CPL Goalkeeper of the Year Triston Henry returning to Forge FC

2021-01-28

Charlie O’Connor-Clarke, Digital Content Editor (@charliejclarke)

Another award-winner is sticking around at Forge FC.

The reigning CPL champions announced on Thursday that the league’s 2020 Goalkeeper of the Year, Triston Henry, will be back with the club for the 2021 season, after two successful years as the Hamilton-based team’s top shot-stopper.

A Scarborough, Ontario native, Henry has been at Forge since February 2019. The 27-year-old turned heads in his first season in 2019, winning the starting goalkeeper’s job out of training camp. Since then, Henry has made 41 appearances for Forge, recording an incredible 16 clean sheets in the process.

At The Island Games last summer, Henry started all but one of Forge’s 11 matches, maintaining a shutout in five of them and making the second-most saves in the CPL en route to a second straight championship and the league’s Golden Glove award.

“I’m so happy for him. Seeing his growth in the last few years has been incredible. He was a younger goalkeeper and didn’t have much experience coming into (the CPL). But he’s met the challenge by getting better every single day… He has a fantastic attitude and how he carries himself on and off the pitch says so much about him,” said Forge captain Kyle Bekker of Henry’s award-winning season.

“He has clean sheets in both CPL Finals, and that’s an unbelievable stat. He’s made some key saves for us in helping us win back-to-back championships; he’s been unbelievable. I’m so proud of him and I don’t think there’s another goalkeeper in this league who deserves the award more.”

Prior to signing for Forge, Henry was already familiar with coach Bobby Smyrniotis, having played three years for his League1 Ontario side Sigma FC (alongside many of his fellow Forge teammates). Henry also previously played NCAA Division I soccer for the University of Connecticut as well as Quinnipiac University.

Henry is just the second Forge player confirmed to be returning to the club for 2021, following Tuesday’s announcement that Bekker has re-signed. With defender David Edgar retiring, Forge has 19 players from the 2020 roster whose status has yet to be confirmed.