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Think of a Prince Edward Islander who played in the National Hockey League, and Forbes Kennedy would likely be the name that springs to mind for many.
Remembered for his big heart and tough style of play despite his smaller size — and known simply as Forbie to most Islanders — Kennedy died Monday at the age of 90.
He played more than 600 games in the NHL with the Chicago Blackhawks, Detroit Red Wings, Boston Bruins, Philadelphia Flyers and Toronto Maple Leafs over a career spanning from 1956 to 1969.
Summerside native Gerard (Turk) Gallant, a former NHL player and coach, said Kennedy was a mentor for many Island players who hoped to make it to the league.
“Every summer I came home from the NHL, he’d always have good words for you … and definitely checking in on you,” Gallant said.
“He was a guy who cared about P.E.I. and all the players that played there, and he probably had a good part to do with a lot of us getting the opportunity to play in the NHL.”
Kennedy never expected to make it to the NHL — but he made the most of it when he did, amassing 888 penalty minutes to go along with 178 career points.
“It was no pressure because you just loved to do what you wanted to do and that was hockey,” he told CBC News in a 2018 interview.
Kennedy was inducted into the P.E.I. Sports Hall of Fame in 1968.
According to his biography on the hall’s website, Kennedy was born in 1935 in Dorchester, N.B. His parents, who were originally from P.E.I., moved back to the Island and settled in Charlottetown two weeks after his birth.
Fred (Fiddler) MacDonald, an Island sports columnist who knew Kennedy from a young age, said his friend was “bigger than life” despite his smaller stature.
“He’s a folk hero in Summerside and he’s a folk hero in Charlottetown, and indeed across P.E.I.,” MacDonald said.
“He’s a colourful character. You knew where you stood with him, you didn’t have to worry about what he was going to say or what he was going to do. That’s just the kind of guy he was.”
After his playing career ended, he coached hockey in the U.S. before returning to the Island, where he continued to teach young players about the game.
“A fierce competitor, Forbes left a lasting mark on the game at every level,” reads a social media post from the Charlottetown Islanders on Tuesday.
“We extend our sincere condolences to the Kennedy family, friends, former teammates, and all those who had the privilege of knowing him.”
Former NHLer Forbes Kennedy shared stories and laughs with two friends and fellow Flyers alumni Al MacAdam and Joe Watson in Charlottetown recently. It was part of a new program called Alumni House Calls. Former members of the NHL team visit other alumni who can’t travel to team events anymore. It was a special time for everyone that took part.
The NHL’s Philadelphia Flyers said in a social media post that Kennedy’s style of play during his two seasons with the team “helped establish the identity and the culture of Flyers hockey.”
He played in Philadelphia from 1967-69, the team’s first two seasons in the league as an expansion franchise.
“Although he was never the biggest player on the team, Kennedy brought toughness, energy and a fearless style that would become synonymous with the Flyers,” the post reads.
“Above all else, he was a loyal teammate and was crucial to establish what became a close-knit group from an expansion team.”
