Dave Forbes
Canadian NHL forward who faced criminal charges for on-ice assault.
David Stephen Forbes (November 16, 1948 – March 25, 2024) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player who appeared in the NHL for the Boston Bruins and Washington Capitals and also played in the WHA for the Cincinnati Stingers. He is notable for being one of the few NHL players to face criminal charges for an on-ice assault.
Quick Facts
- Played for
- Boston Bruins
- Washington Capitals
- Cincinnati Stingers
- Position
- Left wing
- Shoots
- Left
- Born
- 16 November 1948
- Birthplace
- Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Died
- 25 March 2024
- Place of death
- Colorado Springs, Colorado, U.S.
- Draft
- Undrafted
Facts from the source article.
Playing career
Forbes played college hockey at American International College from 1967 to 1971. In 1973, he signed with the Boston Bruins as a free agent and debuted in the NHL that year. Known for his defensive style, the forward helped Boston reach the finals in his rookie season of 1974 and again in 1977. After four years with the Bruins, the Washington Capitals took him in the Waiver Draft before the 1977–78 campaign. He spent one season in Washington, was let go after just two games in 1978–79, and then joined the Cincinnati Stingers of the WHA.
Criminal charges
In 1975, Forbes was charged with aggravated assault in Minneapolis after butt-ending Henry Boucha's eye socket during a game against the Minnesota North Stars, leaving Boucha with limited vision in the right eye. The trial, highly unusual for an athlete facing criminal charges for an on-ice assault, ended with a hung jury; the charges were not refiled. Forbes received a 10-game suspension from the NHL, and he and the Bruins settled a civil case by paying Boucha over $1 million.
Post-playing career
Forbes was one of five plaintiffs in Forbes v. Eagleson, a class action lawsuit filed in 1995 on behalf of about 1,000 NHL players employed between 1972 and 1991. The suit alleged that the NHL and its teams violated the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act by colluding with Alan Eagleson to enable him to embezzle from the National Hockey League Players' Association, and that the statute of limitations began when Eagleson was indicted in 1994. The lawsuit was dismissed on August 27, 1998, by Thomas Newman O'Neill Jr. in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, who ruled that the statute of limitations had expired in 1991 when players became aware of the allegations. The decision was upheld by the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit on October 17, 2000. Forbes died on March 25, 2024, at age 75.
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where was Dave Forbes born?
Dave Forbes was born on 16 November 1948 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
When did Dave Forbes die?
Dave Forbes died on 25 March 2024 in Colorado Springs, Colorado, U.S.
What position did Dave Forbes play?
Dave Forbes's position is listed as Left wing.
More in Washington Capitals Players from Canada
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced