According to the Buffalo News, the Buffalo Sabres have hired another assistant for Ron Rolston’s coaching staff. Jerry Forton of Harvard University will immediately join Rolston’s staff.
Forton, who is a Buffalo native, ends his two-year tenure as an assistant at Harvard by joining the Sabres. This is Forton’s first NHL coaching job, as he had been an 18-year coaching veteran in college.
In 18 years, Forton spent time at Niagara University, U-Mass Lowell, and Harvard University.
Throughout his college coaching career, Forton was responsible for at least 12 players being drafted or signed by National Hockey League teams. While working for Niagara University, Forton worked with players off the ice, and saw that 44 of 45 players graduated on time.
On a personal note, Forton attended the University of Buffalo, where he was a record-setting goaltender for the soccer team. Forton is also a member of the University of Buffalo’s Athletic Hall of Fame.