Justin Braun (ice hockey)

Justin Braun
Braun with the Straubing Tigers in 2023
Born	(1987-02-10) February 10, 1987 (age 37) Vadnais Heights, Minnesota, U.S.
Height	6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight	205 lb (93 kg; 14 st 9 lb)
Position	Defense
Shoots	Right
DEL team Former teams	Straubing Tigers San Jose Sharks Tappara Philadelphia Flyers New York Rangers
National team	United States
NHL Draft	201st overall, 2007 San Jose Sharks
Playing career	2010–present

Justin Timothy Braun (born February 10, 1987) is an American professional ice hockey player currently under contract with the Straubing Tigers of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL). Braun was born in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and grew up nearby in White Bear Lake, Minnesota. ^{[1] [2]} He previously played for the San Jose Sharks, New York Rangers, and the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League (NHL).

Playing career

Amateur

Braun was born in Vadnais Heights, Minnesota, ^[3] and began playing ice hockey at the urging of his older brother, Eric. ^[4] He attended White Bear Lake Area High School in White Bear Lake, Minnesota, making the varsity ice hockey team in his sophomore year. ^[5] Braun helped lead White Bear to two state tournament appearances, ^[5] including in 2005, when he served as team captain. ^[6] After high school, he spent two seasons with the Green Bay Gamblers of the United States Hockey League (USHL), where he scored 13 points (two goals and 11 assists) across 69 games. ^[7]

On May 24, 2006, the University of Massachusetts Amherst announced that Braun and five other players would join the UMass Minutemen ice hockey that fall. ^[8] He scored his first college point on October 13, 2006, assisting Kevin Jarman in a 3–2 victory over the Sacred Heart Pioneers. ^[9] His first collegiate goal came on January 27, against Boston University. ^[10] At the end of the season, Braun was chosen as the Minutemen's Rookie of the Year, with four goals and seven assists, ^[10] and was named to the Hockey East All-Rookie Team. ^[11] Braun was selected in the seventh round, 201st overall, of the 2007 NHL Entry Draft by the San Jose Sharks of the National Hockey League (NHL). ^[12]

Professional

In the 2010–11 season, Braun made his NHL debut November 26, 2010 against the Vancouver Canucks. ^[13] His first point came the next night in a game against the Edmonton Oilers. His first NHL goal was in his fourth game, on December 2, 2010 against Pascal Leclaire of the Ottawa Senators. On October 4, 2013 against the Canucks, Braun scored his first goal since February 21, 2012, an 85-game stretch without a goal. ^[14]

After completing his ninth season with San Jose in the 2018–19 season, on June 18, 2019, Braun was traded by the Sharks to the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for a 2019 second round draft pick and 2020 third-round selection. ^[15]

On October 5, 2020, Braun opted to forgo free-agency and signed a two-year, $3.6 million contract extension with the Flyers. ^[16]

During the 2021–22 season, with the Flyers out of playoff contention, Braun was traded to the New York Rangers in exchange for a 2023 third-round selection on March 21, 2022. ^{[17] [18]} Adding a dependable veteran presence to the blueline, Braun was a mainstay throughout the playoffs, registering 1 assist in 19 games to help the Rangers reach the Conference Finals.

As a free agent from the Rangers, Braun opted to return to former club in the Philadelphia Flyers, signing a one-year, $1 million contract on July 13, 2022. ^[19] Braun initially announced his retirement from professional ice hockey on April 24, 2023. He appeared in 961 NHL games, recording 199 regular-season and 16 postseason points in the process. ^[20]

After reconsidering his retirement, Braun opted to extend his playing career in approaching and signing a one-year contract with German club, Straubing Tigers of the DEL on June 27, 2023. ^[21]

Personal life

Braun is married to Jessica Lysiak, a private chef, who is the daughter of former NHL All-star Tom Lysiak. She competed on Season 4 of the American version of the television show MasterChef in 2013, finishing in 3rd place. ^{[22] [23]} They have two daughters, Madison (born January 2016) and Summer Grace (born June 2021). ^[24] He has two brothers, Eric and Bryan. Parents are Paul Braun and Carol Reamer.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2003–04	White Bear Lake Area High School	HS-MN		—	—	—	—	—		—	—	—	—	—
2004–05	White Bear Lake Area High School	HS-MN		—	—	—	—	—		—	—	—	—	—
2004–05	Green Bay Gamblers	USHL		10	0	0	0	2		—	—	—	—	—
2005–06	Green Bay Gamblers	USHL		59	2	11	13	69		3	0	0	0	2
2006–07	UMass Minutemen	HE		39	4	10	14	20		—	—	—	—	—
2007–08	UMass Minutemen	HE		36	4	16	20	20		—	—	—	—	—
2008–09	UMass Minutemen	HE		39	7	16	23	50		—	—	—	—	—
2009–10	UMass Minutemen	HE		36	8	23	31	30		—	—	—	—	—
2009–10	Worcester Sharks	AHL		3	0	3	3	0		11	0	3	3	4
2010–11	Worcester Sharks	AHL		34	5	18	23	8		—	—	—	—	—
2010–11	San Jose Sharks	NHL		28	2	9	11	2		1	0	0	0	0
2011–12	Worcester Sharks	AHL		6	0	3	3	0		—	—	—	—	—
2011–12	San Jose Sharks	NHL		66	2	9	11	23		5	0	0	0	15
2012–13	Tappara	SM-l		6	0	3	3	2		—	—	—	—	—
2012–13	San Jose Sharks	NHL		41	0	7	7	6		11	0	1	1	0
2013–14	San Jose Sharks	NHL		82	4	13	17	20		7	1	1	2	7
2014–15	San Jose Sharks	NHL		70	1	22	23	48		—	—	—	—	—
2015–16	San Jose Sharks	NHL		80	4	19	23	36		24	2	5	7	6
2016–17	San Jose Sharks	NHL		81	4	9	13	28		6	0	1	1	0
2017–18	San Jose Sharks	NHL		81	5	28	33	28		10	0	1	1	4
2018–19	San Jose Sharks	NHL		78	2	14	16	35		20	0	1	1	8
2019–20	Philadelphia Flyers	NHL		62	3	16	19	18		16	0	2	2	2
2020–21	Philadelphia Flyers	NHL		53	1	5	6	18		—	—	—	—	—
2021–22	Philadelphia Flyers	NHL		61	5	11	16	36		—	—	—	—	—
2021–22	New York Rangers	NHL		8	1	1	2	0		19	0	1	1	6
2022–23	Philadelphia Flyers	NHL		51	0	2	2	19		—	—	—	—	—
2023–24	Straubing Tigers	DEL		52	7	19	26	12		8	1	0	1	0
NHL totals				842	34	165	199	317		119	3	13	16	48

International

Year	Team	Event	Result		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2012	United States	WC	7th		8	0	0	0	2
Senior totals					8	0	0	0	2

Awards and honors

Award	Year
College
All-Hockey East Rookie Team	2006–07	[25]
All-Hockey East Second Team	2008–09	[26]
All-Hockey East First Team	2009–10	[27]
AHCA East Second-Team All-American	2009–10	[28]

References

1. "West Coast Braun". MN Hockey Hub Coaches. 8 January 2015. Retrieved May 20, 2016.
2. "Former Bear chases Stanley Cup for Sharks". White Bear Press. 8 June 2016. Retrieved June 13, 2016.
3. Russo, Michael (June 6, 2016). "White Bear Lake's Justin Braun boosts San Jose's chances". Star Tribune . Retrieved March 25, 2021.
4. Strand, Bruce (June 8, 2016). "Former Bear chases Stanley Cup for Sharks". White Bear Press. Retrieved March 25, 2021.
5. Wigness, Sam (January 8, 2015). "West Coast Braun". Minnesota Hockey Coaches Association. Retrieved March 25, 2021.
6. Paitich, Aaron (December 21, 2010). "Local boy Justin Braun answers call to San Jose Sharks". White Bear Press. Retrieved March 25, 2021.
7. Moser, Nathan (December 23, 2019). "Flyers: Getting to Know Justin Braun". The Hockey Writers. Retrieved March 25, 2021.
8. "Six To Join UMass Hockey In Fall of 2006". University of Massachusetts Athletics. May 24, 2006. Retrieved March 25, 2021.
9. "Minutemen Open The Season With A 3–2 Win Over Sacred Heart". University of Massachusetts Athletics. October 13, 2006. Retrieved March 25, 2021.
10. "UMass Hockey Celebrates The Successes Of 2006-07 With Season-Ending Banquet". University of Massachusetts Athletics. March 31, 2007. Retrieved March 25, 2021.
11. "Minutemen Garner Awards At Hockey East Banquet". University of Massachusetts Athletics. March 15, 2007. Retrieved March 25, 2021.
12. "Flyers acquire D Justin Braun from San Jose". nhl.com. National Hockey League. Philadelphia Flyers. June 18, 2019. Retrieved March 25, 2021.
13. "Canucks beat Sharks". Vancouver Canucks. November 26, 2010. Archived from the original on March 24, 2012. Retrieved November 26, 2010.
14. "Sharks Win Home Opener against the Canucks". San Jose Sharks . October 4, 2013. Retrieved October 5, 2013.
15. "Flyers acquire D Justin Braun from San Jose". Philadelphia Flyers . June 18, 2019. Retrieved June 18, 2019.
16. "Flyers re-sign Justin Braun to contract extension". Philadelphia Flyers. October 5, 2020. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
17. "Flyers Justin Braun traded to Rangers". The Athletic. March 21, 2022. Retrieved March 21, 2022.
18. "Flyers acquire 3rd round pick from NYR for Justin Braun". Philadelphia Flyers. March 21, 2022. Retrieved March 21, 2022.
19. "Flyers sign Justin Braun to one-year contract". Philadelphia Flyers. July 13, 2022. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
20. "Defenseman Justin Braun retires after playing 13 NHL seasons". ESPN . Associated Press. April 24, 2023.
21. "Justin Braun completes the defence of the Tigers" (in German). Straubing Tigers. June 27, 2023. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
22. Student, Joe (2013-09-04). "NHL Daughter Jessie Lysiak Made The Final Four on MasterChef [PHOTOS]". Busted Coverage. Retrieved 2020-08-24.
23. "Blow to 1980's Blackhawk legend's battle with cancer". The Third Man In. September 10, 2013. Retrieved January 19, 2014.
24. "Introducing Madison Braun". Instagram. January 13, 2016. Retrieved January 14, 2016.
25. National Hockey League (2010). The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book/2011. Triumph Books. p. 282. ISBN   978-1-60078-422-4.
26. National Hockey League (2010). The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book/2011. Triumph Books. p. 282. ISBN   978-1-60078-422-4.
27. National Hockey League (2010). The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book/2011. Triumph Books. p. 282. ISBN   978-1-60078-422-4.
28. National Hockey League (2010). The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book/2011. Triumph Books. p. 282. ISBN   978-1-60078-422-4.

External links

• Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com , or  Eliteprospects.com , or  Eurohockey.com , or  Hockey-Reference.com , or  The Internet Hockey Database

Awards and achievements
Preceded by Louis Liotti	Hockey East Best Defensive Defenseman 2009–10	Succeeded by Brian Dumoulin