USHL: QA with Michael Forney

Atlanta Thrashers draft pick Michael Forney was once considered by some, as a potential first-round pick in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft. However, a separated shoulder and a severely broken ankle in his senior year of high school lowered his stock to the third round. Another separated shoulder, the lingering affect of the broken ankle and the hardware inserted plagued him at the University of North Dakota and severely limited his playing time. However, Forney is an impact player once again now with the Green Bay Gamblers of the USHL, having led the Gamblers in scoring from nearly the drop of the puck for the 2008-09 season. On a mission to get healthy, bigger, and back on track, Forney has done all of those things this season and has been a major cog in a significant turnaround for the Gamblers, one that could see Green Bay win the USHL's East Division.

McKeen's correspondent Kevin Wey recently had the opportunity to talk with Forney. He discussed his successful season with Green Bay, his injury-plagued seasons at UND, his exploits with Team USA, his high school career with Thief River Falls, the Gamblers' turnaround, and looking up to one of the NHL's premier puck-possession players.

McKeen's: We're about 50 games into the USHL season, 10 left. Through it all, you've been leading the Gamblers in scoring and you've put yourself in a position to finish in the top ten in USHL scoring. So, after two years of limited icetime with UND, what does it feel like to be an impact player again?

Forney: It feels good. There's not much else you can say to that. Coach gave me the opportunity to be put in a scoring role and we're just putting 'em in.

McKeen's: How has the transition been for you? For many players I talk to, it's from high school or midgets or a lower junior league, but you're kind of going the other direction and then back up again. So, what's it been like going from college to the USHL?

Forney: Well, in college I battled injuries, so it was tough to crack the lineup there, especially a good program like UND. Coming back, there's a lot of talented players here. It's the future of college hockey. It's a tough league.

McKeen's: You touched on this a bit, but recall or recap the injuries that you had to deal with at UND.

Forney: I had a shoulder separation my very first practice there. I broke my ankle coming there. So, I got shoulder surgery the end of my freshman year and ankle surgery the end of my sophomore year. So, I battled injuries pretty (pauses), badly, I guess.

McKeen's: Definitely some bad luck with those two, too. Tell me a bit about the decision to leave UND after your sophomore season and to come here (to the USHL).

Forney: Oh, it was a decision I made with the coaching staff of UND. I just needed to play more games. I was limited, obviously, with the injuries I had at UND, so they thought it'd be best for my career if I went back to the USHL and got a 60-game season.

McKeen's: You were the first overall pick of the USHL Entry Draft this past year. How did that feel?

Forney: Ah, it was good (smiles). There's not much else to say. Coach Cooper and the Green Bay Gamblers staff put a lot of faith in drafting me number one, and hopefully I don't let them down.

McKeen's: I definitely don't think so (that he's let them down). The plan next year is to return to UND?

Forney: Yep, joining a lot of Buccaneers I guess.

McKeen's: That's right. That's true, and you guys get to face each again next week. There'll be no bad blood after this game. To a real positive note, early into the 2008-09 USHL season, you set the league record for fastest three goals - 2 minutes and 17 seconds - against the Chicago Steel. Tell me a bit about that sequence and recall it the best that you can.

Forney: It was a long time ago. I think it was the second game of the season. I was getting fed by my teammates and got three powerplay goals in a row and sparked the team to a five-goal comeback.

McKeen's: It definitely made the USHL news. Also, on an intriguing front, you're Green Bay's leading scorer and you have been all season, but when it came time to name rosters for the 2009 Prospects/All-Star Game, you weren't on there. Were you expecting that going into it or was there any frustration to not being named, or was it just "eh?"

Forney: I don't know. I'm more focused on our team's season. The goal is to win a league championship. That's all that matters in our locker room.

McKeen's: Plus, the fact you're already committed to a school, already drafted, and they're also probably trying to give other guys some needed exposure. Moving to a different topic, back to college hockey, what was the adjustment like going from high school to UND?

Forney: Probably would have been a little easier transition if I wasn't injured so much. But the college game is a lot faster than I was used to. Basically, I don't know if I was ready to make the jump. But, obviously the injuries didn't help. College is a tough game, especially in the WCHA. That's why I came back here, to put on a little more weight and put on a little more strength and get some games in and hopefully come back and be an impact player there.

McKeen's: How have you found the style of the USHL to compare to college hockey?

Forney: Maybe a little bit more physical. In college hockey, you only played 40 games, so guys were ready to play every weekend. There was a lot of practice time. So, when you're lifting weights and practice every day, you're getting pretty eager for the weekend. So, less games, more time to get stronger.

McKeen's: You did have the opportunity to play in the USHL. You were drafted by Sioux Falls and they traded you to the Bucs, and that would have been one helluva team that year had you been there the whole year.

Forney: Yeah.

McKeen's: If you could do it over again, would you come here that senior year instead of playing football and hockey for Thief River Falls?

Forney: I played a couple games with the Bucs right away in my senior season. I enjoyed playing on a line with Trevor Lewis and Kyle Okposo, so I guess that wasn't a bad line to play on (smiles). After the season, I went to the Ann Arbor program instead of coming here. I mean, the USA program, what else can you say about that? It was a tough decision, but getting to play for the USA team…

McKeen's: Sure. With that, tell me more about your time in Ann Arbor.

Forney: Yeah, I finished my senior season and went to the Ann Arbor program, trained to go over to the World (Under 18) Championships over in Sweden. The very first practice over there I broke my ankle and got sent back. It was a tough break, but it was a great experience to play with USA Hockey.

McKeen's: You're a third-round draft pick of the Atlanta Thrashers, back in 2006, and I'm sure they've kept in contact with you. What are some of the things they've been telling you this year?

Forney: I was at the rookie camp this summer and did really well there. So, I had a lot of confidence coming into the USHL season. They've just been keeping in touch, seeing how I'm doing, but nothing too serious.

McKeen's: I'm sure they're, I guess impressed isn't the exact word, but encouraged, since they already had some expectations of you.

Forney: Yeah, I guess. They knew I had a couple injuries when they drafted me in the third round. So, I really want to prove myself. I mean, with them taking me in the third round, I really want to show them that I can still play.

McKeen's: Going back to that draft year, you were drafted in the third round, but there were some people talking about you as a potential late first round pick. So, what was it like to be considered that high and what was your reaction on draft day, going in the third round?

Forney: To get drafted was great, it was a life-long goal of mine. So, it made me feel (pauses), a few were telling me I was going to go a little bit higher, but the injuries, I had a separated shoulder and a broken ankle. So, I dropped in the draft a little bit.

McKeen's: You've represented Team USA a few times, tell me a bit about some of your highlights with that.

Forney: I assume you know what the Select Festivals are. I led the Select 17 Festival in scoring and got the opportunity to play in the U18 over in Slovakia with Kyle Okposo, my linemate, and former Buc. We were the two leading scorers in our division. So, that was probably the highlight of my career with USA, being the best scorer with the USA team.

McKeen's: How did you find that playing in that tournament, obviously there's a gap between that tournament and your high school season, how did you feel that affected you going forward into high school, since the caliber of play is a bit different?

Forney: It was great. Whenever you get to play in an international tournament, it's going to be high in talent. So, it was a great experience for me. It really encouraged me going into the high school season.

McKeen's: Any favorite memories off the ice?

Forney: Going to Europe, and Russia, I went to Russia with the U18 team. I'll never forget playing for Team USA. Such an unbelievable experience.

McKeen's: Certainly not something everyone can say they've done. You've also skated at the World Junior camp for Team USA as well. What was that like and who were some of your fellow American prospects at that camp that impressed you the most?

Forney: Probably Nate Gerbe and [/db]Phil Kessel, and Bobby Ryan, those are some pretty highly-talented guys. It was great to play there. I did well there, too, so that was kind of encouraging. It was a great camp, like, I don't even know. All the guys were great there. It was an amazing camp.

McKeen's: Back in 2005-06, you were bestowed with quite a few acknowledgements and honors. What are some of the ones that you're most proud and what were the overall highlights of your high school career?

Forney: The highlight is probably (pauses), my senior year was our (Thief River Falls) first time going to State in 50 years. I scored the goal in the fourth overtime to send us to State, so I guess that was a pretty big career goal, and then being Mr. Hockey. Every guy in Minnesota kind of dreams of that, too. So, that was a great honor, being honored with that.

McKeen's: As we've talked about, the last two seasons have been challenging, but in what ways do you feel you're maybe better for having gone through that experience?

Forney: Yeah, I really do think I'm better for having gone through that experience. It made me really appreciate the time I do get on the ice. It gave me a lot of hunger to really strive and prove that I can play at the college level.

McKeen's: On the development aspect of things, what are some of the aspects, skill-wise, that you've been focusing on developing this year with the Gamblers?

Forney: Probably my skating, and being a little more confident with the puck. Obviously, that's what you're going to expect with a go-to guy. So, I'm just really working on my skill and my skating to help our team make a push.

McKeen's: You guys are having a pretty good year. You weren't here last year, but it's really been one helluva turnaround.

Forney: I've heard all the stories about last year. I'm sure Aaron Crandall can tell you some. It didn't sound like a very encouraging year last year.

McKeen's: Two unfortunate seasons for Crandall in a row.

Forney: Yeah.

McKeen's: Back to you, what do you feel are the strengths of your game and the style of play that you like to play?

Forney: Probably a puck possession game. Coach Cooper really encourages our team to do that, so I was good fit here, I guess, because I like to control the puck and make plays.

McKeen's: Lastly, for a bit of a staple question, who were some of your favorite players growing up and why and who are maybe some players today that you'd like to equate to?

Forney: I like Joe Thornton. He's always been a favorite of mine. He's a big guy and he controls the puck and just makes unbelievable plays on the ice. So, I always like to try and strive to be a guy like that.