Branden Carney Class: Freshman Hometown: Battle Creek, Mich Height / Weight: 6-2 / 190 Position: D Birthdate: 05/27/1992 Last Team: Owatonna Express (NAHL)

Prior to MSU: Played for the Owatonna Express of the North American Hockey League (NAHL) for the season prior to enrolling at Michigan State ... Appeaered in 54 games, contributing four goals and 12 assists and 38 PIM ... Helped team to a third-place finish in the NAHL, but lost in the first round of the playoffs ... Played previously for the Capital Centre Pride (2008-10), earning First Team All-League honors and scoring the most points by a defenseman in the league ... Served as a captain of the Pride in 2009-10.

Personal: Born on May 27, 1992 in Omaha, Nebraska ... Son of Russ and Sherry Carney ... Father is the Associate Head Coach of the MSU volleyball team, and was a four-year volleyball letterwinner at Ball State (1972-77) ... Mother was a three-year letterwinner at Wisconsin (1980-82) ... Has one sister, Jessica, who is a 2010 graduate of Michigan State ... A graduate of Battle Creek Lakeview high school in 2010 ... Was a member of the National Honor Society in high school ... Enjoys playing golf and ping-pong ... Fan of the Detroit Red Wings, and lists his favorite NHL player as the recently-retired Brian Rafalski ...Lists his largest hockey influence as Ron Gay, who "pushed me through the hard times in my career, and pushed me to the next level and where I am now," ... Considers his father his hero, as he has encouraged him to be the best at whatever he's going to do.