Brownlee a 'rising star'

Good things keep happening to former Minnesota State hockey captains.

Last week, David Backes was named captain of the St. Louis Blues, and Monday night, Backes' old teammate Chad Brownlee earned the Rising Star honor at the Canadian Country Music Awards. Of course, Brownlee was asked about hockey after receiving the award.

"All the guys at the hockey shop. All my hockey buddies and my coaches. They all hinted for a lot of years that I should hang up the skates and play music and I didn't listen to them," Brownlee told the Toronto Sun. "So I don't know if they were bashing my hockey skills or saying I was a good musician."

A year ago, Brownlee was the winner of the CCMA's New Artist Showcase.

More info on Brownlee can be found on his website, and you can even buy some cool CB gear there.

Brownlee's album now available

Former MSU captain Chad Brownlee's first album, the self-titled "Chad Brownlee," was released on Tuesday. It's available on iTunes and Amazon, among other retail outlets.

Brownlee, a defenseman who played for the Mavericks from 2003 to 2007, decided to pursue music after calling it a career in hockey. He was a Vancouver Canucks prospect, who played one season of minor-league hockey after his college career ended before retiring from the sport.

But it appears he's found a calling with music, considering his first single, "Best that I Can (Superhero)," rose to No. 19 on the Canadian country music charts and his second release, "Hood of My Car," is already at No. 15 on those charts. His name is mixed in with the likes of Lady Antebellum, Keith Urban, Sugarland and Alan Jackson, among others

For more on Brownlee, including samples of his songs, check out his official website here.