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February 22, 2007
RBC.015
PRINCE GEORGE – In his rookie year in the BCHL, Jeff Forsythe has turned many heads and was named to the
first team All-Star Team along with the likes of Deron Cousins (Penticton), Cody Butcher (Merritt), Damon
Kipp (Salmon Arm) and Brock Meadows (Westside). The Interior Division team won the game 9-7.
“It was a good experience,” says Jeff Forsythe.
“There were some really good guys on both teams, it was a lot fun and maybe I will be able to go back.”
Two years ago, Forsythe played at the Major Midget AAA level completing a tour of duty with the Notre Dame
Hounds before returning to his hometown of Campbell River. In that year, the Campbell River Storm were the
host team for the Junior ‘B’ championship. The Keystone Cup features six Junior ‘B’ teams from across Western
Canada vying for the ultimate title in Junior ‘B’ hockey. The Storm lost that championship in overtime to the
Red Deer Vipers.
The experience of playing at that level will only bode well with the offensively gifted defenceman when
Forsythe and the Spruce Kings battle with the best the country has to offer in the 2007 RBC Royal Bank Cup.
The Spruce Kings are the host team for the National Junior ‘A’ Championship guaranteeing them a birth in the
five team round robin tournament and playoff elimination format to crown the winner.
“Guys try their whole junior career to make it to
this level,” explains Forsythe. “I get to be a walk-on and that is quite the honour. I don’t think it has set
in yet, we have games coming up and then the playoffs. We don’t want to get too far ahead of ourselves.”
Jeff Forsythe is second in team scoring with 42 points with 17 goals and 25 assists. Eight of his goals
come on the power play as the youngster gets a lot of ice time quarterbacking the Spruce Kings special team’s
unit. Jeff reads the play at both ends of the ice extremely well says his coach, Ed Dempsey; adding that he
knows when to stay back and when to jump up into the play.
“I started as a d-man when I was younger,” explains Forsythe. “Then I played forward for a number of years
from Pee Wee through Banatam before returning to the blueline. My midget coach put me back on defence, but I
was a fairly good offensive and that has kinda stuck with me and it seems to be working good.”
“Its been a good grind so far,” continues Forsythe
when asked about his first season with the Prince George Spruce Kings. “I’ve picked up a few points and the
team is winning; now we have a few games to go before playoffs and we will see how that goes.”
» 2007 RBC Royal Bank Cup
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