Career
Forbes was selected in the third round of the 1977 National Hockey League Amateur Draft by the Boston Bruins, 52nd overall. Following his draft, Forbes split the 1977-1978 season between Boston and their AHL-affiliate, the Rochester Americans. Forbes played in Rochester for the 1978-1979 season, and was claimed by the Edmonton Oilers in the 1979 National Hockey League Expansion Draft.
Forbes would play in only 18 games for Edmonton over the rest of his career, but was productive in the CHL, first with the Houston Apollos and later with the Wichita Wind and Montana Magic, highlighted by being named to the 1983 CHL All-Star Team.
Forbes was assistant general manager and co owner of the Muskegon Lumberjacks and remained with the Cleveland Lumberjacks as assistant general manager and co owner until 1992, and was named General Motors of the Salt Lake Golden Eagles on May 25, 1993, a position he held for the 1993-1994 season. In 1994 Forbes was made commissioner of the Colonial Hockey League, a position he held until 1997.