ALMOST 10 years after leaving his last senior role at the Link Centre, Ken Forshee is now looking forward to plotting the course for the Swindon Wildcats Academy.

The 41-year-old Canadian, who quit as Wildcats head coach in 2006 after making more than 250 appearances for Swindon, during which time he amassed over 350 points in the English Premier League, will now be dedicating his time to overseeing all of the club’s youth teams after being named as the Cats’ new academy chief.

Forshee spent last season coaching the Wildcats U9s, for whom his two sons play, as well as the Oxford City Stars U20 side, but says that he is aiming to throw himself into his duties as the head of Swindon’s junior section.

“When I left (as head coach in 2006), it was the right time for a change and I had triplets (sons Oscar and Cal, and daughter Molly, all now eight-years-old) soon after,” said Forshee.

“I always wanted to get back into coaching. My two boys play for the U9s now and I’ve been coaching there and I also spent last year with the U20s at Oxford.

“I thought that this was a great opportunity and I’m really happy to have been given this chance.

“We need to develop young players properly in this country. It’s not the same as over in Canada because there’s not the same amount of ice time, but it’s a great feeling when you see young players respecting and loving the game.

“When you’re coaching pro players, you can look someone in the eye and say ‘you’re not playing well – sharpen up’, but it’s different with kids and I enjoy that.

“I like fast-paced hockey and good puck control, and I want people to play the game in that way.

“I’m going to take the lead on the U9s and the U18s, and we’re looking into the possibility of forming an U20s team too but that’s just a possibility at the moment.”

Wildcats general manager and academy chairman Steve Nell added “Ken is someone who I know extremely well and I know he will bring a wealth of knowledge, expertise and passion to the role.

“We have enjoyed both great success and progress throughout the academy in recent years, but now is the time to take it to the next level and we believe Ken is the perfect man to help us do that.”