Bryan Little

Lore & Background

Little was raised in Cambridge, Ontario, where he played minor hockey for the Cambridge Hawks and later the Cambridge Winter Hawks Jr. B team. He was selected in the third round of the 2003 OHL draft by the Barrie Colts, for whom he played four seasons, serving as team captain in 2005–06 and setting franchise records for goals (153) and points (342).

Little made his NHL debut on October 5, 2007, scoring in his first game, the first Thrasher to do so. After a mid-season demotion to the AHL's Chicago Wolves, he won the 2008 Calder Cup. He became a full-time NHLer in 2008–09, scoring 31 goals. When the franchise relocated to Winnipeg in 2011, Little changed his jersey number from #10 to #18 out of respect for Dale Hawerchuk.

Little's career was marked by several injury-shortened seasons, including a fractured vertebra in 2016 and a concussion in 2019. On November 5, 2019, he was struck in the side of the head by a shot, leading to a perforated eardrum and surgery in February 2020. He was ruled out for the entire 2020–21 season and never returned to play. His contract was traded to the Arizona Coyotes in March 2022, and he officially retired on October 20, 2024, signing a one-day contract with the Winnipeg Jets.

Reader's Guide

Bryan Little's career is notable for its singular franchise loyalty: he played every NHL game for the Atlanta Thrashers/Winnipeg Jets organization, from his debut in 2007 through the relocation and until his injury in 2019. He was a consistent two-way centre, recording four seasons of 20+ goals and a career-high 64 points in 2013–14. Little helped the Jets reach the playoffs in 2015 and 2018, the latter culminating in a Western Conference Final appearance. His career was cut short by a freak injury—a shot to the head in November 2019—that ultimately proved career-ending after multiple surgeries and medical advice. Little's retirement ceremony in 2024, where he signed a one-day contract with the Jets, underscored his lasting connection to the franchise. He also won a gold medal with Canada at the 2007 World Junior Championships and received the Dan Snyder Memorial Award twice (2010–11, 2013–14), recognizing his community involvement and character.

Did You Know?

• Little scored a goal in his NHL debut on October 5, 2007, the first Atlanta Thrasher to do so.
• He set Barrie Colts franchise records for most goals (153) and most points (342) with the team.
• Little changed his jersey number from #10 to #18 after the Thrashers moved to Winnipeg, out of respect for Dale Hawerchuk.
• He won the Calder Cup with the Chicago Wolves in 2008.