American ice hockey player (born 2005)
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. 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. On the Mid-Fairfield Rangers Fortescue was a teammate of Luke Drury, the nephew of Ranger general manager Chris Drury who later drafted him. He also played for Don Bosco Preparatory High School.
Fortescue was drafted by the Rangers in the third round of the 2023 NHL Entry Draft with the 90th pick of the draft. The Rangers traded a 7th round draft pick to move up one spot in the draft to make sure they could draft Fortescue.
International play.
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. He had a goal and three assists during the tournament, including an assist on the go-ahead goal in the deciding game against Sweden. He previously won a gold medal for the United States at the 2023 IIHF World U18 Championships. He had a goal and two assists, as well as a +9 rating, in that tournament.
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. 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.
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."
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. He is a reliable stay-at-home defenseman who has not produced much offense. He is also a strong penalty killer. "The Hockey News" said "He makes life hard for the opposition and uses his stick well." 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." One NHL executive compared him to gritty Ranger defenseman Ryan Lindgren. 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." According to Eagles' head coach Greg Brown: ;templatestyles src="Template:Blockquote/styles.css" / ;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."
Personal life.
Fortescue's cousin C.J. McGee is a professional ice hockey defenseman with the Savannah Ghost Pirates of the ECHL. Another cousin, Liam McLinskey, plays college hockey for the Holy Cross Crusaders and was a top 10 finalist for the Hobey Baker Award.
References.
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