Brian Strait

Brian Strait (born January 4, 1988) is an American professional ice hockey defenseman. Strait is a prospect for the Pittsburgh Penguins after being the team's third-round selection in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft and currently plays for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the American Hockey League.

Amateur
Strait played two seasons at the Northfield Mount Hermon School, recording 12 points during his freshman season, and 20 the next year. Beginning in 2004 he joined the U.S. National Development Team in the North American Hockey League. He was the captain of the gold-medal U.S. team at the 2006 IIHF World U18 Championships.

After graduating from Ann Arbor Pioneer High School in 2006, Strait attended Boston University, where he began playing for the Boston Terriers men's ice hockey team. In his freshman season, Strait was twice selected as Hockey East rookie of the week. He served as captain of the U.S. team at the 2008 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, where the team finished fourth. That season he also was selected runner-up for the Hockey East Best Defensive Defenseman award. During his junior season at Boston, Strait served as an alternate captain. That season, the Terriers won the Beanpot and the NCAA Division I national championship.

Professional
After his junior season at Boston University, Strait signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins, who selected Strait in 2006. He began his professional career a few months later with the Penguins' American Hockey League affiliate, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.

Strait made his NHL debut with Pittsburgh on February 21, 2011 against the Washington Capitals.