Forbes Kennedy
Forbes Kennedy was a diminutive but aggressive center for 5 NHL teams. The 5'8" 150lb center was born in Dorchester, New Brunswick but grew up in Prince Edward Island.Kennedy left the Island to join the Montreal Jr. Canadiens. After three seasons with the Baby Habs, Kennedy's rights were sold to Chicago in 1956. Forbes would make the Hawks in his first year of pro eligibility, a rarity in the old 6 team league. Forbes scored 8 goals and 21 points in his rookie season.
Kennedy's stay in the Windy City was short however as he was a part of what was one of the biggest trades in NHL history on July 23, 1957, when he was traded along with a few other "grinders" from the Chicago Blackhawks to the Detroit Red Wings in exchange for Ted Lindsay and Glenn Hall.
Kennedy improved in his first year with Detroit to 11 goals and 27 points in 70 games but slipped to only 1 goal and 4 assists in 67 games. The next season he appeared in only 17 games before being banished to the minor leagues until he was traded to Boston in December 1962.
Kennedy had his best year in a truncated season. He only played in 49 games but had 12 goals and 18 assists. He went on to play 3 more seasons with the Bruins before again being returned to the minors.
Expansion saw the return of the feisty sparkplug, this time with the Philly Flyers. He spent almost two years with the Flyers before being traded to Toronto in late 1969.
Forbes last NHL game was against the Boston Bruins in the 1969 playoffs. Talk about going out with a bang - he was one of the key combatants in what later became known as one of the greatest on-ice hockey riots in NHL history, sparked by Pat Quinn's knocking out of Bobby Orr. When all was said and done he had set NHL records for most penalties in a game (8), most minutes (38 - since bettered), most penalties in a period (6) and most penalty minutes in a period (34). He was also suspended for three games, reportedly for punching a referee en route to the locker room
Kennedy retired from the NHL after the 1969 season with career numbers of 70 goals, 108 assists and 988 penalty minutes in 603 regular season games. He was forced into retirement that year when a Toronto doctor removed cartilage from his right knee.
posted by Joe Pelletier at 3:34 PM
5 Comments:
His Charlottetown Jr. Abbies teams in the 80s and 90s played tough. He was a heck of coach and a great motivator and mentor of young men in those times.
My dad played on his team and he was crowned "heavyweight champ" of the Jr. A League. he was coached by forbes himself. i am now a great friend of his grandson.
Forby was not only a great hockey player. He was a great coach and leader.I was blessed to have been able to have worked for him as his Hockey Trainer for the Winston Salem Polar Twins Hockey club in 1974-75 season. Forbes tought me so much about Intergrity,professionalism,and what its means to be a team. Tough Guy yes Sir, with a big heart!!I still look up to you Forby, Thanks Wayne Welch
today i found out that im his 4th cousin.- Hannah
A friend of mine and local tough guy,Harley Sentner, has played for Forbes Kennedy and he can tell you first hand that in his 5 years as an Abby Player that they have never been run out of any rink. Harley also mentioned that Forbie made things simple for his players when under pressure. Nobody thought that they had to do it themself. Thats why Forbes sent 5 players on the ice and not just one.
I can still here Forbie yelling,"FARLEY RIGHT WING," and Harley jumped over the boards to the face off circle to show the other team if they want to mix it up Forbie will never hide. By those actions that Mr. Kennedy took made those boys pretty tight.
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