J. T. Brown (ice hockey) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids J. T. Brown
Brown with the Minnesota Wild in January 2019
Born	(1990-07-02) July 2, 1990 (age 34) High Point, North Carolina, U.S.
Height	5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
Weight	175 lb (79 kg; 12 st 7 lb)
Position	Right wing
Shot	Right
Played for	Tampa Bay Lightning Anaheim Ducks Minnesota Wild
National team	United States
NHL Draft	Undrafted
Playing career	2010–2021

Joshua Thomas Brown (born July 2, 1990), known as J. T. Brown, is an American ice hockey player who used to play as a right winger. He played for teams like the Tampa Bay Lightning, Anaheim Ducks, and Minnesota Wild. After his playing career, he became a TV analyst for the Seattle Kraken, sharing his hockey knowledge with fans.

J. T. Brown's Hockey Journey

College Hockey Star

J. T. Brown started his hockey journey playing junior hockey for the Waterloo Black Hawks. After that, he went to the University of Minnesota Duluth. He became a big star there!

In 2011, his team, the Bulldogs, won the national championship at the Frozen Four. Brown was even named the Most Outstanding Player of the tournament. This showed everyone how talented he was.

Professional Career

Joining the Tampa Bay Lightning

Even though no NHL team picked him in the draft, J. T. Brown signed a contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning on March 28, 2012. The Lightning's manager, Steve Yzerman, was excited to see him play.

Brown made his first appearance in an NHL game on March 31, 2012. His team won against the Winnipeg Jets. A week later, he got his first NHL assist, helping his team score a goal.

Brown with the Syracuse Crunch in 2012

In September 2012, Brown was sent to play for the Syracuse Crunch. This team is the Lightning's main minor league team in the American Hockey League (AHL). This happened because of a lockout in the NHL, which stopped games for a while.

In December 2012, Brown got a shoulder injury. He had surgery for a broken collarbone. This injury kept him from playing for about six to eight weeks. Before his injury, he had played well for the Crunch, scoring six goals.

In 2013, the Lightning signed Brown again. He played 51 games for the Crunch that season, scoring 10 goals. He also played in 18 playoff games, helping the Crunch.

Later in 2013, Brown was called up to play for the Lightning again. During this time, he got the fun nickname "Brownov." This was because he played on a successful line with two Russian players, Vladislav Namestnikov and Nikita Kucherov.

Brown with the Tampa Bay Lightning in March 2014

On November 16, 2013, Brown scored his very first NHL goal! It was a big moment for him.

The Lightning signed Brown for two more years in 2014. He played in 63 games during the 2014–15 season, scoring four goals. He also played in all four playoff games that year.

On May 3, 2015, Brown scored his first goal in the Stanley Cup playoffs. This was a huge achievement for him and his team.

In 2016, Brown signed another two-year contract with the Lightning. He played in 78 games that season, scoring eight goals. He also played in nine playoff games. By this time, he had played over 200 NHL games, all with the Lightning.

Moving to Anaheim and Minnesota

During the 2017–18 season, Brown played less for the Lightning. In January 2018, he was picked up by the Anaheim Ducks. He finished the season with the Ducks, playing 23 games and scoring one goal.

After that season, Brown decided to play closer to his home state. He signed a two-year contract with the Minnesota Wild on July 1, 2018.

Playing in Sweden

When the 2020–21 NHL season started, Brown didn't have a team. So, in January 2021, he signed a one-year contract to play for IF Björklöven in Sweden. This was a new experience for him, playing in a different country.

International Play

J. T. Brown also played for the U.S. national team in the 2012 IIHF World Championship. He scored his first goal for the U.S. team against Kazakhstan on May 11, 2012.

After Playing Hockey

Brown as a commentator in 2023.

After retiring from playing, J. T. Brown joined Root Sports Northwest in June 2021. He became a TV commentator for the Seattle Kraken, sharing his insights about the game.

On February 17, 2022, Brown and Everett Fitzhugh made history. They were the first all-Black TV broadcast team in NHL history when they called a game between the Kraken and the Winnipeg Jets.

Personal Life

J. T. Brown was born in High Point, North Carolina, but grew up in Rosemount, Minnesota. His father, Ted Brown, was a professional football player for the Minnesota Vikings. J. T. has said his father helped him a lot in his hockey career.

J. T. Brown married Lexi LaFleur on February 6, 2015. They have two children together.

In September 2017, J. T. Brown took a stand during the U.S. national anthem before a game. He raised his fist to bring attention to important issues like fairness for minorities. He explained that he wanted to raise awareness about these topics. He later met with police officers to discuss these issues. Brown decided to stop raising his fist during the anthem, but he continued to work to bring awareness to these important causes.

In July 2018, Brown started a charity event using the video game Fortnite. This event helped raise money for "Hockey Is For Everyone," a program that helps more people get involved in hockey.

Career Statistics

Regular Season and Playoffs

International

Awards and Honors