Career
Brannen played as a rover, a position between defense and attack, for the Montreal Shamrocks in the AHAC and CAHL between 1896 and 1901. Brannen was born in Kenmore, Ontario in 1874. After his career in ice hockey he moved to northern New York where he worked as a medical doctor, though he occasionally acted as an umpire at hockey games in Montreal.
He died in 1964, 90 years old.
Jack Brannen was noted for his speed, which made him suitable for the free roaming rover position, and occasionally competed in speed skating events. On the Montreal Shamrocks team Brannen played on a forward line with Harry Trihey, Arthur Farrell and Fred Scanlan, all of whom later on were inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.