It may sound a bit cliché, but Brooklyn’s newest pro hockey team, the Aces, may have one up their sleeves this upcoming season.
His name is James Brannigan.
Forged on the Abe Stark hockey rink in Coney Island and solidified in the youth hockey leagues of Long Island, Brannigan’s game is somewhat of legend in Brooklyn.
Turning down an opportunity to play in the CHL this season, Brannigan signed with the team a few weeks ago and is thrilled to come home where his career- and life, started.
“It feels really good to be able to play in front of the city I grew up in,” Brannigan said. “It’s very exciting.”
At 24 years old, Brannigan already has a year of pro hockey under his belt, splitting last season with the Augusta Lynx and Columbia Inferno in the ECHL. Before that, Brannigan spent three seasons as a full-scholarship athlete at Colorado College. However, Brannigan’s star power was dimmed at Colorado, playing behind future AHL stars Marty Sertich and Brett Sterling and former Rangers draft pick Joey Crabb. Limited to fourth line duty while in college, Brannigan knows he has an opportunity to prove himself in Brooklyn this season.
