Fortunato inks deal with Icemen

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jacksonville Icemen, ECHL affiliate of the National Hockey League’s New York Rangers and the American Hockey League’s Hartford Wolf Pack, announced that the team has agreed to terms with defenseman Brandon Fortunato for the 2022-23 season.   

Fortunato, 26, returns for a second season with the Icemen where he was the recipient of the team’s Defenseman of the Year award last season. Fortunato collected 25 points in 39 appearances in Jacksonville last season, while also adding five assists in eight playoff games. In addition, he earned AHL call-ups last season with Hartford (three games) and the Charlotte Checkers (seven games) recording two assists.  Fortunato also registered a goal for the Icemen in the 2022 ECHL All-Star Classic last January.   

In 2020-21, Fortunato appeared in 13 AHL games split between the Belleville Senators and Cleveland Monsters. During the 2019-20 season, he recorded 21 points (2g-19a) in 48 games with the Florida Everblades.    

Prior to turning pro, Fortunato played collegiately at Quinnipiac University where he totaled 36 points in two seasons from 2017-19. The Albertsons, New York resident also played two seasons at Boston University and registered 40 points.