The Spruce Grove Saints are proud to announce that 1997 born defenceman Brad Forrest has committed to the York University Lions for the 2018-2019 season. Forrest will suit up for the Lions hockey club that competes in the U Sports (formerly known as the CIS) Ontario University Athletics Conference (OUA) West Division. The Lions most recent success came when they captured the Queen's Cup OUA Championship in 2016-17. The York hockey program has three Canadian national championships.
The Calgary, Alberta product becomes a Lion after being acquired by the Saints from the Calgary Mustangs in November of 2017. In 35 games with the Saints, Forrest has registered 1 goal and 25 assists and amassed 4 goals, 35 assists, for 39 total points in 58 games split between the Saints and Mustangs this season.
Saints GM Rob Sklaruk was pleased to see another Saints player off to university. “Seeing Brad get a scholarship to a prestigious university like York is very satisfying, he is such a great kid, we couldn’t have envisioned a better fit for our team since we acquired him. Brad and his family should be very proud about this accomplishment.” Sklaruk continued, “Brad is going to be a great Canadian university player. His poise with the puck and vision is elite, I have no doubt he will step into the Lions line up and make an immediate impact.”
Before joining the Saints, Forrest split time between the AJHL and WHL. As a 16 and 17 year-old, Forrest suited up for the Calgary Mustangs before joining the Medicine Hat Tigers for the 2015-16 and 2016-17 seasons. As a 20-year old he rejoined the Mustangs organization for 23 games before the subsequent trade to the Saints. Forrest completes his impressive 5-year junior career with AJHL career totals of 151 games played, 18 goals, 58 assists, 132 penalty minutes and WHL career totals of 150 games played, 4 goals, 32 assists, and 67 penalty minutes.
The 5’11”, 183-pound defensemen felt that York was the perfect fit for him. “York checked all the boxes for me and my family when we were deciding between the schools. They have a winning hockey program that competes to go nationals every year and a school that is highly regarded. I am really excited to live in Toronto and experience another part of Canada,” Forrest added. “I want to thank my family for their support and for everything they have done for me. I also want to thank Bram, Rob, and all the Saints staff for their help and guidance in this process.”
Head Coach Bram Stephen was thrilled to hear of his graduating rearguard’s recent commitment. “We are really excited for Brad, he has been an instrumental leader and steady force on our back end since we acquired him. We are extremely pleased with what he has done for and continues to do for our team,” exclaimed Stephen. “York University is a top tier academic school that has an excellent hockey program which has enjoyed quite a bit of recent success. This is a great opportunity for Brad to get an education while continuing his pursuit of playing hockey professionally.”
Forrest joins Chris Van Os-Shaw (Alaska- Anchorage), TJ Lloyd (Bowling Green), Chase Olsen (Merrimack) and Parker Saretsky (Michigan Tech) as the fifth Saint to obtain a scholarship this season and seventh current Saint with an NCAA Division I or U Sports scholarship.
The Saints organization would like to congratulate the Forrest family and Brad on his great accomplishment.