Man of the Week: Joshua Brook
KHL.ru’s weekly column returns with Joshua Brook. The Dinamo Minsk blueliner has been in great shape of late, and was awarded Defenseman of the week honors.
In his sophomore season in the KHL, d-man Joshua Brook is confirming his status as a solid blueliner with some interesting offensive potential. Last week, for the first time in his career, he was elected Defenseman of the league, after producing three points (1+2) in three games and posting an outstanding plus-8 rating. The Minsk blueliner scored the game-winning goal in Monday’s 5:2 victory over HC Sochi, capping off an excellent all-around performance. Over the week, he also registered two hits, blocked ten shots, recorded one pass interception, and added a takeaway, underlining his growing impact on Dinamo’s back end. He was left scoreless in the Bison’s 7:3 triumph in Kazan on Sunday, yet he posted a plus-2 rating. Brook’s plus-18 differential is the best for Dinamo Minsk and tied for third in the league, trailing only Lokomotiv’s duo of Alexander Radulov and Martin Gernat.
Early years
Brook’s path began far from Minsk, in Roblin, Manitoba, where he grew up in a hockey family and quickly made a name for himself as a smooth skater with a competitive edge. His father Dwayne played in the Western Hockey League, just as Joshua’s two brothers Aidan and Jakob. He joined the Moose Jaw Warriors system as a teenager and steadily developed into one of the WHL’s most well-rounded defensemen. Across four full WHL seasons (2015–2019), Brook suited up for 204 regular-season games with the Warriors, scoring 31 goals and 126 assists for 157 points, adding 206 PIM, and posting a standout 75-point season in 2018-2019 that ranked him among the league’s top offensive blueliners. His progress earned him a second-round selection by the Montreal Canadiens in 2017 (56th overall), and he remained a major driver of Moose Jaw’s back end until turning pro.
Ranking up
Transitioning to the AHL, Brook joined the Laval Rocket, the AHL affiliates to the Canadiens, in 2019–2020 and began the challenging climb through Montreal's system. His rookie season saw him play 60 AHL games, collecting 13 points (4+9) while getting ready for the professional game. His development continued the next year with 33 games and 15 points (3+12). However, injuries and Montreal’s organizational depth chart limited his opportunities, and the 2021–2022 campaign became a difficult one, with limited appearances and sporadic usage. Looking for ice time, he also logged 13 games for the ECHL’s Trois-Rivieres Lions, adding seven points and regaining rhythm.
The 2022–2023 season brought a reset. Brook left Montreal and signed with Calgary’s organization. Once again, his games were limited, lining up only for thirteen regular-season games in the AHL, adding another two appearances in the postseason. However, he skated with Team Canada at the 2022 Spengler Cup in Switzerland. It wasn’t Brook’s first appearance on the international scene, having represented Canada in several tournaments, most notably in the 2019 World Juniors in British Columbia, with the hosts however suffering from a quarterfinal exit by the hand of Team Finland.
Move to Europe
Brook’s move to Finland with Lukko Rauma in 2023–2024 proved pivotal. Brook adapted quickly to the Liiga’s pace and structure, recording 18 points in 56 games, while proving he could handle top-four minutes on the larger ice. Lukko reached the playoffs, although the team failed to go deep. The season revitalized him, and Dinamo Minsk saw enough to bring him to the KHL.
Brook’s first KHL season in Minsk was a revelation. He posted 21 points in 62 games, played on both special-teams units, and emerged as one of Dinamo’s most reliable all-situations defensemen. This year, his sophomore campaign has been even better. Brook is logging significant minutes, contributing offensively, and showing the poise expected from a former high draft pick finally hitting his stride. The league took notice: his performances over the past week earned him KHL Defenseman of the Week, and his role is likely to increase as Dinamo Minsk aims higher in the Western Conference.
