Mike Forbes

Michael D. Forbes (born September 20, 1957) is a Canadian 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. He played 50 games in the NHL between 1977 and 1982 with the Bruins and Edmonton Oilers. The rest of his career, which lasted from 1977 to 1987, was spent in different minor leagues.

Playing career Forbes spent his junior career with the Kingston Canadians and St. Catharines Fincups of the OMJHL, and won a silver medal with 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.

Post-retirement Forbes was assistant general manager and co owner of the Muskegon Lumberjacks and remained with the Cleveland Lumberjacks 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.

Career statistics Regular season and playoffs Regular seasonPlayoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 1973–74 Georgetown Raiders MJBHL — — — — — — — — — — 1973–74 Bramalea Blues MJBHL — — — — — — — — — — 1974–75 Kingston Canadiens OMJHL 64 0 10 10 98 8 1 1 2 14 1975–76 Kingston Canadiens OMJHL 48 4 13 17 117 5 0 0 0 5 1976–77 St. Catharines Fincups OMJHL 61 12 41 53 134 14 1 5 6 41 1977–78 Boston Bruins NHL 32 0 4 4 15 — — — — — 1977–78 Rochester Americans AHL 32 3 12 15 65 6 0 1 1 22 1978–79 Rochester Americans AHL 75 4 20 24 97 — — — — — 1979–80 Edmonton Oilers NHL 2 0 0 0 0 — — — — — 1979–80 Houston Apollos CHL 55 5 30 35 63 — — — — — 1980–81 Wichita Wind CHL 79 4 44 48 129 15 1 16 17 46 1981–82 Edmonton Oilers NHL 16 1 7 8 26 — — — — — 1981–82 Wichita Wind CHL 49 4 28 32 94 6 0 2 2 4 1982–83 Wichita Wind CHL 75 15 46 61 73 — — — — — 1983–84 Montana Magic CHL 76 13 38 51 83 — — — — — 1985–86 Muskegon Lumberjacks IHL 14 1 7 8 13 13 0 2 2 19 1986–87 Muskegon Lumberjacks IHL 67 3 22 25 113 15 1 10 11 4 CHL totals 334 41 186 227 442 21 1 18 19 50 NHL totals 50 1 11 12 41 — — — — —

International Year Team Event GP G A Pts PIM 1977 Canada WJC 7 0 1 1 22 Junior totals 7 0 1 1 22