ECHL: Wheeling Nailers Sign Merrimack College Graduate

The Wheeling Nailers announced today they have signed Merrimack College graduate Filip Forsmark for the 2024-25 ECHL season. Forsmark played two games in the ECHL last season with the Allen Americans after completing his final year at Merrimack.

The Skovde, Sweden native’s first season in North America came in the 2017-18 season when he played his first of two junior hockey seasons with the club. He played 58 games that season with the Tri-City Storm in the United States Hockey League (USHL). He tallied ten goals and 12 assists with a minus-nine rating. During the 2018 Clark Cup Playoffs, he played two games but did not notch a point. The following season, Forsmark went out with a bang to end his junior hockey career. In 62 games played during the regular season, he notched 14 goals and 38 assists for 52 points with a +37. He continued his solid play through the 2019 Clark Cup Playoffs. He was inserted into the lineup for six games, notching two goals and three assists with a plus-three rating.

Forsmark went on to commit to Merrimack College to continue his playing and academic career. He stayed at Merrimack for five seasons. Through those five seasons, he played 123 games, tallying 26 goals and 48 assists with a minus-two rating. His best season came in his second season playing, as he tallied 27 points on 11 goals and 16 assists through 33 games.

Though he is not a huge body, as he is listed at 6-foot, Forsmark will bring a lot of speed and a scoring touch to the Nailers lineup. Forsmark also has experience playing against guys older than he is, having played against 18- and 20-year-olds as a 15-year-old back home in Sweden, which will help him adjust to the professional ranks quite a bit.