· Niagara Falls Public Library

Player Name

MacKenzie, Laura

Type

Athlete

Sport

Hockey

Inducted

2019

Era

1991 - Present

Description

Laura MacKenzie's athletic abilities arose at an early age while playing ringette from 1984 to 1993. During this time, she also embarked on her ice hockey career. In 1985, she began playing on a boy's hockey team in the Niagara Falls Minor Hockey league. In 1990, her parents drove her to Stoney Creek to play on a girl's hockey team. Laura's excellent skating ability and superior skills earned her a position and captaincy of the Mississauga Chiefs AA (AAA) Team . Laura also played for the Mississauga Ice Bears in the National Women's Hockey League (NWHL).
During Laura's four years attending A.N. Myer High School, she played on the Girls High School Hockey Team, receiving the MVP award each year, and in 1996, she was named "Female Athlete of the Year".
In 1993, Laura received a bronze medal playing in the Under 18 Women's National Hockey Championship with Ontario Blue, and later, played on two Concordia CIAU (Canadian Interuniversity Athletic Union) Women's National Championship Hockey Teams. In 2000, Laura played for Michigan's Wayne State University, and was named Team Captain, MVP, and "Defenseman of the Year".
In 2001, Laura played on Australia's Adelaide Women's Hockey Team, winning silver at the nationals, and then advanced to the Rodovre Women's Hockey Team in Denmark, that won the National Championship.
In 2003, Laura became Assistant Coach of Team Australia and won a gold medal at the IIHF ( International Ice Hockey Federation) Division 3 World Championships. Following this, she became Assistant Coach and then later Head Coach for the Danish National Women's Hockey Team, that won silver medals at the IIHF World Championships in 2003, and 2008, and a gold medal in 2004.
Laura MacKenzie's athletic and coaching abilities, many accolades and awards, have earned her a well-deserved place on the Niagara Falls Sports Wall of Fame.

Subject

Niagara Falls Virtual Sports Wall of Fame
Awards
Portraits - Biographical
Sports - Recreation - Leisure