FAIRBANKS - Alternate captain and graduating senior Braden Birnie will move on to the next level after four years with the Alaska Nanooks. The forward signed his first professional hockey contract on Tuesday, March 10, when the Rapid City Rush of the ECHL announced his signing.

"I am thrilled to see Braden have an opportunity to play at the next level," said Nanooks head coach Erik Largen. "He has been a phenomenal player, person, and leader for our program, and I cannot wait to see his success."

Birnie, a Weyburn, Saskatchewan native, joined the Nanooks for the 2022–23 season. As a freshman, he skated in 16 games and recorded two goals and three assists for five points. In year two, he made a major jump in production, appearing in 33 games during the 2023–24 season and posting 17 points on three goals and 14 assists. That same season, he recorded a career-high +14 rating while blocking 16 shots.

During the 2024–25 season, Birnie was named the Nanooks captain and skated in 32 games, tallying four goals and three assists for seven points. He also blocked a career-high 21 shots and scored one power-play goal.

This past season, his senior year, Birnie set career highs in both goals and total points. He scored seven goals, including a game-winner with just over three seconds remaining in an Alaska Airlines Governor's Cup matchup against UAA on Feb. 20. Birnie also scored the game-tying goal in the United Collegiate Hockey Cup semifinals against Stonehill with 1.1 seconds left to force overtime. Alaska would go on to win the shootout and then capture the UCHC Championship the following day over Lindenwood. Birnie recorded the lone assist on the game-winning goal in the championship game. His 18 points marked a career high and brought his career total to 47 points. Over four seasons, he skated in 114 games for the Nanooks, recording 16 goals and 31 assists.

Birnie recorded a career-high three points on two occasions: Jan. 30, 2026, against LIU and Feb. 21, 2026, at Alaska Anchorage.

Over his four-year career, Birnie earned several team awards, including the Chad Staley Team Player Award (2024–25, 2025–26), the Rick Pitta Most Dedicated Award (2024–25, 2025–26), the Dean Fedorchuk Most Improved Player Award (2022–23), and the Dirk Anderson Scholar-Athlete Award (2024–25).

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