Perth-born and trained Ian Forbes was an All-Star as both player and coach. One of the outstanding crop of Scottish-developed players who broke into the Canadian-dominated pro Scottish League in the 1940s and 50s, he was a mainstay right winger with his hometown Perth Panthers under Canadian coach Tommy Forgie.
When pro hockey folded in Perth in 1955, ‘Eeny’ joined Paisley Pirates, assisting the Pirates to the pro British League title in 1958-59, before being signed by the newly formed Altrincham Aces in 1961, to be part of a devastating line with his Perth & GB teammates Jimmy Spence and Sammy Macdonald. Forbes was player-coach of the Aces, earning All-Star selection as both player and coach in 1961-62 and 1962-63.
Moving back north, to Kirkcaldy, in ’63, the ‘Perth Line’ went on to spearhead Fife Flyers to a number of triumphs in the mid-60s, including the 'Grandstand' Trophy. Ian Forbes had another double All-Star honour with Flyers in 1963-64, being named as both a forward and coach of the ‘A’ Team.
On the international front, ‘Eeny’ played for Great Britain in four World Championships: 1950 (fourth in the World); 1951; 1961 (Pool B silver medallists); 1962 (Pool A in Colorado Springs).
'Eeny' finished his playing career, at the age of 41, with Dundee Rockets in 1968. Moving behind the bench, Forbes earned another All-Star nomination in ’71-’72 when he coached Dundee to the runners-up slot in the Northern League, guiding Rockets to the League title the following season.
Fellow Hall of Famer, and former GB team-mate, Johnny Carlyle rates 'Eeny' among the best: "The line of Spence, Forbes and Macdonald, at both Altrincham and Kirkcaldy, was, to me, the best British forward line. Ian Forbes was the man."
Ian Forbes died in October 1989, aged 62, in his hometown of Perth.
Compiled by David Gordon - May 2009
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