Dave Fortier

David Edward Fortier (born June 17, 1951) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League and the World Hockey Association during the 1970s. Selected by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 1971 NHL Amateur Draft, Fortier spent most of the next three seasons in the minor Central Hockey League, though he played one season with Toronto before joining the New York Islanders for two seasons, with his final NHL season with the Vancouver Canucks. He then moved to the Indianapolis Racers of the World Hockey Association, and spent a final season in the minor leagues before retiring in 1979.

Dave Fortier
Born (1951-06-17) June 17, 1951
Sudbury, Ontario, Canada
Height 5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight 190 lb (86 kg; 13 st 8 lb)
Position Defence
Shot Left
Played for Toronto Maple Leafs
New York Islanders
Vancouver Canucks
Indianapolis Racers (WHA)
NHL Draft 23rd overall, 1971
Toronto Maple Leafs
Playing career 1971–1979

Playing career

A hard-nosed, physical defender, Fortier was selected 23rd overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 1971 NHL Amateur Draft. He spent most of the next three seasons in the Central Hockey League, earning a 23-game callup to the Maple Leafs in 1972–73 during which he scored his first NHL goal and added 4 assists.

Fortier was traded along with Randy Osburn from the Maple Leafs to the Philadelphia Flyers for Bill Flett on May 27, 1974.[1] He was claimed by the New York Islanders in the intra-league draft a few weeks later. He emerged as a regular for the Islanders in 1974–75, recording 6 goals and 18 points in 65 games, as well as a solid +14 rating. In the playoffs, he was a member of the Islander team which memorably came back from a 3–0 series deficit to defeat the Pittsburgh Penguins and reach the Stanley Cup semi-finals.

In 1975–76, Fortier saw his icetime significantly reduced, and he recorded just 2 assists in 59 games for the Islanders. Prior to the 1976–77 campaign, he was sold to the Vancouver Canucks. He spent one season in Vancouver as a solid depth defender, recording 4 points and 125 penalty minutes in 58 games.

For the 1977–78 season, Fortier jumped to the World Hockey Association to sign with the Indianapolis Racers. With the Racers, he recorded 1 goal and 15 assists for 16 points in 54 games. However, he found himself in the minors the following season, and retired from the sport in 1979.

During his career, Fortier appeared in 205 NHL games, scoring 8 goals and 21 assists for 29 points along with 335 penalty minutes. He also appeared in 20 playoff games, recording 2 assists and 33 penalty minutes.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs
Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GPGAPtsPIM GPGAPtsPIM
1968–69 Garson Falconbridge Native Sons NOJHL 352101256 601116
1969–70 Chelmsford Canadiens NOJHL 4382028232 —————
1970–71 St. Catharines Black Hawks OHA 6081624196 1506674
1971–72 Tulsa Oilers CHL 7172027217 1308839
1971–73 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 2314563 —————
1972–73 Tulsa Oilers CHL 5022022148 —————
1973–74 Oklahoma City Blazers CHL 72103848200 1001135
1974–75 New York Islanders NHL 656121879 1402233
1975–76 New York Islanders NHL 5902268 60000
1976–77 Vancouver Canucks NHL 58134125 —————
1977–78 Indianapolis Racers WHA 541151686 —————
1978–79 Erie Blades NEHL 4412223145 —————
WHA totals 541151686 —————
NHL totals 20582129335 2002233

References
  1. William Flett (RW) 1971–1974 – Philadelphia Flyers. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
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