He won the Eddie Shore Award as the American Hockey League's Outstanding Defenceman and was an AHL First Team All-Star.

On July 1, 2012, Brookbank signed a two-year, $2.5 million free agent deal with the Chicago Blackhawks and went on to win the Stanley Cup with the team during the 2013 season.

[7] Brookbank turned to Russia, and signed a one-year contract with Ak Bars Kazan of the Kontinental Hockey League on October 31, 2014.

A free agent the following summer, Brookbank returned to North America, signing a professional try-out with defending Calder Cup champions Cleveland Monsters on October 13, 2016.

[9] In the 2016–17 season, adding depth cover to the Monsters' blueline, Brookbank registered one assist in six games before he was released at the conclusion of his trial period on December 12, 2016.

On June 14, 2017, it was announced that Brookbank had been hired as the assistant coach of the Rockford Ice Hogs, the minor league affiliate of the Chicago Blackhawks.