Vernor Vivian "Jake" Forbes (July 4, 1897 – December 30, 1985) was a notable early professional ice hockey player. Born in Toronto, Ontario, Forbes was one of a generation of Canadian athletes who helped establish the modern game as a professional sport. He is best known for his role as a ice hockey goaltender in the formative years of the National Hockey League.
Overview and early life
Forbes carried the nicknames "Jake" and "Jumpin' Jackie," the latter reflecting his energetic presence in goal. Born at the end of the 19th century in a city that was then a major hockey centre, he grew up when organized leagues and standardized rules were becoming widespread. Like many players of his era, he moved from local and regional teams into the expanding professional ranks.
Playing career
Forbes' career in the top tier lasted thirteen seasons, primarily during the 1920s and into the early 1930s. He appeared with several clubs that were important in the NHL's early development. His movement between teams illustrates how professional rosters were fluid while the league itself was stabilizing and expanding into new markets.
- Toronto St. Patricks — the Toronto franchise for which he played in the league's early decade.
- Hamilton Tigers — part of the NHL's Ontario-based teams of the 1920s.
- New York Americans — one of the first U.S.-based NHL clubs where Forbes spent part of his career.
- Philadelphia Quakers — a short-lived franchise that Forbes also represented before his retirement.
Precise season-by-season statistics are part of specialized record collections, but Forbes' long tenure in the league indicates he was a trusted and durable presence in goal across changing teams and competitive conditions.
Style, era and legacy
Goalkeeping during Forbes' time was different from the modern position: equipment was rudimentary by today's standards and tactics emphasized positional play, quick reflexes and resilience. Nicknames such as "Jumpin' Jackie" hint at a reactive, athletic approach favored by many early netminders. While not as widely documented as later stars, Forbes is remembered among early NHL goaltenders who bridged amateur traditions and full professional play.
He died in 1985, leaving a place in hockey history as part of the NHL's first decades. His career helps illustrate the sport's evolution from regional competitions to a continent-spanning professional league and remains of interest to historians and long-time fans studying the game's pioneers.
Notable facts
- Full name: Vernor Vivian Forbes, commonly known as Jake or "Jumpin' Jackie".
- Thirteen seasons in the NHL during the 1920s–1930s.
- Played for multiple franchises during a formative period for professional hockey.
This entry provides a concise portrait of Forbes' role in early professional hockey and points readers to specialized archives and team histories for detailed statistics and game-by-game records.