Kitchener Rangers welcome talented defenseman Alex Forrest

Kitchener Rangers fans now have a new reason to look toward the future with hope. Alex Forrest was officially signed on an OHL Standard Player Agreement following his No. 24 draft choice in the 2025 OHL Priority Selection.

The timing of this arrival could not be better, considering the organization was wrestling with the disappointment of Adam Valentini's decision to pursue his college career at the University of Michigan instead of Kitchener. However, Forrest is already heralded as one of Ontario's most thunderously exciting defensive prospects.

Alex Forrest's Rising journey in junior hockey

At just 16 years old, Alex Forrest has made himself a player of incredible consistency and calm.

From St. Catharines, Ontario, he played the 2024–25 season with Oakville Rangers U16 AAA. During that campaign, he was the best defenseman in the OMHA division, piling up 39 points in 34 games. His offensive instincts and defensive thinking made him the highest-scoring blueliner in the league, thus cementing his reputation as an all-around two-way defender.

After U16, Forrest made the jump to the St. Catharines Falcons of the GOJHL, mixing it with some older opponents in the playoff format.

Playing 13 games for the Falcons, he collected four points and showed that he can roll with the faster and more physical kind of hockey. The coaches spoke highly of his maturity, good puck movement, and confidence beyond his years.

Why Alex Forrest fits perfectly with Kitchener Rangers

Kitchener Rangers GM Mike McKenzie had called Forrest an elite skater, highly competitive, and very much true to the way the team was going. Well known for his puck-carrying and deceptive edgework, Forrest excels in transition, creating offense at the blue line.

His vision allows him to remain on the line, dash perfect passing lanes, or even get involved in offensive plays whenever the chance comes.The development of Alex Forrest has also attracted the national selectors, as Hockey Canada has invited him to their U17 Summer Development Camp, a setting often leading to international honours for budding stars.Also Read: Why the Chicago Blackhawks might end up regretting the Frank Nazar long-term extensionBy signing Alex Forrest, the Kitchener Rangers not only acquired a highly skilled defenseman but also a player with the potential to mature into a franchise cornerstone. His skating ability, composure, and offensive instincts will enable him to garner attention from the crowd and be instrumental to the Rangers' future.