FOSBERG FINALE FOR HUSKIES
Brothers team up one last time
For one final week, two Forsbergs will beat as one for the University of Saskatchewan Huskies.
Jesse Forsberg — captain of the men’s hockey team — is set to graduate following the University Cup national championship tournament this week in Lethbridge, Alta., where he is joined by his younger brother Alex.
For these two hockey brothers from Waldheim, it’ll mark their last time as Huskie teammates — if Jesse, who took an Alberta Golden Bears’ elbow to the head in Game 3 of the Canada West final, is healthy enough to play this week.
Saskatchewan (seeded No. 5 as the Canada West runner-up) will open the tournament with quarter-final action Thursday afternoon against the Ontario University Sport runner-up Guelph Gryphons (No. 4 seed). The winner advances to semifinal action Saturday. The loser is eliminated.
This season has been something special for Alex Forsberg, who redshirted his first season with the team while recovering from a shoulder injury. He has overcome nagging injuries to become a regular in the Huskies’ lineup along with his big brother Jesse.
“He’s just familiarity,” Alex says of Jesse, a Canada West all-star and former Canada West top defenceman award winner.
“It’s nice to always have someone to lean on. He lives with me; we spend a lot of time together. He’s been here a while. He brings a lot for me.
“He was also the captain when I was (in Prince George). So it’s not a new thing, him being higher than me.”
Asked if big brother tries to keep little brother in line, Alex laughingly replied: “I think he tries to.”
Alex Forsberg finished his WHL career with 91 points (31 goals, 60 assists) in 71 games with the Victoria Royals.
This season, he had five goals and 10 assists for 15 points during 23 games during the regular season. So far in the playoffs, he has three goals and two assists for five points in five games.
“With my game, too, it was good to get a good start (in the Canada West semifinal against the Mount Royal University Cougars) because it’s good to be relied on when playoffs come,” Alex says. “It’s good to know that everybody is thinking ‘he’ll be there.’ I feel good and I think the team’s looking good, too.”’
Forsberg says the team is a “little different” from last year without guys such as Connor Cox, Josh Roach, Kendall Mcfaull, Jordan Fransoo and Jordon Cooke.
“But if you look at our team, (goalie Taran) Kozun hasn’t missed a beat,” says Forsberg, who has three years of U Sports eligibility remaining should he decide to use it. “Our defence and offence didn’t really miss a beat either. It just goes to show you that the guys we bring in here are good players and, when they’re given the chance, they’ll do the right thing.”
Forsberg plays on a line with Parker Thomas. Logan Mcveigh, Andrew Johnson and Jordan Tkatch are among possible linemates.
“Is it really a fourth line?” U of S head coach Dave Adolph asks. “They start most nights. They’re a tough matchup. A lot of times, people underestimate them. They probably play as much, or more, than anybody.”
The Huskies’ depth, especially up front, is as good as it’s ever been.
“If you look at the guys who aren’t playing right now, they were all very good junior players,” says Alex. “I think our depth is why we’re here, where we are and why we’ll continue to be a good team.”
Forsberg says the Huskies maybe looked too far ahead to nationals last year before getting “stomped” in the Canada West final. This year, the Huskies pushed the Bears to a third and deciding game that came down to an Alberta power-play goal. Saskatchewan nearly tied it at the buzzer, but Gordie Ballhorn’s shot rang off the crossbar.
Adolph would like to see both Forsbergs healthy for this week’s championship. Alex Forsberg missed his entire rookie season as a medical redshirt after rehabilitating a shoulder.
“He’s had a couple of nagging injuries,” Adolph says. “When Alex is healthy, he’s a pretty dynamic, gifted player. This year, more than anything, he’s sort of embraced a new role on the power play from Christmastime on and he’s been exceptional at it. It’s good to have him.”
It’s nice to always have someone to lean on. He lives with me; we spend a lot of time together ... He brings a lot for me.