Fortino joined the Cornell Big Red women's ice hockey program in 2009 and she earned All-America honours as a freshman.

[4][5] In August 2008, Fortino was a member of Canada's National Women's Under-18 Team for a three-game series against the United States in Lake Placid.

The following year, she participated with Canada's National Women's Under-22 Team for a three-game exhibition versus the United States in Calgary.

Fortino won a gold medal with Canada's National Women's Under-22 Team at the 2010 MLP Cup in Ravensburg, Germany.

In the semifinal of the 2011 MLP Cup, Fortino scored a goal in a 9–0 rout of Russia to advance to the gold medal game.

[8] In a March 31, 2012 exhibition game versus the United States, Laura Fortino scored her first international goal in a 1–0 win at the Ottawa Civic Centre.

Fortino was credited for an assist feeding the puck to teammate, Marie-Philip Poulin when she scored the winning goal in Sochi against the United States.