Vanessa Magsino brings a solid approach to the ice, as she will skate this fall for the co-op Lake Forest High School girls’ team and the Chicago Mission. A defenseman in jersey No. 27, Magsino can anticipate and react to various offensive movements and counter with effective control of deceptive defensive moves.
“My family, coaches and teammates have been a big influence on how I play and with their support have helped me grow and improve my defensive skills,” she said. “Cale Makar and Megan Bozek have played a huge role in influencing my defensive skills and they’re playmaking has inspired my hockey mentality.”
Magsino, 16, who lives in Buffalo Grove, is a junior at Adlai E. Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire. She formerly played for the Ice Dogs and was a national champion for the Mission in 2021 (U14). In fact, she has skated at nationals four times.
Hockey is not her lone sporting success. Magsino also plays lacrosse – now for Stevenson and formerly for Lakeshore Lacrosse for their 2026 National Premier Team.
“Playing a different sport, and one that also requires a stick … I was able to adapt my skills quickly,” she said. “I’ve seen many hockey players play lacrosse and I wanted to try it out. I connected with the game fast and got the hang of it and continue to play.”
She often talks lacrosse with her hockey teammates – or faces them in lacrosse.
Magsino also is involved with videography and photography. “I usually film a lot of hockey games, other sports and events, such as my high school’s basketball and soccer teams,” she said. “I hope to start filming in the fall and join our Stevenson High School TV Club to get more exposure into the business of filming and access on the field to capture more footage of all our sports teams.
“With videography and filming player movements, it helps build my hand-eye coordination, focus and understanding. My understanding of both games help track and optimize viewpoints for filming.”
Magsino said the running needed for lacrosse helps maintain her endurance while skating and shooting helps her hand-to-eye coordination and accuracy. “My hockey foundation built upon focus, goal-oriented and teamwork crosses into lacrosse as well building my leadership skills,” she said.
Slapshots With … Lake Forest Defenseman Vanessa Magsino
Favorite NHL Team: Toronto Maple Leafs
Favorite NHL Player: Cale Makar
Favorite Sports-themed Movie: Miracle
Favorite TV Show: Gilmore Girls
Favorite Pre-game Meal: Apples slices with peanut butter
Favorite app: TikTok
Long-term Goal: “Play Division I hockey, minor in film studies for videography and major is undecided though leaning towards biology.”
Celebrity You’d Like To Meet: Connor Bedard
Best Hockey Tip: “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take” - Wayne Gretzky
Best HS uniform (other than Lake Forest): Loyola’s white jerseys