Former BC Blueliner Forrest Rejoins U.S. NTDP as Coach

Former Boston College defenseman and recently-retired professional blueliner J.D. Forrest will be stepping behind the bench.

A member of BC’s 2001 NCAA championship team, Forrest will return to his roots with the U.S National Team Development Program in Ann Arbor, Mich. this season as he begins his duties as intern assistant coach for the U.S. National Under-18 Team.

A native of Auburn. N.Y., Forrest was an original member of the NTDP (1997-2000), according to USAHockey.com. He ranks first in career games played (208) and is also tied for the lead in career assists (88) with current Chicago Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane. He also holds the NTDP record for career points by a defenseman (111).

Forrest, 33, played at BC from 2000 to 2004, helping the Eagles to four combined Hockey East Association regular-season and tournament titles, three NCAA Tournament berths, and two NCAA Frozen Four appearances. He posted 24 goals and 74 assists for 98 points in 145 career games with BC, according to USCHO.com. He registered a career-best 6-25—31 points as a junior, and also earned Second Team All-America accolades that season. He then served as an assistant captain in his final collegiate campaign.

A sixth-round NHL draft choice (181st overall) of the Carolina Hurricanes in 2000, Forrest played professionally the last 10 seasons, mostly in Europe, according to hockeydb.com. He spent five years in Finland, and put up a career-high 5-28—33 points with Karpat in 2008-09. He also had stints with Florida and Elmira in the ECHL, and with Albany and Worcester in the American Hockey League, and also skated one season in Switzerland. He closed out his pro career by playing one year with Malmo (Sweden) and two years with Augsburg (Germany).

The U.S. National Under-18 Team opens its 2014-15 USHL season on Friday against the Muskegon Lumberjacks.