Bryan Little is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player who played as a center for the Winnipeg Jets in the National Hockey League (NHL). Little was born on November 12, 1987, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, and began his hockey career in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) with the Barrie Colts in 2003.
Little was drafted by the Atlanta Thrashers in the first round of the 2006 NHL Entry Draft, and he made his NHL debut in the 2007-08 season. He quickly established himself as a reliable center and a consistent scorer, recording 31 points in his rookie season. Little continued to improve his game over the next few seasons, and he became a key player for the Thrashers.
In the 2010-11 season, Little had a breakout year, scoring 24 goals and 34 assists for a total of 58 points. He also played in his first NHL All-Star Game that season. Little's strong play continued over the next few seasons, and he was named an alternate captain for the Thrashers in the 2010-11 season.
In 2011, the Thrashers were relocated to Winnipeg, Manitoba, and became the Winnipeg Jets. Little continued to play for the Jets, and he became one of the team's most important players. He was named an alternate captain for the Jets in the 2016-17 season, and he continued to be a consistent scorer and a reliable center.
Little's career was unfortunately cut short by a serious injury in the 2019-20 season. In a game against the New Jersey Devils on November 5, 2019, Little was hit in the head by a shot and suffered a perforated eardrum and a concussion. He missed the rest of the season and was unable to play in the 2020-21 season due to ongoing symptoms from the concussion.
Despite his injury, Little had a successful career in the NHL. He played in 843 games, scored 217 goals, and recorded 304 assists for a total of 521 points. He was a consistent scorer and a reliable center throughout his career, and he was a key player for both the Thrashers and the Jets. Little was also known for his leadership and his work ethic, and he was respected by his teammates and opponents alike.
In April 2021, Little announced his retirement from professional hockey due to ongoing symptoms from his concussion. He will be remembered as a talented and hardworking player who made a significant impact on the NHL during his career.
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