Andy Branigan
# Andy Branigan

Andrew John Branigan (April 11, 1922 — April 13, 1995) was a Canadian ice hockey player who played for 27 games for the New York Americans and Brooklyn Americans in the NHL between 1940 and 1942. The rest of his career, which lasted from 1940 to 1960, was mainly spent in the minor American Hockey League.

## Biography

Branigan was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and began his career as a defenceman playing with the Winnipeg Monarchs of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League from 1939–1940. In October 1940, he was signed by the New York/Brooklyn Americans of the NHL and played for the team from 1940–1942.

While serving in World War II, he played for the Winnipeg RCAF Bombers. He also played several seasons with the AHL, playing for the Indianapolis Capitols, Hershey Bears and the Providence Reds.

He finished his playing career in the Eastern Hockey League in 1960 playing for the Washington Presidents and the New York Rovers. Branigan also coached the Washington Presidents and the New York Rovers from 1958–1960.

He died on April 13, 1995, in Providence, Rhode Island, and is interred in Swan Point Cemetery in Providence.

## Career statistics

### Regular season and playoffs

| | | | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| 1938–39 | East Kildonan Bisons | MAHA | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1939–40 | Winnipeg Monarchs | MJHL | 23 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 38 | 7 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 14 |
| 1940–41 | New York Americans | NHL | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1940–41 | Springfield Indians | AHL | 50 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 21 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 1941–42 | Brooklyn Americans | NHL | 21 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 26 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1941–42 | Springfield Indians | AHL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1942–43 | Winnipeg RCAF | WNDHL | 13 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 26 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 18 |
| 1942–43 | Winnipeg RCAF | Al-Cup | — | — | — | — | — | 12 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 20 |
| 1943–44 | Winnipeg RCAF | WNDHL | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1944–45 | Winnipeg RCAF | WNDHL | 9 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 18 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1944–45 | Rockcliffe RCAF | OCHL | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1945–46 | Indianapolis Capitals | AHL | 62 | 4 | 17 | 21 | 71 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 1946–47 | Hershey Bears | AHL | 62 | 6 | 9 | 15 | 42 | 11 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 8 |
| 1947–48 | Hershey Bears | AHL | 63 | 1 | 11 | 12 | 91 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| 1948–49 | Hershey Bears | AHL | 68 | 5 | 14 | 19 | 54 | 11 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 10 |
| 1949–50 | Hershey Bears | AHL | 66 | 1 | 15 | 16 | 73 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1950–51 | Hershey Bears | AHL | 64 | 6 | 9 | 15 | 114 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| 1951–52 | Hershey Bears | AHL | 66 | 6 | 19 | 25 | 110 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 10 |
| 1952–53 | Hershey Bears | AHL | 51 | 5 | 4 | 9 | 71 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1953–54 | Hershey Bears | AHL | 68 | 3 | 22 | 25 | 124 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 10 |
| 1954–55 | Providence Reds | AHL | 61 | 2 | 12 | 14 | 114 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1955–56 | Providence Reds | AHL | 64 | 5 | 17 | 22 | 103 | 9 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 14 |
| 1956–57 | Providence Reds | AHL | 46 | 2 | 10 | 12 | 46 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| 1957–58 | Providence Reds | AHL | 67 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 61 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1958–59 | Washington Presidents | EHL | 63 | 5 | 16 | 21 | 82 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1959–60 | New York Rovers | EHL | 48 | 2 | 10 | 12 | 73 | — | — | — | — | — |
| AHL totals | AHL totals | AHL totals | 859 | 50 | 171 | 221 | 1095 | 69 | 4 | 12 | 16 | 70 |
| NHL totals | NHL totals | NHL totals | 27 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 31 | — | — | — | — | — |

## Awards and achievements

* Calder Cup AHL Championships (1947 & 1956)
* AHL Second Team All-Star (1956)
* Honoured Member of the Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame
