SAN JOSE, Calif. – San Jose Sharks Executive Vice President and General Manager Doug Wilson announced today that the team has signed defenseman Justin Braun to an entry-level contract. In keeping with club policy, financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Braun spent four seasons at the University of Massachusetts, appearing in a school-record 150 games and registering 88 points (23 goals, 65 assists). He was named the 2009-10 Hockey East Old Time Hockey Defensive Defenseman, which is awarded to the top blue-liner in the conference. Braun served as one of the team captains this season and set career highs in goals (8), assists (23) and points (31) and finished the season second in scoring amongst Hockey East defensemen and sixth in the nation.

Prior to his time at UMass, Braun played with the Green Bay Gamblers of the USHL from 2004-2006 where he posted 13 points (2 goals, 11 assists) in 69 games played.

“Justin has had a tremendous collegiate career at UMass and he is definitely ready to take the next step in his professional development,” said Wilson. “Head Coach Don Cahoon and his staff have done a great job with Justin and we are excited to add him to our organization.”

The six-foot-one, 180-pound native of St. Paul, Minnesota was originally selected by San Jose in the seventh round (201st overall) of the 2007 NHL Entry Draft.