Brandon Prust, a native of Thorndale, Ontario, grew up in nearby London, has committed to the Strathroy Jets for next season. Though overlooked in the OHL Priority Selection Draft, Prust earned his place with the London Knights through open tryouts, ultimately carving out a significant junior career. He played three seasons with the Knights, helping the team secure both an OHL Championship and the prestigious Memorial Cup.
Prust was selected 70th overall by the Calgary Flames in the third round of the 2004 NHL Entry Draft. With the NHL in a lockout during the 2004–05 season, he returned to the Knights for one final OHL campaign. He made his professional debut with the AHL’s Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights before earning his first NHL appearance on November 1, 2006, against the Detroit Red Wings.
On March 4, 2009, he was traded to the Phoenix Coyotes as part of a package deal for Olli Jokinen, but was soon re-acquired by Calgary in exchange for Jim Vandermeer.
In February 2010, Prust was dealt to the New York Rangers, again alongside Jokinen, in exchange for Aleš Kotalík and Chris Higgins. He quickly became a fan favorite at Madison Square Garden for his gritty, hard-nosed style of play. During the 2010–11 season, he was one of just seven NHL players to record at least 10 goals and 10 fights. His efforts earned him the Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award, presented by Rangers fans to the player who goes above and beyond.
In the summer of 2012, he entered free agency and signed a four-year, $10 million contract with the Montreal Canadiens.
He scored his first goal as a Canadien on January 27, 2013, against legendary goaltender Martin Brodeur. His strong play and leadership earned him the 2012–13 Jacques Beauchamp Molson Trophy, awarded by Montreal media to the team’s unsung hero.
On July 1, 2015, Prust was traded to the Vancouver Canucks, but eventually was placed on waivers in February 2016 and assigned to the AHL’s Utica Comets. After returning home to London with an ankle injury, Prust became a free agent again on July 1, 2016, but lingering concerns about his health and speed prevented further NHL offers.
Still determined to play, Prust signed a professional tryout (PTO) with the Toronto Maple Leafs in August 2016, chasing his childhood dream of wearing the blue and white. Despite a strong work ethic, he was released after training camp in October.
Although he never made a formal retirement announcement, Prust transitioned out of professional hockey in 2017. On November 29 of that year, he returned to where his journey began—joining the London Knights as a coach, bringing his on-ice experience full circle.
On April 26, 2024, Prust was named head coach of the London Nationals of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League (GOJHL)—the very team where his junior hockey journey started.