. Forbes played in Rochester for the 1978–79 season, and was claimed by the Edmonton Oilers
Edmonton Oilers
The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division in the Western Conference of the National Hockey League ....
in the 1979 NHL Expansion Draft
1979 NHL Expansion Draft
The 1979 NHL Expansion Draft was held on June 13, 1979. The draft took place to fill the rosters of the league's new teams for the 1979–80 season: the Edmonton Oilers, Hartford Whalers, Quebec Nordiques and Winnipeg Jets...
.
Forbes would play in only 18 games for Edmonton over the rest of his career, but was productive in the CHL
Central Hockey League
The Central Hockey League is a mid-level professional hockey league, owned by Global Entertainment Corporation. Its current champions are the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs, which defeated the Colorado Eagles four games to three in the 2011 playoffs....
, first with the Houston Apollos
Houston Apollos
The Houston Apollos were a minor professional ice hockey team based in Houston, Texas. They played in the Central Hockey League from 1965 to 1969, and then from 1979 to 1981....
and later with the Wichita Wind
Wichita Wind
The Wichita Wind were a minor league ice hockey team based in Wichita, Kansas from 1980 to 1983. They were the feeder team of the Edmonton Oilers and the New Jersey Devils . The Wind played in the Central Hockey League at the Britt Brown Arena in the Kansas Coliseum...
and Montana Magic
Montana Magic
The Montana Magic were a short-lived ice hockey franchise, founded in 1983, that competed for one season in the now defunct Central Hockey League, based in North America....
, highlighted by being named to the 1983 CHL All-Star Team. Forbes spent parts of two seasons with the Muskegon Lumberjacks
Muskegon Lumberjacks
The Muskegon Lumberjacks were an International Hockey League team based in Muskegon, Michigan.-Facts:-Season-by-Season record:Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, OTL = Overtime losses/Shootout losses, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against, PIM = Penalties in...
of the IHL at the tail end of his career, (including on the 1986 Turner Cup
Turner Cup
The Turner Cup is the championship trophy of the International Hockey League. The Cup is named for Joe Turner, a goaltender from Windsor, Ontario. Turner became professional with the Detroit Red Wings organization, and played one season with the Indianapolis Capitals in the American Hockey League...
team), before retiring in 1987.
Post-retirement
Forbes was assistant general manager and co owner of the Muskegon Lumberjacks and remained with the Cleveland LumberjacksCleveland Lumberjacks
The Cleveland Lumberjacks were an International Hockey League team based in Cleveland, Ohio.-Facts:The Cleveland Lumberjacks were an International Hockey League team based in Cleveland, Ohio.-Facts:...
as assistant general manager and co owner until 1992, and was named GM of the Salt Lake Golden Eagles
Salt Lake Golden Eagles
The Salt Lake Golden Eagles were a minor professional hockey team based in Salt Lake City, Utah from 1969 to 1994.They played in the Western Hockey League from 1969 to 1974, the Central Hockey League from 1974 to 1984 and the International Hockey League from 1984 to 1994...
on May 25, 1993, a position he held for the 1993–94 season. In 1994 Forbes was made commissioner of the Colonial Hockey League, a position he held until 1997. He currently resides in Grand Haven, MI and is the Head Coach of the ACHA
American Collegiate Hockey Association
The American Collegiate Hockey Association is the national governing body of non-varsity college ice hockey in the U.S. The organization provides structure, regulations, promotes the quality of play, sponsors National Awards and National Tournaments....
2011 National Champion Division II hockey team at Grand Valley State University
Grand Valley State University
Grand Valley State University is a public liberal arts university located in Allendale, Michigan, United States. The university was established in 1960, and its main campus is situated on approximately west of Grand Rapids...
. Forbes was also named the 2011 ACHA D2 Coach of the Year, as well as being appointed to the Coaching staff of the 2012 ACHA D2 Select Team.
External links
- Mike Forbes biography at Hockey Draft Central