# Michael Forney

Michael Forney (born May 14, 1988) is an American former professional ice hockey player. He last played with the Belfast Giants in the Elite Ice Hockey League (EIHL). Forney was drafted 80th overall by the Atlanta Thrashers in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft.

## Playing career

Forney played in the 2010–11 ECHL All-Star Game. Without an extension offered from his entry-level contract with the Winnipeg Jets. Forney returned to the Eagles on a full-time basis, signing a one-year deal on August 16, 2012.
In the 2012–13 season, Forney led the Eagles in scoring, finishing second in the league, with 79 points in 71 games. He was rewarded with a selection to the ECHL First All-Star Team. A free agent, with the intention of keeping in shape, Forney went on a working holiday of sorts, signing a short-term contract with the Perth Thunder of the Australian Ice Hockey League. In only 16 games with the Thunder, Forney scored an impressive 47 points, before leaving in preparation to join his new Austrian club, EC VSV, on a one-year contract for the 2013–14 season.
After a spell with Sheffield Steelers, Forney signed for EIHL counterparts Belfast Giants in 2015. Following two seasons in Northern Ireland, Forney announced his return to his native Minnesota in April 2017.

## Career statistics
### Regular season and playoffs

| | | | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs |
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| 2002–03 | Thief River Falls High School | HSMN | 28 | 4 | 10 | 14 | | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2003–04 | Thief River Falls High School | HSMN | 24 | 14 | 22 | 36 | | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2004–05 | Thief River Falls High School | HSMN | 28 | 34 | 33 | 67 | | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2005–06 | Thief River Falls High School | HSMN | 21 | 23 | 37 | 60 | 28 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2005–06 | Des Moines Buccaneers | USHL | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2005–06 | US NTDP U18 | USDP | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2006–07 | University of North Dakota | WCHA | 16 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 10 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2007–08 | University of North Dakota | WCHA | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2008–09 | Green Bay Gamblers | USHL | 59 | 26 | 34 | 60 | 53 | 7 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 2 |
| 2009–10 | Gwinnett Gladiators | ECHL | 63 | 11 | 15 | 26 | 66 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2009–10 | Chicago Wolves | AHL | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2010–11 | Chicago Wolves | AHL | 9 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2010–11 | Gwinnett Gladiators | ECHL | 66 | 21 | 45 | 66 | 79 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2011–12 | Colorado Eagles | ECHL | 52 | 20 | 31 | 51 | 57 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 2011–12 | St. John's IceCaps | AHL | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2011–12 | Texas Stars | AHL | 11 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2012–13 | Colorado Eagles | ECHL | 71 | 35 | 44 | 79 | 110 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 4 |
| 2012–13 | Perth Thunder | AUS | 16 | 11 | 36 | 47 | 12 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2013–14 | EC VSV | AUT | 35 | 10 | 11 | 21 | 28 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2013–14 | Sparta Warriors | NOR | 10 | 5 | 6 | 11 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 6 |
| 2013–14 | Arizona Sundogs | CHL | 3 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 10 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 14 |
| 2014–15 | Sheffield Steelers | EIHL | 52 | 33 | 34 | 67 | 63 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 |
| 2015–16 | Belfast Giants | EIHL | 52 | 20 | 28 | 48 | 43 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 2016–17 | Belfast Giants | EIHL | 49 | 15 | 23 | 38 | 36 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| AHL totals | AHL totals | AHL totals | 26 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — |
| ECHL totals | ECHL totals | ECHL totals | 253 | 87 | 135 | 222 | 312 | 7 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 4 |
| EIHL totals | EIHL totals | EIHL totals | 153 | 68 | 85 | 153 | 142 | 9 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 0 |

### International

| Year | Team | Event | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| 2005 | United States | U18 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 8 | 4 |
| Junior totals | Junior totals | Junior totals | 5 | 5 | 3 | 8 | 4 |

## Awards and honours

| Award | Year |
| ECHL |||
| First All-Star Team | 2012–13 |