The Maritime Junior Hockey League (MHL) is saddened to learn of the passing of former NHLer and P.E.I. sports legend Forbes Kennedy on Monday at the age of 90. Kennedy played over 600 NHL games from 1956 to 1969 as a fan favourite with Chicago, Detroit, Boston, Philadelphia, and Toronto.
After several coaching stints in the 70s and 80s, Kennedy became the head coach and general manager of the Charlottetown Abbies in the Island Junior A Hockey League (IJAHL). The Abbies, along with the Summerside Western Capitals, joined the newly renamed Maritime Junior A Hockey League (MJAHL) for the 1991-92 season.
In 1998-99, Kennedy’s final season with Charlottetown, the Abbies won 41 of 48 games and defeated the Antigonish Bulldogs to win the Callaghan Cup as MJAHL champions. Charlottetown hosted the Fred Page Cup that season and beat the Hawkesbury Hawks to advance to the Royal Bank Cup, the national Junior A championship, where they lost in the final to the Vernon Vipers in Yorkton, Saskatchewan.
Kennedy joined the Summerside Western Capitals in 2004-05 to close out his Junior A coaching career. The team steadily improved during his first three seasons at the helm, culminating in a 43-14-1 record in 2006-07, where the team finished atop the Roger Meek Division. Summerside advanced to the Kent Cup Final, but lost to the Truro Bearcats. Kennedy was replaced behind the bench nine games into the 2007-08 season.
He was a charter member of the P.E.I. Sports Hall of Fame in 1968 and the City of Charlottetown began presenting the Forbes Kennedy Volunteer of the Year award over the Natal Day weekend in 2019 for contributions to P.E.I. sports.
Kennedy is described by many as an ambassador for P.E.I., a fierce competitor, hard worker, colourful character, and a mentor to many on the Island and around the hockey world, who left a massive legacy and lasting impact at every level of the game, including the Maritime Junior Hockey League.
The MHL extends condolences to Kennedy’s family and friends, as well as those around the hockey world affected by his passing.