Laura Fortino

Laura Michele Fortino (born January 30, 1991) is an Italian-Canadian ice hockey defenceman and coach, currently playing in the Italian Hockey League Women (IHLW) with the EV Bozen Eagles. A former member of the Canadian national team, she won two Olympic medals and six World Championship medals during 2011 to 2019.

Fortino was selected first overall by the Brampton Thunder in the 2014 CWHL Draft. She played five seasons in the Canadian Women's Hockey League (CWHL), during which she was named the CWHL Defenceman of the Year for the 2015–16 season and won the Clarkson Cup in 2018 with the Markham Thunder (called Brampton Thunder during 1998 to 2017).

Playing career
In 2004, Fortino played minor ice hockey with the Hamilton Reps in the boys OHF Bantam AA and she won a silver medal at the Ontario provincials, with honourable mention going to her AA defence partner Kyle Rooney.

As a member of the Stoney Creek Sabres, she won a bronze medal at the 2007 Provincial Women's Hockey League (Provincial WHL or PWHL; not to be confused with the Professional Women's Hockey League) championships. At the 2007 National Women's Under-18 Championships in Kitchener, Ontario, she won a gold medal with Ontario Red.

The following year, Fortino won a gold medal with Stoney Creek at the Ontario Women's Hockey Association (OWHA) provincials and at the 2008 Provincial WHL championship. In 2007–08, Fortino led Provincial WHL defencemen in scoring. She won a gold medal with Ontario Red at the 2008 National Women’s Under-18 Championships in Napanee, Ontario.

In 2009, Fortino won a silver medal with Stoney Creek at the OWHA provincials. Fortino ranked second among PWHL defencemen in scoring in 2008–09, with 7 goals and 17 assists for 24 points in 29 games.

College
Fortino joined the Cornell Big Red women's ice hockey program in 2009 and she earned All-America honours as a freshman. She led all NCAA defencemen, Cornell defencemen, and Cornell freshmen in scoring in the 2009–10 season. As a member of the Big Red, she played in the NCAA championship game at the Frozen Four in 2010.

Fortino was a Patty Kazmaier Award top-ten finalist in 2011 and 2012.

Hockey Canada
On October 3, 2011, she was named to the Team Canada roster that participated in the 2011 4 Nations Cup.

Named to 2014 Olympic roster for Canada. In August 2008, Fortino was a member of Canada's National Women's Under-18 Team for a three-game series against the United States in Lake Placid. Later that year, she would win a silver medal with Canada's National Women’s Under-18 Team at the 2008 IIHF World Women’s Under-18 Championship in Calgary.

The following year, she participated with Canada's National Women's Under-22 Team for a three-game exhibition versus the United States in Calgary. At the 2009 IIHF World Women's Under 18 championships, Fortino won a silver medal in Füssen, Germany. She was part of another three game exhibition series with the Under 22 team vs. the United States in August 2010. Fortino won a gold medal with Canada's National Women's Under-22 Team at the 2010 MLP Cup in Ravensburg, Germany. In the semifinal of the 2011 MLP Cup, Fortino scored a goal in a 9–0 rout of Russia to advance to the gold medal game. Fortino would score another goal as Canada beat Sweden in the final by a 6–0 tally to claim the gold medal. In March 2011, she was invited to the Canadian national women's ice hockey team selection camp to determine the final roster for the 2011 IIHF Women's World Championships. In a March 31, 2012 exhibition game versus the United States, Laura Fortino scored her first international goal in a 1–0 win at the Ottawa Civic Centre. She scored at 17:26 of the second period and was assisted by Marie-Philip Poulin, as she scored on American goaltender Molly Schaus. Fortino was credited for an assist feeding the puck to teammate, Marie-Philip Poulin when she scored the winning goal in Sochi against the United States.

Canadian Women's Hockey League (CWHL)
On August 19, 2014, Fortino was chosen first overall in the 2014 CWHL Draft by the Brampton Thunder. She was the second alumna of the Stoney Creek Junior Sabres (PWHL) to be selected first overall.

She was named alternate captain in the 2015–16 season.

Personal life
Fortino was born and raised in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. She is of Italian descent and holds citizenship in Canada and Italy. She is a distant relative of John Fortino of the Fortinos supermarket chain.

Awards and honours

 * Cornell's co-Rookie of the Year 2009–10
 * ECAC First All-Star Team 2009–10
 * ECAC All-Rookie Team 2009–10
 * RBK Hockey/AHCA Women’s Division I 2009–10 First Team All-American
 * 2011 First Team All-America selection
 * 2011–12 CCM Hockey Women’s Division I All-American: First Team
 * Player of the Game for Canada, 2012 IIHF Women's World Championship, April 8 contest vs. Finland
 * Gold medal recipient at the 2011 "Expressive Italian Hand Talkers Competition"
 * Nominated for 2015–2016 CWHL Most Valuable Player
 * 2015–16 CWHL Defenceman of the Year

Regular season and playoffs
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