Forrest pining for OHL
Alex Forrest is about to experience a dream come true.
The 15-year-old defenceman is one of the most highly ranked rearguards for this weekend’s Ontario Hockey League Priority Selection and could realistically hear his name called in the first few rounds.
“I’m definitely looking forward to it,” the Grade 10 Denis Morris student said. “It’s something us as 09s have been working for our whole minor hockey career.
“It’s a pretty important step in the next chapter.”
The first three rounds of the draft will be held Friday beginning at 7 p.m. followed by rounds 4-15 starting at 9 a.m. Saturday.
“The first round would obviously be a big accomplishment but I think getting drafted on Friday would be the ultimate goal. I would be happy to get drafted on Friday,” he said. “I’d be happy to go to anywhere. It’s a privilege to play in the OHL.”
Forrest, who played this past season for the Oakville Rangers U15 AAA squad, felt the OHL was a realistic possibility at the start of last year.
“I felt I was miles above everybody, just from my development and my skating and the strength that I gained from the summer previous to that,” he said. “I would say my skating sets me apart from a lot of players in the age group and my hockey IQ. I can think the game just as fast as I can skate and it helps me make plays in the offensive and defensive zone.”
Forrest said he has talked to just about all 20 OHL teams.
“They just want to get to know me as a player and what do they think my strengths are as a player and what are some things I can work on,” he said. “Then they also asked me some things about family and they like to ask what I do in my off time in the off-season aside from hockey, what are my hobbies and interests.”
Forrest, who collected 39 points in 34 regular season games for the Rangers, played one regular season game for the St. Catharine Rankin Construction Falcons and has also dressed for three playoff games, where he has garnered one assist.
“I played one game in the regular season there and then that was kind of an adjustment game and ever since then I’ve adjusted to the speed and the physicality. It’s a lot faster, but it’s definitely fun,” he said. “I was definitely ready for that change in speed and physicality.”
The Falcons have placed a great deal of faith in Forrest, giving him ice time in crucial situations.
“It feels great knowing that they have trust in a 15-year-old being able to run their power play and log a decent amount of minutes from it,” he said. “It feels great that they have trust in me even though I’m only 15.”
Falcons president of hockey operations and head coach Tyler Bielby is blown away at Forrest’s skill level.
“It’s just so nice to see some of these kids so advanced at their age,” Bielby said. “Everybody talks about Alex’s offence, but I think what’s impressed me a lot so far is how well he is defending for a 15-year-old. There’s no question, his feet, his poise, the way he carries the puck and the way he can jump up in the rush, that’s what makes him special. That’s what everybody is seeing. We brought him in to help run the power play and we weren’t sure what we were going to get on the defensive side but he answered those questions early.
“That kid should be playing in the OHL next year.”
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