Rookie defenceman playing in second straight Sutherland Cup Final
Cambridge Redhawks defenceman Alexander Forrest is in the rare position of being a rookie appearing in his second consecutive Sutherland Cup Final.
In 2025, the Grimsby native dressed for the St. Catharines Falcons as an AP in 13 playoff games — including all six games in the final against Chatham — scoring 1 goal and adding 3 assists in the post season.
Just prior to the start of that 2025 Sutherland Cup Final, the Oakville Rangers AAA product was selected in the second round (24th overall) by the Kitchener Rangers in the OHL Priority Draft.
In the off-season, he signed with the Cambridge Redhawks and proceeded to have a standout rookie GOHL season, helping the Redhawks to first place overall in what was an historic campaign for the club.
Forrest tied a franchise record for goals by a defenceman in a season (15) and led all GOHL defencemen in scoring with 52 points. His efforts earned him selections to the Eastern Conference All-Star and All-Rookie teams and he was the recipient of the Brent Rubel Memorial Award as Eastern Conference Rookie of the Year (video).
He accomplished all of the above in just 35 games for the Redhawks. That limited availability was due in part to his appearing in nine OHL games for the Rangers, recording three assists.
He attributes his experience in the Falcons’ 2025 playoff run as a key factor in his success this season. “I think I had an advantage over some of the other rookies entering the league. I had a little stint at the end of last year with some pretty valuable playoff experience, so that definitely made it a lot easier to transition.”
Now, as the Redhawks begin the franchise’s first-ever appearance in a Sutherland Cup final, Forrest — as a rookie — is in the unique position of being the only player in the room with previous experience in a final.
But Forrest — who entered the final with 15 points in 12 playoff games for the undefeated Redhawks — is quick to point out how veterans on the team are more than capable of providing leadership. “We have the best leaders in the room … all of our captains, the guys who wear letters, do a great job of keeping us in line and holding each other accountable.”
“It is pretty unreal to have an opportunity to play in a Sutherland Cup, let alone back to back years. Last year was an experience for sure. This year with a full year under my belt with the Redhawks is very exciting. Both teams have great fan support so I expect the series to be a great one.”
According to Redhawks general manager Todd Hoffman, “Alex is a mature young player who continues to develop in his game and leads by example. He is a valuable contributor to our club game in game out. His success this season will help towards his goals in the game. I look forward to watching him next season with the Kitchener Rangers and beyond.”
