Gus Forslund
# Gus Forslund

Gustaf Oliver Forslund (April 25, 1908 – August 4, 1962) was a Swedish-born Canadian professional ice hockey right wing player. In the 1932–33 season, he became the first Swedish-born player in the National Hockey League, and played 48 games for the Ottawa Senators. The rest of his career, which lasted from 1926 to 1941, was spent in various minor leagues.

## Early life

Gustaf Forslund was born in Holmsund in Västerbotten, Sweden to Lars Anton Forslund and his wife Ida Maria Fällman. When he was still a child, his family moved to Fort William and later Port Arthur, Ontario.

## Playing career

First playing professional hockey for the Port Arthur Ports at age 20, he transferred to the Fort William Forts one year later. In 1929 he moved to Minnesota to play for the Duluth Hornets of the American Hockey Association (1926–1942). Playing 48 games for the Ottawa Senators in 1932–33, Forslund became the first Swede to play in the NHL. He scored a total of 13 points, 4 goals and 9 assists.

He went on to play for the Windsor Bulldogs of the International Hockey League (1929–1936) and the Philadelphia Arrows and New Haven Eagles in the Can-Am Hockey League. He ended his career playing in the Thunder Bay Senior League until 1941. In 1939–40, Forslund led the Thunder Bay Senior League with 39 points in 24 games.

## After hockey

After retiring, Forslund helped organise youth hockey. After his wife died at 39, he was left to raise their two children alone. He died from a stroke in 1962 when he was 54.

## Career statistics

### Regular season and playoffs

| | | | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| 1926–27 | Port Arthur Ports | TBSHL | 16 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1927–28 | Fort William Forts | TBSHL | 19 | 10 | 1 | 11 | 10 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1928–29 | Fort William Forts | TBSHL | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1929–30 | Duluth Hornets | AHA | 48 | 8 | 7 | 15 | 33 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1930–31 | Duluth Hornets | AHA | 47 | 18 | 10 | 28 | 30 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1931–32 | Duluth Hornets | AHA | 48 | 14 | 13 | 27 | 24 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1932–33 | Ottawa Senators | NHL | 48 | 4 | 9 | 13 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1933–34 | Windsor Bulldogs | IHL | 43 | 8 | 12 | 20 | 12 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1934–35 | Philadelphia Arrows | Can-Am | 48 | 20 | 32 | 52 | 15 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1935–36 | New Haven Eagles | Can-Am | 48 | 16 | 17 | 33 | 26 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1936–37 | Fort William Wanderers | TBSHL | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1937–38 | Fort William Wanderers | TBSHL | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1938–39 | Duluth Zephyrs | TBSHL | 11 | 8 | 13 | 21 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1938–39 | Duluth Zephyrs | USHL | 26 | 18 | 13 | 31 | 7 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1939–40 | Geraldton Gold Miners | TBSHL | 24 | 18 | 21 | 39 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1940–41 | Geraldton Gold Miners | TBSHL | 12 | 6 | 3 | 9 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — |
| AHA totals | AHA totals | AHA totals | 143 | 40 | 30 | 70 | 87 | — | — | — | — | — |
| NHL totals | NHL totals | NHL totals | 48 | 4 | 9 | 13 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — |
