Drew Fortescue

Drew Fortescue
Born (2005-04-28) April 28, 2005 (age 19)
Pearl River, New York, USA
Height 6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight 176 lb (80 kg; 12 st 8 lb)
Position Defense
Shoots Left
NCAA team Boston College
NHL draft 90th overall, 2023
New York Rangers

Drew Fortescue is an American college ice hockey defenseman for the Boston College Eagles as a prospect for the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League (NHL). Fortescue was drafted in the third round, 90th overall, by the Rangers in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft.

Playing career

Before playing for Boston College he was in the USA Hockey National Team Development Program.[1][2] He also played youth hockey for the Mid-Fairfield Rangers of Connecticut’s Mid-Fairfield Youth Hockey Association, where he was coached by former NHL star Martin St. Louis, who he credits for helping his development.[3] On the Mid-Fairfield Rangers Fortescue was a teammate of Luke Drury, the nephew of Ranger general manager Chris Drury who later drafted him.[4] He also played for Don Bosco Preparatory High School.[5]

Fortescue was drafted by the Rangers in the third round of the 2023 NHL Entry Draft with the 90th pick of the draft.[6] The Rangers traded a 7th round draft pick to move up one spot in the draft to make sure they could draft Fortescue.[7][4]

International play

Medal record
Representing  United States
Ice hockey
World U18 Championships
Gold medal – first place 2023 Switzerland
World Junior Championships
Gold medal – first place 2024 Sweden
Gold medal – first place 2025 Canada

He was selected to the United States men's national junior ice hockey team at the 2024 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships and won a gold medal.[8][9][10] He had a goal and three assists during the tournament, including an assist on the go-ahead goal in the deciding game against Sweden.[9][11] He previously won a gold medal for the United States at the 2023 IIHF World U18 Championships.[8][5] He had a goal and two assists, as well as a +9 rating, in that tournament.[12]

He was also included on the roster of the United States team for the 2025 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships and won a second gold medal.[8][13][14][15][16][17] Fortescue had no points in the tournament but played on Team USA's top defense pairing and wound up with a +6 rating, tied for 3rd best among tournament defensemen.[17]

During the semi-final game of the 2025 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, the TSN announcers said that "Sometimes you don't notice him in a game and it's because he's doing everything right. He's always in position and plays it simple. He's a Rangers draft pick — a good, solid, reliable defender coming your way pretty soon."[18]

Playing style

Prior to the 2024-25 season, USA Today writer Vincent Z. Mercogliano rated Fortescue as the Rangers' 6th best prospect, The Hockey News rated him as the Rangers' 5th best prospect, and McKeen's Hockey rated him as the Rangers' 9th best prospect.[6][19][20] He is a reliable stay-at-home defenseman who has not produced much offense.[6][1] He is also a strong penalty killer.[1] The Hockey News said "He makes life hard for the opposition and uses his stick well."[19] Scout Jess Rubenstein rated him as the Rangers' best defeneman prospect entering the 2024-25 season and said "I like his size and on-ice vision. He plays a clean, physical game but needs more offense."[19] One NHL executive compared him to gritty Ranger defenseman Ryan Lindgren.[21] Boston College associate head coach Brendan Buckley particularly praised Fortescue's breakout passes and said "He is exceptional at going back and getting pucks and making a good first touch with pucks and I think that is so valuable in today's hockey, being able to have a reliable defenseman back there that can get pucks and move them quickly up to his forwards."[8] According to Eagles' head coach Greg Brown:

He was relied on in key situations. Right away as a freshman, he showed that he could handle playing against the other team's top players...He's very good at breaking pucks out. He can see his options quickly and find the open guy. I think that was probably his one of his top strengths...He had no fear in finding the middle if that was the right play, and he could execute on a high level."[6]

Personal life

Fortescue's cousin C.J. McGee is a professional ice hockey defenseman with the Savannah Ghost Pirates of the ECHL.[8][5] Another cousin, Liam McLinskey, plays college hockey for the Holy Cross Crusaders and was a top 10 finalist for the Hobey Baker Award.[8]

References

  1. ^ a b c Henes, Sam (March 20, 2024). "Rangers' Understated Prospect Drew Fortescue Developing at BC". The Hockey Writers. Retrieved 2024-10-13.
  2. ^ Rankin, Kim (September 20, 2024). "2024-25 Boston College Men's Hockey Player Profile: Drew Fortescue". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 2024-10-13.
  3. ^ Cowan, Stu (December 22, 2023). "Canadiens' Martin St. Louis had big impact while coaching youth hockey". Montreal Gazette. Retrieved 2024-10-17.
  4. ^ a b Rosen, Dan (June 29, 2023). "Rangers draft pick Fortescue has ties to GM Drury, New York". nhl.com. Retrieved 2024-11-08.
  5. ^ a b c Rapay, Eugene (April 11, 2024). "Don Bosco alums leaving a mark on college hockey". Herald-News. pp. S1, S3. Retrieved 2024-10-13 – via newspapers.com.
  6. ^ a b c d Mercogliano, Vincent Z. (September 11, 2024). "NY Rangers 2024 prospect rankings: Part 1, Nos. 6-10". Lohud. Retrieved 2024-10-09.
  7. ^ Walker, Mollie (June 29, 2023). "Rangers trade up to pick New York native Drew Fortescue at 2023 NHL Draft". New York Post. Retrieved 2024-10-13.
  8. ^ a b c d e f Wheeler, Scott (December 30, 2024). "The New York roots that have led - and followed - Rangers' Drew Fortescue to World Juniors". The Athletic. Retrieved 2025-01-02.
  9. ^ a b Mercogliano, Vincent Z. (January 5, 2024). "Rangers prospects Gabe Perreault, Drew Fortescue capture World Juniors gold with Team USA". Lohud. Retrieved 2024-10-13.
  10. ^ Walker, Mollie (December 24, 2023). "Gabe Perreault headlines Rangers prospects competing at World Junior Championship". New York Post. Retrieved 2024-10-13.
  11. ^ Kennedy, Ryan (January 5, 2024). "USA Beats Sweden for 2024 World Juniors Gold". The Hockey News. Retrieved 2024-10-17.
  12. ^ Walker, Mollie (June 29, 2023). "Inside look at Rangers' second-day 2023 NHL Draft picks". New York Post. Retrieved 2024-10-14.
  13. ^ Rankin, Kim (December 2, 2024). "Six Boston College Men's Hockey Players Named to 2025 U.S. National Junior Team Preliminary Roster". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 2024-12-03.
  14. ^ Mastey, Remy (December 2, 2024). "Gabe Perreault Headlines Rangers Prospects On Team USA World Junior Preliminary Roster". The Hockey News. Retrieved 2024-12-03.
  15. ^ Cloutier, Eli (December 23, 2024). "U.S. World Juniors Littered With NCAA Talent". The Hockey News. Retrieved 2024-12-24.
  16. ^ "USA U20". Elite Prospects. Retrieved 2025-01-06.
  17. ^ a b Walker, Mollie (January 6, 2025). "Rangers' burgeoning youth providing plenty of hope for bright future". New York Post. Retrieved 2025-01-07.
  18. ^ Godlewski, Daniel (January 5, 2025). "Future Rangers Stars Gabe Perreault and Drew Fortescue Shine In 4-1 Team USA Semi-Final Victory Over Czechia". Fansided. Retrieved 2025-01-06.
  19. ^ a b c Fischler, Stan (October 14, 2024). "The Rangers Best NCAA Prospect You Never Heard About". The Hockey News. Retrieved 2024-10-17.
  20. ^ Otten, Brock; Hall, Dave (September 16, 2024). "McKeen's 2024-25 NHL Yearbook – New York Rangers – Top 15 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #23". McKeen's Hockey. Retrieved 2024-11-10.
  21. ^ Mercogliano, Vincent Z. (December 27, 2023). "What to know about the Rangers' prospects". Asbury Park Press. p. B4. Retrieved 2024-10-13 – via newspapers.com.