April 28, 2012

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - UMass hockey alumnus and current San Jose Sharks' defenseman Justin Braun has been added to the U.S. Men's National Team Roster for the 2012 International Ice Hockey Federation Men's World Championship, USA Hockey announced on Saturday. Team USA will be competing in the upcoming tournament, which is slated for May 4-20, in Helsinki, Finland and Stockholm, Sweden.

Braun, who recently completed his first full NHL season, played in 66 games for San Jose during the regular season and totaled 11 points on two goals and nine assists. He appeared in all five games of the Sharks' first round Stanley Cup Playoff series against the St. Louis Blues, as well.

A seventh-round pick by San Jose in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft, Braun was an AHL All-Star in 2010-11. Following his senior season at UMass, he was named a second-team All-American and also collected New England All-Star Team honors. He was the 2010 Hockey East Defensive Player of the Year and earned a spot on the Hockey East All-Star First Team.

Finishing his career with a share of the program record for games played (150), Braun was +12 in his career with the Minutemen. In all, Braun scored 23 goals and added 65 assists. His 88 points are currently tied for 18th all-time, while his 65 assists are 8th overall in UMass history.

Team USA opens play at the IIHF World Championship on Friday, May 4, against France. All of the squad's games are set to be televised by NBC Sports.