University of Massachusets Athletics
Justin Braun Signs With NHL's San Jose Sharks
March 24, 2010 | Hockey
March 24, 2010
SAN JOSE, Calif. - UMass hockey senior defenseman and co-captain Justin Braun (Vadnais Heights, Minn.) officially became the third Minuteman this week to sign with the San Jose Sharks as announced by Sharks Executive Vice President and General Manager Doug Wilson. On Tuesday, James Marcou and Matt Irwin signed with the NHL club. Braun was a 2007 draft pick by of the Sharks.
For the season, Braun played in all 36 games scoring eight goals while adding 23 assists. He finished the year with a plus-3 rating while taking just 15 penalties for 30 PIMs. He was named the Hockey East Defensive Player of the Year and was named to the Hockey East All-Star First Team.
Braun finished his career playing in 150 games which tied Cory Quirk '09 for the school record. In all, Braun scored 23 goals, added 65 assists, and was a plus-12. His 88 points are tied for 18th all-time, while his 65 assists are 7th overall.
In Hockey East, Braun ranked second in defenseman scoring, 20th overall in points for the season, ninth in assists, sixth in power play points (3-16-19). Nationally, he ranked sixth in defenseman scoring.
In 2008-09, Braun was named a Hockey East Second-Team All-Star and the UMass MVP. As a freshman in 2006-07, he earned league and team Rookie of the Year honors. Additionally, in each of his three seasons, Braun has been a nominee for the Hobey Baker Award.
OFFICIAL RELEASE FROM SAN JOSE SHARKS
San Jose Sharks Executive Vice President and General Manager Doug Wilson announced today that the team has signed defenseman Justin Braun to an entry-level contract. In keeping with club policy, financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Braun spent four seasons at the University of Massachusetts, appearing in a school-record 150 games and registering 88 points (23 goals, 65 assists). He was named the 2009-10 Hockey East Old Time Hockey Defensive Defenseman, which is awarded to the top blue-liner in the conference. Braun served as one of the team captains this season and set career highs in goals (8), assists (23) and points (31) and finished the season second in scoring amongst Hockey East defensemen and sixth in the nation.
Prior to his time at UMass, Braun played with the Green Bay Gamblers of the USHL from 2004-2006 where he posted 13 points (2 goals, 11 assists) in 69 games played.
"Justin has had a tremendous collegiate career at UMass and he is definitely ready to take the next step in his professional development," said Wilson. "Head Coach Don Cahoon and his staff have done a great job with Justin and we are excited to add him to our organization."
The six-foot-one, 180-pound native of St. Paul, Minnesota was originally selected by San Jose in the seventh round (201st overall) of the 2007 NHL Entry Draft.
