Victoria Royals forward Alex Forsberg was asked what it felt like to be leading the Western Hockey League in scoring.
“I don’t know . . . it’s never happened before,” replied the 20-year-old, in the post-game scrum Saturday following his two goals and two assists that got the Royals past the Portland Winterhawks 6-5.
Forsberg, who had three assists in the season-opening 4-1 victory against Portland on Friday, was named on Monday as the WHL’s inaugural player-of-the-week award winner for 2015-16. The five-foot-11, 192-pound centre/winger co-leads the WHL with seven points along with fellow over-ager Tyson Baillie of the Kelowna Rockets, although Baillie has played one more game.
It’s early, of course but maybe Forsberg should get used to it. What a junior career capper that would be for the top overall selection in the 2010 WHL bantam draft by Prince George, but who has been overlooked by NHL teams, while those picked after him from the WHL bantam class of 2010 include pro prospects Sam Reinhart, Nic Petan, Josh Morrissey, Madison Bowey, Curtis Lazar, Dillon Heatherington, Morgan Klimchuk and Eric Comrie.
Forsberg needs to impress this season if he is to land that elusive pro contract.
“I’m not even thinking about that,” he said.
“I’m focusing on having a great final year of junior and having a good long run into the spring with the Royals.”
That’s the kind of thing any WHL team likes to hear.
“Alex has the right attitude,” said Royals GM Cam Hope.
“He’s taking it one game, one week, at a time and not looking ahead.”
Hope brought Forsberg to the Island in a trade last mid-season with the Saskatoon Blades.
“The deal was for offensive help last year but also because we had a good idea that he would be back this season as a 20-year-old,” said Hope.
WHL teams are each allowed three 20-year-olds and that over-age slot is a strange beast. The 20s are obviously good players, but who have somehow fallen between the cracks in their pursuit of the pro game. They can, however, chew through 16, 17 and 18-year-old opposition players who may not have yet fully grown into their bodies. That may be especially true for Forsberg, who has an early birthday and turns 21 in January.
“When no one is older than you on the ice, you should be able to use that experience,” said Hope.
“We have had good luck in the past with over-age forwards such as Alex Gogolev and Brandon Magee.”
It looks as if that luck may hold.
The Royals meet the Kamloops Blazers (0-2) on Friday and Saturday at Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre.
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