John Laursen

{{Infobox ice hockey player
| name = John Laursen
| image =John Laursen USA Warriors.jpg
| image_size = 300px
| caption = John Laursen - USA Warriors
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1988|1|28}}
| birth_place = [[Staten Island, NY]], [[United States|USA]]
| height_ft = 5
| height_in = 6
| weight_lb = 205
| position = [[Goaltender]]
| catches = Left
| league = [[Public Service Hockey League|PSHL]]
| team = [[USA Warriors]]
| former_teams =Fort Drum Mountaineers
| draft =
| draft_team =
| career_start = 2010
| career_end =
}}'''John (Johnny) Laursen''' (born January 28, 1988) is an [[United States|American]] [[Iraq War|Iraq]] and [[War in Afghanistan (2001–14)|Afghanistan]] [[veteran]], and [[ice hockey]] [[goaltender]] for the [[USA Warriors]].

==Personal==
[[File:214Soldier.jpg|thumb|Laursen hands out boxes of medical supplies to a local Iraqi man....<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title = Assisting locals, increasing trust: Humanitarian aid drops help build confidence in ISF, ease US drawdown|url = https://www.dvidshub.net/news/52634/assisting-locals-increasing-trust-humanitarian-aid-drops-help-build-confidence-isf-ease-us-drawdown#.Vka7jITFui5|website = DVIDS|accessdate = 2015-11-14}}</ref>|left|180x180px]]
Born in [[Staten Island, NY]], Laursen is the son of a [[Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Police Department|Port Authority (NY/NJ) Police Officer]].<ref name="baltimoresun.com">http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/harford/fallston-joppa/ph-ag-veteran-house-mortgage-free-0704-20140702-story.html/</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title = Hockey is a charitable endeavor for soldiers {{!}} Jim Mancari|url = http://www.jimmancari.com/2011/11/23/hockey-is-a-charitable-endeavor-for-soldiers657/|accessdate = 2015-11-15}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite web|url=http://www.empowerourvets.com/|title=CPL John M. Laursen, U.S. Army (Ret.) & USA Warriors Ice Hockey|website=Empower Our Vets|access-date=2016-03-03}}</ref><ref name=":5">{{Cite web|url=http://www.stbaldricks.org/blog/post/army-veteran-hockey-player-shaves-to-help-kids-with-cancer/|title=Army Veteran Hockey Player Shaves to Help Kids With Cancer {{!}} St. Baldrick's Blog {{!}} Childhood Cancer Stories & Research|website=St. Baldrick's Foundation|access-date=2016-03-03}}</ref> <!-- What is the significance of this statement? (In other words: everyone's mom and/or dad have a job.) -->Laursen grew up in [[Brick, NJ]] and as a child, idolized the [[New York Rangers]]' goaltender [[John Vanbiesbrouck]].<ref name="The Warrior of St. Baldrick">{{Cite web|title = The Warrior of St. Baldrick|url = http://thehockeywriters.com/the-warrior-of-st-baldrick/|website = The Hockey Writers|access-date = 2016-01-21|language = en-US}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web|title = Two-Man Advantage 12/18/15|url = http://www.monumentalnetwork.com/videos/two-man-advantage-12-18-15|website = Monumental Network|accessdate = 2015-12-21}}</ref> He played youth hockey with the Brick Hockey Club.<ref name="The Warrior of St. Baldrick"/><ref name=":2" /> He graduated from [[Brick Township High School]] in [[Brick Township, New Jersey|Brick, NJ]], in 2006, then went on to graduate from the CSB School of Broadcasting in [[Orlando, Florida|Orlando, FL]], in February 2008<ref name=":2" />

==Military==
In October 2008, Laursen enlisted in the [[United States Army]]. He graduated [[United States Army Basic Training|Basic Combat Training]] at [[Fort Knox, KY]], and attended [[Advanced Individual Training]] (AIT) in [[Fort Leonard Wood]], MO. Upon graduating AIT he was awarded the [[military occupational specialty]] of Motor Transport Operator (88M) and was assigned to the [[10th Mountain Division]] at [[Fort Drum, NY]]. With the 10th Mountain Division he deployed in support of [[Operation Iraqi Freedom]] and [[Operation New Dawn (Iraq, 2010-2011)|Operation New Dawn]] between 2009 and 2010.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":4" /><ref name=":5" /><ref name="The Warrior of St. Baldrick"/> In 2010, Laursen took part in a joint [[humanitarian aid]] mission with the 1st Bn., 25th Bde., 17th [[Iraqi Army]] Div. in several villages just north of [[Baghdad]] providing food, water and medical supplies.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":4" /> On [[Veterans Day|Veteran's Day]] Weekend, 2012, Laursen traveled to [[Staten Island|Staten Island, NY]] to assist in to clearing debris from [[Hurricane Sandy|Hurricane]] Sandy, using personal leave to volunteer along with several other members of the 10th Mountain Division.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Cleaning up Sandy {{!}} Reuters.com|url = http://www.reuters.com/news/picture/cleaning-up-sandy?articleId=USRTR3AZ1Q&slideId=|website = Reuters|accessdate = 2015-11-12}}</ref> In 2013, Laursen deployed to [[Afghanistan]] in support of [[Operation Enduring Freedom]]. Laursen had been deployed to Afghanistan for four months before his emergency evacuation from theater.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web|url=http://www.army.mil/article/165053|title=Wounded warrior finds solace, brotherhood on the ice {{!}} Article {{!}} The United States Army|last=Affairs|first=Dan Lafontaine, RDECOM Public|website=www.army.mil|access-date=2016-03-31}}</ref> After his evacuation from combat, back in the United States at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, doctors searched for a diagnosis to his mysterious condition. Laursen would learn he had eosinophilic esophagitis, known as EoE, a chronic inflammatory disease of the esophagus.<ref name=":6" /> He was retired from the United States Army in March 2014.<ref name="baltimoresun.com"/><ref name=":4" /><ref name="The Warrior of St. Baldrick"/><ref name=":2" />

==Awards and decorations==
{|
|[[File:ArmyCAB.jpeg|100px]] [[Combat Action Badge]]
|-
|[[File:Army-dw-badge.png|100px]] [[Driver and Mechanic Badge]] | Driver-W
|-
|[[File:BP-0358 grande.jpg|100px]] [[10th Mountain Division]] [[Combat Service Identification Badge]]
|}
{|
|
[[File:ARCOM.png|60px]] [[Army Commendation Medal]]
|-
|[[File:AAM Silver.JPG|60px]] [[Army Achievement Medal]] with silver [[oak leaf cluster]]
|-
|[[File:Good conduct ribbon.gif|60px]] [[Good Conduct Medal (United States)|Good Conduct Medal]]
|-
[[File:Ndsmr.jpg|60px]] [[National Defense Service Medal]]
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=service-star|name=Afghanistan Campaign ribbon|width=60}} [[Afghanistan Campaign Medal]] with one [[campaign star]]
|-
|[[File:2 Star Iraq Campaign Medal.jpg|60px]] [[Iraq Campaign Medal]] with two campaign stars
|-
|[[File:Global_War_on_Terrorism_Service_ribbon.svg|60px]] [[Global War on [...] Service Medal]]
|-
|[[File:Humanitarian_Service_ribbon.svg|60px]] [[Humanitarian Service Medal]]
|-
|[[File:Outstanding_Volunteer_Service_ribbon.svg|60px]] [[Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal]]
|-
|[[File:NCO_Professional_Development_Ribbon.svg|60px]] [[Non-Commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon]]
|-
|[[File:Army_Service_Ribbon.svg|60px]] [[Army Service Ribbon]]
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Army Overseas Service Ribbon.svg|width=60}}<span style="position:relative; top: 1px; left: -36px; display: inline-block; width: 0;">[[File:Award numeral 2.png|11px]]</span> [[Overseas Service Ribbon#Army|Army Overseas Service Ribbon]] with bronze [[award numeral]] 2
|-
||{{ribbon devices|ribbon=NATO Medal ISAF ribbon bar.svg|width=60}} [[NATO Medal]] for service with [[ISAF]]
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|ribbon=Meritorious_Unit_Commendation_ribbon.svg|width=60}} [[Meritorious Unit Commendation]] with one oak leaf cluster
|}<ref>{{cite web|last1=Laursen|first1=John|title=LinkedIn Profile|url=https://www.linkedin.com/in/laursenjohn|website=LinkedIn|accessdate=10 November 2015}}</ref>

==Youth Hockey==
Laursen has played hockey since age 2.<ref name=":6" /> Laursen played youth hockey with the Brick Hockey Club and high school hockey with [[Brick Township High School|Brick High School]] in Brick, NJ <ref name=":1" /><ref name=":4" /><ref name="The Warrior of St. Baldrick"/><ref name=":2" /><ref>{{cite web|last1=Shore Sports Zone|title=Brick Stars Challenger Winter Classic|url=http://www.avonpond.org/programs.shtml|website=Avon Pond|publisher=Shore Sports Zone|accessdate=10 November 2015}}</ref>

==Fort Drum Mountaineers==
While stationed at Fort Drum, Laursen served as Captain of the [[Fort Drum]] Mountaineers.<ref name=":1" /> While playing with the Mountaineers, Laursen took part in several exhibitions with both professional and military teams to include the [[Albany Devils]] Staff and the [[1000 Islands Privateers|1000 Island Privateers]] of the [[Federal Hockey League]].<ref>http://soldiers.dodlive.mil/2012/02/soldiers-play-hockey-with-heart/</ref>
[[File:Laursen Toews Stadium Series.jpg|thumb|280x280px|Laursen taking shots from the [[Chicago Blackhawks]] [[Jonathan Toews]] prior to the 2016 [[NHL Stadium Series]] at [[TCF Bank Stadium]].]]
In 2012, The Fort Drum Mountaineers traveled to Canada to play the [[Royal Military College of Canada]]’s (RMC) hockey team in [[Kingston, ON]]. Maj. Gen. [[Mark A. Milley]], the then Fort Drum and 10th Mountain Division (LI) commander, also played for the team during the game.<ref>{{Cite web|title = MOUNTAINEERS TAKE ON CANADIAN COUNTERPARTS - US Fed News Service, Including US State News {{!}} HighBeam Research|url = https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P3-2638500651.html|website = www.highbeam.com|accessdate = 2015-11-12}}</ref> RMC defeated the Mountaineers by a score of 8-7.<ref>http://www.army.mil/article/78145/Mountaineers_take_on_Canadian_counterparts/</ref>

==USA Warriors==
Laursen began playing with the [[USA Warriors]] in 2013, and continues to serve as the goalie for the standing team wearing #1.<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":5" /><ref name=":2" /> The team serves invaluable roles—support group, social network, and as a connection to their lives in the military—for its players.<ref name=":6" /> Since 2013, Laursen has taken part in many events and games with the Warriors to include tournaments, exhibitions against teams such as the [[Maryland Terrapins|University of Maryland]] Terps, the [[Naval Academy, Maryland|Naval Academy]] Midshipmen and league games in the Public Service Hockey League. Laursen has also taken the ice as the USA Warriors goalie during annual events with the USA Warriors and the [[Chicago Blackhawks]] during both the 2015 [[NHL Winter Classic]] and [[NHL Stadium Series]] in 2014 and 2016.<ref name="The Warrior of St. Baldrick"/> While on the USA Warriors, Laursen has made several appearances at the [[Verizon Center]] during [[Washington Capitals]] games and has been featured on [[CSN Mid-Atlantic]] several times <ref name=":2" />

Laursen has been involved with linking the USA Warriors with children with special needs. Over the past three years, Laursen has brought the USA Warriors to [[Brick Township, New Jersey|Brick, NJ]] to take part in a fundraiser for the Brick Stars Special Hockey team<ref>{{cite web|last1=Rotolo|first1=Chris|title=Brick Stars hockey set to play USA Warriors Sunday in Avon|url=http://www.app.com/story/sports/high-school/hockey/2015/02/04/brick-stars-hockey-set-play-usa-warriors-sunday-avon/22863745/|website=Asbury Park Press|accessdate=9 November 2015}}</ref> in their Challenger Winter Classic's which take place outdoors at Avon Pond in [[Avon-by-the-Sea, New Jersey|Avon-by-the-Sea, NJ]]. In October 2015, Laursen organized the Columbus Day Classic,<ref>{{Cite web|title = The USA Warriors ice hockey team|url = http://www.runnercycle.com/the-usa-warriors-ice-hockey-team/|website = RunnerCycle|accessdate = 2015-11-12}}</ref> a charity hockey game between the USA Warriors and [[Aberdeen Proving Ground]] JTF-Blast which raised more than $9,000 for the St. Elizabeth School, non-public [[Special needs school]] in [[Baltimore]]. In October 2016, Laursen again organized this event, having the USA Warriors face off against the [[Baltimore City Fire Department]] raising more than $10,000 for both the USA Warriors Ice Hockey Program and the St. Elizabeth School.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Lam|first1=Ken|title=Warriors on the Ice|url=http://www.pressreader.com/usa/baltimore-sun/20151024|website=The Baltimore Sun|accessdate=9 November 2015}}</ref> Laursen has adding to his list of charitable endeavors by shaving his head to raise funds and awareness for childhood cancer research through the [[St. Baldrick's Foundation|St. Baldrick’s Foundation]] in 2016 and has again agreed to participate in 2017.<ref name=":5" /><ref name="The Warrior of St. Baldrick"/>

==Social Media==
Laursen, who uses the @WarriorsLaursen on his accounts, is very active on social media and has been quoted on the national level several times for comments made on social media. Most notably, in November 2016, Laursen created [[Tweet]] with a photograph of [[Chicago Blackhawks]] Forward [[Jonathan Toews]] and [[Washington Capitals]] Forward [[T.J. Oshie]] together while in college at the [[University of North Dakota]]. This picture was used on outlets with Laursen's quote on both U.S. and Canadian media outlets.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://ftw.usatoday.com/2016/11/t-j-oshie-jonathan-toews-look-impossibly-young-in-hilarious-throwback-photo|title=T.J. Oshie, Jonathan Toews look impossibly young in hilarious throwback photo|date=2016-11-18|newspaper=For The Win|language=en-US|access-date=2016-12-08}}</ref> While it is unknown how Laursen obtained the photo, it is important to note that Laursen and the USA Warriors do have a close relationship with both the Chicago Blackhawks and Washington Capitals.

In December 2016, Laursen created a Tweet about the retirement of [[NHL]] defenceman/winger [[John Scott]] which was featured on [[Twitter Moments]]. The Tweet simply said ,"10 years, 286 games, 5 goals, 6 assists, 44 fights, 544 penalty minutes. Today we lose a legend. Ride off into the sunset, @johnscott_32." It included a picture of Scott from the [[NHL All Star Game]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://twitter.com/WarriorsLaursen/status/806550106598207488|title=Johnny Laursen on Twitter|newspaper=Twitter|access-date=2016-12-08}}</ref>

[[File:LaursenTweet.png|center|thumb|563x563px|Laursen's Tweet of Toews and Oshie.]]

==References==
<references />

{{DEFAULTSORT:Laursen, John}}
[[Category:1988 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American ice hockey goaltenders]]
[[Category:United States Army soldiers]]