Kevin Forrest has been hired as head coach of the Lions men’s hockey team.
Forrest is already familiar with the team, having spent the past two seasons as an assistant coach under Bill Maguire. He steps into his role as head coach with plenty of experience under his belt and a drive to continue to improve the Lions hockey team.
Right: Kevin Forrest
"I am very excited to be the head coach of the men’s hockey team," says Forrest. "I’ve always thought it would be an honour to lead the program and I am going to treat it as such. I am looking forward to guiding the team down the same path that Bill set up before me."
Before coming to York University to help coach the Lions for the 2006-2007 campaign, Forrest spent one season with the Ryerson University Rams of the Canadian Interuniversity Sports (CIS) as an assistant coach and several seasons with a number of different junior teams, including as head coach of the North York Rangers of the Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey League.
As a player, Forrest played professionally with the Basingstoke Bison of the Elite Ice Hockey League in the United Kingdom and before that, was a member of the University of Windsor Lancers hockey team. His playing career came to an end after a devastating injury, but it wasn’t long before he stepped into the coaching ranks.
"We are thrilled to have Kevin leading the men’s hockey team," says Jennifer Myers, director, sport & recreation. "It was important to us that we put someone in place who had a familiarity with the program, experience at the CIS level and who would create a smooth transition from last season. I believe we have found that mix in Kevin. He is respected by the athletes and I know he will continue to enrich the team in his new role."
The Lions will be busy this week as they begin their preseason on last night against the University of Toronto Varsity Blues and then will participate in a tournament at home on the weekend. The squad will play its first game of the regular season on Friday, Oct. 11 at 7:30pm on the road against the Queen’s University Gaels.