David Brown

David Brown played at Notre Dame for four years, set several records. Courtesy of the Hamilton Spectator

Brown set several goaltending records at Notre Dame

Stoney Creek native now plays in Pittsburgh Penguins organization

Born in Stoney Creek in February of 1985, David Brown had some outstanding years tending net with the University of Notre Dame before embarking on a professional hockey career.

Now with the Wheeling Nailers, the East Coast Hockey League affiliate of the Pittsburgh Penguins, this former Bishop Ryan High School student set many goaltending records while with the Irish.

Playing 111 games in his four years at Notre Dame, Brown amassed a 55-38-11 record, 245 goals against, and goals-against average of 2.32, for a .916 save percentage. He also recorded 12 shutouts, six in his final 2006-07 season. His 1.58 goals-against mark for 2006-07 is a school record.

He was the Central Collegiate Hockey Association’s Player of the Year in 2007, selected for the CCHA’s First Team All-CCHA, and a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award. All while pursuing his studies as a management consultant major in Notre Dame’s Mendoza College of Business.

Brown has made his professional debut with the Wheeling Nailers, a Pittsburgh affiliate. Photo courtesy of the Wheeling Nailers Professional Hockey Club.

Brown was selected in the eighth round, 228th overall in the NHL draft in 2004 by the Pittsburgh Penguins during his second year at school. He played his junior hockey with the Hamilton Kilty Bees in the OPJHL, helping the team to a 38-8-3 record, with a 3.11 goals-against record and a .881 save average.

Starting with the Nailers in the 2007-08 season, Brown played 13 games, and then went to Pittsburgh’s AHL affiliate, the Wilkes Barre/Scranton Penguins, where he played 19 games.

For the 2008-09 season, he started with the AHL club, playing in four games, and then returned to the Nailers, and in 24 games, recorded .907 save average.

Perhaps Brown’s most shining moment to date was as recipient of the Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award for men’s hockey in April 2007, presented to college hockey’s
outstanding NCAA Division 1 senior student/athlete. This award is presented not only to an outstanding athlete, but to the athlete who has excelled in the classroom as well.

“I have greatly benefited from my four years as a student-athlete at the University of Notre Dame,” Brown said in a 2007 interview,” as my time here has allowed me to further both my academic and athletic endeavors.”

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