Brandon Prust

Brandon Prust
Prust with the Montreal Canadiens in 2015
Born (1984-03-16) March 16, 1984 (age 40)
London, Ontario, Canada
Height 5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight 195 lb (88 kg; 13 st 13 lb)
Position Left wing
Shot Left
Played for Calgary Flames
Phoenix Coyotes
New York Rangers
Montreal Canadiens
Vancouver Canucks
Thomas Sabo Ice Tigers
NHL draft 70th overall, 2004
Calgary Flames
Playing career 2005–2017

Brandon Raymond James Prust (born March 16, 1984) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey winger. He was selected in the third round, 70th overall, by the Calgary Flames of the National Hockey League (NHL) in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft. Prust also played for the Phoenix Coyotes, New York Rangers, Montreal Canadiens and Vancouver Canucks, most notably in the role as an enforcer.

He currently serves as head coach of the London Nationals of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League (GOJHL).[1]

Playing career

[edit]

Junior

[edit]

Prust played three seasons of major junior hockey with his hometown London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). During his junior career, he won an OHL and Memorial Cup Championship. A Thorndale, Ontario, native, Prust was a walk-on during the Knights' open tryouts, having been bypassed in the OHL Priority Selection Draft.[2]

Professional

[edit]

Prust was drafted by the Calgary Flames in the third round, 70th overall, at the 2004 NHL Entry Draft. During the midst of the 2004–05 NHL lockout, he was sent back down to London to play his final OHL season. After spending the following season with the Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights of the American Hockey League (AHL), Prust made his NHL debut on November 1, 2006, against the Detroit Red Wings.[3]

Midway through the 2008–09 season, Prust would be sidelined with injury after suffering a broken jaw due to being elbowed by Cam Janssen of the St. Louis Blues.[4] On March 4, 2009, Prust was traded, along with Matthew Lombardi and a 2009 first-round draft pick, to the Phoenix Coyotes in exchange for Olli Jokinen,[5] and was then traded back to Calgary in exchange for Jim Vandermeer on June 27.[6]

Prust as a Ranger in October 2011.

On February 1, 2010, Prust (along with Jokinen) were traded to the New York Rangers in exchange for Aleš Kotalík and Chris Higgins.[7] Following the conclusion of the 2009–10.season, the Rangers re-signed Prust to a two-year, $1.6 million contract on July 2.[8]

In the 2010–11 season, Prust, a fourth-line utility player and occasional enforcer, was one of only seven NHL players to score at least ten goals as well as engage in at least ten fights.[9] He was awarded the Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award at the end of the season, given to the Rangers player who "goes above and beyond the call of duty" as voted on by the fans.[10]

During the 2012 NHL Winter Classic, which took place at Citizens Bank Park, on January 2, 2012, Prust would post two assists in a 3–2 Rangers win.[11] Overall, he proved to be a valuable member of the Rangers' penalty kill during his tenure there.[12] As an unrestricted free agent following the 2011–12 season, Prust signed a four-year, $10 million contract with the Montreal Canadiens on July 1, 2012.[13]

After the start of the lockout-shortened 2012–13 season, Prust scored his first goal as a Canadien against Martin Brodeur of the New Jersey Devils on January 27, 2013.[14] Prust was awarded the Jacques Beauchamp Molson Trophy at the end of the regular season, an award voted on by various members of the Montreal media to honour the team's unsung hero.[15][16]

During the 2014 Eastern Conference Finals against his former team, the New York Rangers, Prust was suspended for two games following a first period hit on forward Derek Stepan in Game 3. Stepan suffered a broken jaw on the play and subsequently missed Game 4.[17]

On July 1, 2015, Prust was traded to the Vancouver Canucks for Zack Kassian and Vancouver's 5th round draft pick in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft.[18] Prust struggled with the Canucks, putting up the fewest points since his rookie campaign. On February 2, 2016, he was waived by the Canucks[19] and, subsequently, reassigned to the Canucks' AHL affiliate, the Utica Comets.[20] On March 10, he returned to his home in London, ON, and was taken off the roster due to an ankle injury.[21] After the Canucks opted not to re-sign him following season's end, Prust became an unrestricted free agent yet again on July 1, 2016.[22]

Prust with Montreal in January 2013.

Due to his ankle injury, teams were unwilling to give Prust a contract, with concerns continuing to be raised over his foot speed and ankle itself.[23] Going unsigned for the duration of the summer, he agreed to a professional tryout (PTO) contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs on August 22, 2016.[24] Prust's main reason for signing the tryout was to fulfill his childhood dream of playing for the Maple Leafs, the team he grew up cheering for.[23] After an unremarkable training camp, along with stiff competition for role players on the Leafs roster, he was released by the team on October 11, 2016,[25] He then embarked on his first overseas stint in late November 2016 after signing with the Thomas Sabo Ice Tigers of the German top-flight Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL).[26] In the 2016–17 season, Prust added a needed physical presence to the Ice Tigers, contributing 8 points in 29 games with the team.[27]

Vying for another attempt at an NHL comeback, Prust signed a PTO contract to attend the Los Angeles Kings' training camp prior to the 2017–18 season.[28] After attending camp for 10 days, Prust, along with fellow winger Shane Harper, were the first to be released from their PTOs on September 25, 2017.[29]

Post-playing career

[edit]

On November 29, 2017, Prust signalled the conclusion of his 12-year professional career in joining his former major junior club, the London Knights, as a coach. Although Prust did not formally announce his retirement from professional hockey, his role as mentor and coach to the Knights proved useful over the 2017–18 season and he was reported to be continuing in the position.[30]

On June 4, 2018, via Instagram, Prust announced that he had begun working at the London, Ontario based financial guidance firm Navigator Financial.[31] He likewise opened a local fitness centre known as "BP8 Fitness" in December 2023.[32]

On April 26, 2024, Prust was named head coach of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League (GOJHL)'s London Nationals, whom he started his junior hockey career with.[33]

Personal life

[edit]

Prust grew up in London, Ontario, where he attended Regina Mundi Catholic College. While there, he excelled in multiple sports, and was recognized as the outstanding student athlete in 2000–01 school year. The number 8 he wore with the Canadiens is the same number he wore as a football player in high school. His favourite team growing up was the Toronto Maple Leafs, and his favourite player was Wendel Clark, after whom he has tried to model his own game.[23][2]

Prust has an uncle who was a Broadway actor.[34] His interests outside of hockey include golf and watching baseball.[35]

Prust began dating French-Canadian TV host Maripier Morin in 2010.[36][37] On June 22, 2015, the couple got engaged, and married in 2017.[38] Morin had been a cast member on three seasons of the Canadian reality series Hockey Wives and is a popular host of her own talk show in Quebec, as well as starring in her first feature-length film.[39] It was announced September 7, 2019 that the couple had separated.[40]

In 2020 Prust's charitable foundation launched a campaign to raise money for families of sick children to find accommodations in London during the COVID-19 pandemic.[41] Prust was an outspoken opponent of mandates and "vaccine passport" policies related to COVID-19 vaccines. Prust was criticized after, in an August 2021 Twitter exchange related to vaccines, he replied to a woman with a post declaring that he hoped she would be subjected to forced prostitution.[42] Prust apologized for this.[43] Prust had, for a time leading up to this, generated controversy for polarizing and combative Twitter exchanges on subjects such as racial relations and the 2020 United States presidential election (in which he was opposed to the candidacy of Democrat Joe Biden).[44]

Career statistics

[edit]
    Regular season   Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2001–02 London Nationals WOHL 52 17 35 52 38 — — — — —
2002–03 London Nationals WOHL 6 2 3 5 0 — — — — —
2002–03 London Knights OHL 65 12 17 29 94 14 2 1 3 21
2003–04 London Knights OHL 64 19 33 52 269 15 7 13 20 33
2004–05 London Knights OHL 48 10 20 30 174 15 3 5 8 71
2005–06 Omaha Ak–Sar–Ben Knights AHL 79 12 14 26 249 — — — — —
2006–07 Omaha Ak–Sar–Ben Knights AHL 63 17 10 27 211 6 0 3 3 20
2006–07 Calgary Flames NHL 10 0 0 0 25 — — — — —
2007–08 Quad City Flames AHL 79 10 27 37 248 — — — — —
2008–09 Calgary Flames NHL 25 1 1 2 79 — — — — —
2008–09 Phoenix Coyotes NHL 11 0 1 1 29 — — — — —
2009–10 Calgary Flames NHL 43 1 4 5 98 — — — — —
2009–10 New York Rangers NHL 26 4 5 9 65 — — — — —
2010–11 New York Rangers NHL 82 13 16 29 160 5 0 1 1 4
2011–12 New York Rangers NHL 82 5 12 17 156 19 1 1 2 31
2012–13 Montreal Canadiens NHL 38 5 9 14 110 4 0 1 1 14
2013–14 Montreal Canadiens NHL 52 6 7 13 121 13 0 2 2 32
2014–15 Montreal Canadiens NHL 82 4 14 18 134 12 1 3 4 35
2015–16 Vancouver Canucks NHL 35 1 6 7 59 — — — — —
2015–16 Utica Comets AHL 9 1 6 7 5 — — — — —
2016–17 Thomas Sabo Ice Tigers DEL 29 3 5 8 67 11 2 4 6 51
AHL totals 230 40 57 97 758 6 0 3 3 20
NHL totals 486 40 75 115 1036 53 2 8 10 116

Awards and honours

[edit]
Award Year Ref
CHL
Memorial Cup champion 2005 [45]
OHL
J. Ross Robertson Cup champion 2005 [45]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Pyette, Ryan (April 26, 2024). "Full circle: Brandon Prust returns to London Nationals as head coach". The London Free Press. Retrieved July 6, 2024.
  2. ^ a b Stubbs, Dave (August 23, 2016). "Brandon Prust aims to impress in Maple Leafs tryout". NHL.com. Retrieved October 8, 2016.
  3. ^ "Boyd, Prust recalled by Calgary Flames". TheAHL.com. October 31, 2006. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
  4. ^ "Prust getting closer . . ". Calgary Herald. February 6, 2009. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
  5. ^ "Flames acquire Jokinen". CBC Sports. March 4, 2009. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
  6. ^ Cruickshank, Scott (June 27, 2009). "Prust back, Vandermeer gone". Calgary Herald. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
  7. ^ LeBrun, Pierre (February 2, 2010). "Rangers ship Kotalik, Higgins to Flames". ESPN.com. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
  8. ^ "Brandon Prust Resigned by the Rangers". Bleacher Report. July 2, 2010. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
  9. ^ Mooney, Harrison (January 8, 2012). "The fighter-scorer is as rare as the 40-goal scorer, and almost as valuable". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved April 3, 2012.
  10. ^ Lomon, Chris (November 11, 2011). "Prust Holds Nothing Back". NHLPA.com. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
  11. ^ Prunka, Michael (January 3, 2012). "NHL Winter Classic 2012: 5 Best Players of the Game". Bleacher Report. Retrieved August 6, 2024.
  12. ^ Ehalt, Matt (March 24, 2011). "Rangers' Prust displays killer instinct". ESPN.com. Retrieved August 6, 2024.
  13. ^ "Rangers Lose Prust, Sign Enforcers Asham and Haley". CBS News. July 1, 2012. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
  14. ^ "Andrei Markov scores in OT as Habs top Devils after blowing lead". ESPN.com. January 28, 2013. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
  15. ^ "Praise for Prust". Montreal Canadiens. April 20, 2013. Retrieved April 20, 2013 – via NHL.com.
  16. ^ Laflamme, Robert (April 20, 2013). "Prust honoré, Therrien approuve". RDS.ca (in French). Retrieved April 20, 2013.
  17. ^ "Montreal's Prust suspended two games for hit on New York's Stepan". Global News. May 23, 2014. Retrieved May 23, 2014.
  18. ^ Larkin, Matt (July 1, 2015). "Canadiens trade Brandon Prust to Canucks for Zack Kassian". The Hockey News. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
  19. ^ Ziemer, Brad (February 2, 2016). "Canucks put veteran winger Prust on waivers". Vancouver Sun. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
  20. ^ Caswell Jr., Mark (February 4, 2016). "Brandon Prust Assigned to Comets". Utica Comets. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
  21. ^ McKenna, Ryan (March 10, 2016). "Canucks shut down Prust for remainder of season". Sportsnet.ca. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
  22. ^ Clinton, Jared (July 20, 2016). "Prust ready to earn spot in training camp -- here are five others who could go the same route". The Hockey News. Retrieved August 6, 2024.
  23. ^ a b c McLaren, Ian (August 23, 2016). "Prust: 'I've always wanted to play for the Leafs'". theScore. Retrieved August 24, 2016.
  24. ^ "Maple Leafs' Brandon Prust: Joins Toronto with PTO agreement". CBS Sports. August 22, 2016. Retrieved August 22, 2016.
  25. ^ O'Leary, Sean (October 11, 2016). "Leafs release Prust, finalize opening night roster". theScore. Retrieved August 6, 2024.
  26. ^ "Ice Tigers verpflichten NHL-Stürmer Brandon Prust". Thomas Sabo Ice Tigers Nürnberg (in German). Archived from the original on November 29, 2016. Retrieved November 28, 2016.
  27. ^ Fox, Luke (June 14, 2017). "'Hungrier' Brandon Prust trying to battle back into NHL". Sportsnet.ca. Retrieved August 6, 2024.
  28. ^ Halford, Mike (August 4, 2017). "Report: Prust to attend Kings camp on PTO". NBC Sports. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
  29. ^ "Prust, Harper released from PTO's". Los Angeles Kings. September 25, 2017. Retrieved September 25, 2017 – via NHL.com.
  30. ^ "Prust joins London Knights coaching staff". TSN.ca. November 29, 2017. Retrieved November 29, 2017.
  31. ^ @brandonprust8 (June 4, 2018). "Another exciting new chapter for myself at Navigator Financial!". Retrieved August 5, 2024 – via Instagram.
  32. ^ De Bono, Norman (December 30, 2023). "Former NHLer Brandon Prust opens fitness centre in London". The London Free Press. Retrieved August 6, 2024.
  33. ^ MacKay, Kayleigh (April 27, 2024). "Brandon Prust New Nats Head Coach". LondonOntarioSports.com. Retrieved July 6, 2024.
  34. ^ "Paul McQuillan (Performer)". Playbill. Retrieved August 6, 2024.
  35. ^ Malinowski, Mark (December 5, 2010). "Brandon Prust". The Hockey News. Retrieved August 6, 2024.
  36. ^ "Marie-Pier Morin est en amour". Le Journal de Québec. August 26, 2010. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
  37. ^ Fox, Luke (March 27, 2015). "Q&A: 'Hockey Wives' Maripier Morin opens up". Sportsnet.ca. Retrieved April 1, 2015.
  38. ^ Stokes, Cassie (June 22, 2015). "Brandon Prust And Maripier Morin Engaged". ET Canada. Archived from the original on June 23, 2015. Retrieved June 29, 2015.
  39. ^ Lepage-Boily, Élizabeth (June 20, 2018). "La chute de l'empire américain : Maripier Morin séduit les critiques". Showbizz.net (in French). Retrieved August 6, 2024.
  40. ^ Cowan, Stu (September 8, 2019). "Former Canadien Brandon Prust and wife Maripier Morin split up". Montreal Gazette. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
  41. ^ Zadorsky, Justin (April 24, 2020). "Brandon Prust has a challenge for you London". CTV News. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
  42. ^ "London hockey star to woman: 'Hope they force you into the sex trade'". The London Free Press. August 25, 2021. Retrieved July 26, 2023.
  43. ^ Pyette, Ryan (August 27, 2023). "Ex-NHLer apologizes, exits social media after 'sex trade' tirade". The London Free Press. Retrieved July 26, 2023.
  44. ^ Multiple sources:
  45. ^ a b Wilkins, Cory (June 28, 2020). "2005 Memorial Cup Memories". CHL.ca. Retrieved August 6, 2024.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Brandon_Prust&oldid=1238881388"