Ryan Forberg of the Ontario Junior Hockey League’s Markham Royals (photo credit Paul Mauceri | OJHL Images) has confirmed his commitment to join the NCAA Division I Lindenwood University Lions in Saint Charles, Missouri beginning with the 2024-25 season.
Forberg has 70 points (31 goals/39 assists) at the OJHL All-Star break, good for a tie atop the league scoring race with Adam O’Marra of the Trenton Golden Hawks.
Five of Forberg’s goals have been game-winners. He is on pace for a 103-point season, according to eliteprospects.com
Forberg is scheduled to take part in tonight’s Skills Competition and Saturday night’s All-Star Game during the OJHL All-Star Celebration in Collingwood.
The Thornhill resident was the OJHL Warrior East Conference Player of the Month in September and runner-up, to linemate Gavin Rocha, in December.
Forberg is in his second season in Markham, following one year with the Toronto Patriots of the OJHL.
He made the commitment to Lindenwood this week following a visit to the St. Louis-area school.
“Their coaching staff, for sure,” Forberg told the OJHL when asked why he committed to Lindenwood. “The way they saw me as a player and the interest that they had in me. They saw what I offered and maybe not all coaches saw all things that I am as a player.
“And the campus is beautiful, the facilities are unbelievable and it’s a great location. It kind of all worked.”
Forberg was a member of the talent-rich Don Mills Flyers U16 team that captured the OHL Cup in 2019. The roster included six future NHL draft picks, led by first-rounders Shane Wright (Seattle), Brennan Othmann (New York Rangers) and Brandt Clarke (Los Angeles).
“We were a good team. We had some big names on that team,” Forberg said. “I had a different path than a bunch of those people on that team. But I kind of knew that from that age back then.
“Everyone has a different path and I kind of knew what I wanted to do. It took a little bit longer but I got my goal achieved at the end of the day.”
Markham Head Coach and General Manager Mike Galati is excited for his sniper.
“Ryan has been a leader on and off the ice, putting his team first every night,” Galati told the OJHL. “He’s been a huge part of the fabric that makes the Markham Royals the last two seasons. Happy to be a part of his development and excited to see him move on and develop into an NCAA hockey player. Well deserved and congrats, 4B!”
Forberg returned the compliment.
“Mike has helped me out a ton along the way,” he said. “He’s trusted me and given me every opportunity to showcase what I can do and ultimately it helped me get me to where I want to be.”
Lindenwood first iced a team in Division I in 2022-23, transitioning from a successful club program.
St. Charles is 35 kilometres northwest of St. Louis. Lindenwood plays its home games at the Centene Ice Center, practice facility of the National Hockey League’s St. Louis Blues.
Kyle Diamond, who played in the OJHL for the Lindsay Muskies, is an assistant coach at Lindenwood.
Congratulations to Ryan and best of luck in the OJHL and NCAA!
The OJHL has had more than 40 NCAA Division I scholarship commitments already this season.
Check out all our commitments here: https://www.ojhl.ca/committments/
