Laura Fortino

At 33 years old, Laura Fortino has this physical status:

Laura Michele Fortino (born January 30, 1991) is a Canadian ice hockey player for Markham Thunder.

She was named on October 3, 2011, she was one of Team Canada's roster for the 2011 4 Nations Cup.

Of note, she was the first overall pick in the 2014 CWHL Draft.

Personal life

Fortino is a Hamiltonian born and raised, and she is a distant cousin of John Fortino of the Fortinos supermarket chain. She is of Italian origins.

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Playing career

Fortino was a member of the Hamilton Reps. (Bantam AA Boys) in 2004 and she won a silver medal at the Ontario provincials, earning an honorable mention to her AA defence partner Kyle Rooney. She earned a bronze medal at the 2007 PWHL championships as a member of Stoney Creek. She earned a gold medal with Ontario Red at the 2007 National Women's Under-18 Championships in Kitchener, Ontario. Fortino earned a gold medal with Stoney Creek at the OWHA provincials and the PWHL championship in 2008. Fortino led PWHL defencemen in scoring in 2007-08. At the 2008 National Women's Under-18 Championships in Napanee, Ontario, she earned a gold medal with Ontario Red. Fortino obtained a silver medal with Stoney Creek at the OWHA provincials in 2009. In 2008–09, Fortino ranked second among PWHL defensemen in scoring.

Fortino joined the Cornell Big Red in 2009, and as a freshman, she was named All-America honors. In 2009–10, she led NCAA defencemen, Cornell defensemen, and Cornell freshman in scoring. She appeared in the NCAA championship game at the Frozen Four in 2010 as a member of the Big Red.

Canada has been selected to the 2014 Olympic roster for Canada. Fortino was a member of Canada's National Women's Under-18 Team in August 2008 for a three-game series against the United States in Lake Placid. She will win a silver medal with Canada's National Women's Under-18 Team later this year in Calgary, Canada.

She appeared with the National Women's Under-22 Team in Calgary for a three-game exhibition against the United States. Fortino earned a silver medal in Füssen, Germany, at the 2009 IIHF World Women's Under 18 championships. In August 2010, she was part of another three-game exhibition series with the Under 22 team versus the United States. At the 2010 MLP Cup in Ravensburg, Germany, Fortino gained a gold medal with Canada's National Women's Under-22 Team. Fortino scored a goal in a 9–0 win over Russia to advance to the gold medal game in the 2011 MLP Cup semifinals. Canada defeated Sweden by 6–0 to win the gold medal, with Fortino scoring another goal. In March 2011, she was admitted to the Canadian national women's ice hockey team selection camp to determine the final roster for the 2011 IIHF Women's World Championships. Laura Fortino scored her first international goal in a 1–0 victory at the Ottawa Civic Centre on March 31, 2012 in a exhibition game against the United States. She scored at 17:26 of the second period and was aided by Marie-Philip Poulin as she scored on American goaltender Molly Schaus. In Sochi against the United States, Fortino was credited for helping feed the puck to teammate Marie-Philip Poulin.

The Brampton Thunder selected Fortino first overall in the CWHL on August 19, 2014. She is the second alumna of the Stoney Creek Junior Sabres (PWHL) to be voted first overall.

She was named Assistant Captain by the 2015-2016 season.

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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