Brian Bradley
Encyclopedia
Brian Richard Walter Bradley (born January 21, 1965) is a former professional ice hockey
player. Bradley played for a number of different hockey teams in many different leagues. He played for the London Knights
in the early 1980s before being selected 51st overall, in the 3rd round, by the Calgary Flames
at the 1983 NHL Entry Draft
. Bradley spent a season with the Canadian national team before moving to the National Hockey League
(NHL) for good.
, where he saw very limited action (only 5 regular season games and one playoff
game), although his first playoff game was during the 1986 Stanley Cup Finals
against the Montreal Canadiens
. He would spent most of the season with the Moncton Golden Flames
(Calgary's minor league team), where he was linemates with future superstar Brett Hull
.
In 1988, after arriving back from playing with Canadian National Men's Hockey Team
, where he spend most of the 1986–87 NHL season playing, Bradley was traded to the Vancouver Canucks
. During the 1989 playoffs, Bradley would tie rookie Trevor Linden
with a team-leading 7 points in seven games. His best regular season totals with the Canucks came in the 1989–90 season when he scored a team respectable 48 points and was awarded The Canuck's "Most Exciting Player" Award by Canuck fans. He started out the 1990–91 season playing strongly, only to be traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs
for mobile defenceman Tom Kurvers
.
In 1992, the expansion Tampa Bay Lightning
acquired him in the 1992 NHL Expansion Draft
, and he would become the team's first star. He would score the team's first preseason goal against the Minnesota North Stars
. He would set personal highs in goals, assists and points before the All-Star Break. At the end of Tampa Bay's inaugural season, Bradley lead the team with a career high 42 goals and 86 points. He played well enough throughout the season that he also made his NHL
All-Star debut. In 1995–96 he set a personal high of 56 assists. That same year the Lightning
debuted in the NHL playoffs. The next season (1996–97) Brian Bradley would score the first goal in the history of the Ice Palace Arena
. Unfortunately, he would be sidelined for most of the rest of the season due to nagging injuries. He would play with the Lightning until retiring due to chronic injuries on December 23, 1999.
television, which broadcasts regular season Lightning games. Bradley currently resides in Tampa
.
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
player. Bradley played for a number of different hockey teams in many different leagues. He played for the London Knights
London Knights
The London Knights are a junior ice hockey team from London, Ontario, Canada, playing in the Ontario Hockey League, one of the leagues of the Canadian Hockey League.-Early days–1968:...
in the early 1980s before being selected 51st overall, in the 3rd round, by the Calgary Flames
Calgary Flames
The Calgary Flames are a professional ice hockey team based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is the third major-professional ice hockey team to represent the city of Calgary, following the...
at the 1983 NHL Entry Draft
1983 NHL Entry Draft
The 1983 NHL Entry Draft was held at the Montreal Forum in Montreal, Quebec, on June 8, 1983. The NHL Entry Draft is the primary means by which players arrive in the National Hockey League. The St. Louis Blues did not participate in this draft, shortly after the league blocked the franchise's...
. Bradley spent a season with the Canadian national team before moving to the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
(NHL) for good.
Playing career
Brian Bradley's NHL debut came in the 1985–86 season with the Calgary FlamesCalgary Flames
The Calgary Flames are a professional ice hockey team based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is the third major-professional ice hockey team to represent the city of Calgary, following the...
, where he saw very limited action (only 5 regular season games and one playoff
Playoff
The playoffs, postseason, or finals of a sports league are a game or series of games played after the regular season by the top competitors, usually but not always with a single-elimination system, to determine the league champion or a similar accolade.In the U.S...
game), although his first playoff game was during the 1986 Stanley Cup Finals
1986 Stanley Cup Finals
The 1986 Stanley Cup Final NHL championship series was contested by the Calgary Flames in their first Final appearance and the Montreal Canadiens in their 32nd. The Canadiens would win the best-of-seven series four games to one, to win their twenty-third Stanley Cup, and their seventeenth in their...
against the Montreal Canadiens
Montreal Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is officially known as ...
. He would spent most of the season with the Moncton Golden Flames
Moncton Golden Flames
The Moncton Golden Flames were a professional ice hockey team based in Moncton, New Brunswick, playing home games at the Moncton Coliseum. The team operated in the American Hockey League between 1984 and 1987, as a minor league affiliate of the Calgary Flames and the Boston Bruins...
(Calgary's minor league team), where he was linemates with future superstar Brett Hull
Brett Hull
Brett Andrew Hull is a former Canadian-American NHL player and the former Executive Vice President of the Dallas Stars. He is the son of Bobby Hull and nephew of Dennis Hull, both former NHL players. Hull is also known as "The Golden Brett," which is a play off of his father's nickname, "The...
.
In 1988, after arriving back from playing with Canadian National Men's Hockey Team
Canadian national men's hockey team
The Canadian national ice hockey team is the ice hockey team representing Canada. The team is overseen by Hockey Canada, a member of the International Ice Hockey Federation, and participates in international competitions. From 1920 until 1963, Canada's international representation was by senior...
, where he spend most of the 1986–87 NHL season playing, Bradley was traded to the Vancouver Canucks
Vancouver Canucks
The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver, :British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Canucks play their home games at Rogers Arena, formerly known as General Motors Place,...
. During the 1989 playoffs, Bradley would tie rookie Trevor Linden
Trevor Linden
Trevor John Linden, C.M., O.B.C. is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player. He played centre and right wing with four different teams: the Vancouver Canucks , New York Islanders, Montreal Canadiens, and Washington Capitals...
with a team-leading 7 points in seven games. His best regular season totals with the Canucks came in the 1989–90 season when he scored a team respectable 48 points and was awarded The Canuck's "Most Exciting Player" Award by Canuck fans. He started out the 1990–91 season playing strongly, only to be traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
for mobile defenceman Tom Kurvers
Tom Kurvers
Thomas James Kurvers is a retired professional ice hockey defenseman who spent 11 seasons in the National Hockey League between 1984 and 1995. He was a member of the 1986 Stanley Cup Champion Montreal Canadiens...
.
In 1992, the expansion Tampa Bay Lightning
Tampa Bay Lightning
The Tampa Bay Lightning are a professional ice hockey team based in Tampa, Florida. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . They have one Stanley Cup championship in their history, in 2003–04. They are often referred to as the...
acquired him in the 1992 NHL Expansion Draft
1992 NHL Expansion Draft
The 1992 NHL Expansion Draft was held on June 18, 1992. The draft took place to fill the rosters of the league's two expansion teams for the 1992–93 season, the Ottawa Senators and the Tampa Bay Lightning.-Rules:...
, and he would become the team's first star. He would score the team's first preseason goal against the Minnesota North Stars
Minnesota North Stars
The Minnesota North Stars were a professional ice hockey team in the National Hockey League for 26 seasons, from 1967 to 1993. The North Stars played their home games at the Met Center in Bloomington, and the team's colors for most of its history were green, yellow, gold and white...
. He would set personal highs in goals, assists and points before the All-Star Break. At the end of Tampa Bay's inaugural season, Bradley lead the team with a career high 42 goals and 86 points. He played well enough throughout the season that he also made his NHL
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
All-Star debut. In 1995–96 he set a personal high of 56 assists. That same year the Lightning
Tampa Bay Lightning
The Tampa Bay Lightning are a professional ice hockey team based in Tampa, Florida. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . They have one Stanley Cup championship in their history, in 2003–04. They are often referred to as the...
debuted in the NHL playoffs. The next season (1996–97) Brian Bradley would score the first goal in the history of the Ice Palace Arena
St. Pete Times Forum
The St. Pete Times Forum is an arena in Tampa, Florida, that has been used for ice hockey, basketball, and arena football games, as well as concerts....
. Unfortunately, he would be sidelined for most of the rest of the season due to nagging injuries. He would play with the Lightning until retiring due to chronic injuries on December 23, 1999.
Career statistics
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season Season (sports) In an organized sports league, a season is the portion of one year in which regulated games of the sport are in session. For example, in Major League Baseball, one season lasts approximately from April 1 through October 1; in Association football, it is generally from August until May In an... |
Team | League | GP | G Goal (ice hockey) In ice hockey, a goal is scored when the puck completely crosses the goal line between the two goal posts and below the goal crossbar. A goal awards one point to the team attacking the goal scored upon, regardless of which team the player who actually deflected the puck into the goal belongs to... |
A Assist (ice hockey) In ice hockey, an assist is attributed to up to two players of the scoring team who shot, passed or deflected the puck towards the scoring teammate, or touched it in any other way which enabled the goal, meaning that they were "assisting" in the goal. There can be a maximum of two assists per goal... |
Pts Point (ice hockey) Point in ice hockey has three official meanings:* A point is awarded to a player for each goal scored or assist earned. The total number of goals plus assists equals total points. In some European leagues, a goal counts as two points, and an assist counts as one... |
PIM Penalty (ice hockey) A penalty in ice hockey is a punishment for inappropriate behavior. Most penalties are enforced by detaining the offending player within a penalty box for a set number of minutes, during which, the player can not participate in play. The offending team usually may not replace the player on the ice,... |
GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 1980–81 | Guelph Platers Guelph Platers The Guelph Platers were a junior ice hockey team in theOntario Hockey Association from 1975 to 1982, and the Ontario Hockey League from 1982 to 1989, based in Guelph, Ontario.-History:... |
OPJHL | 42 | 31 | 40 | 71 | 59 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1981–82 | London Knights London Knights The London Knights are a junior ice hockey team from London, Ontario, Canada, playing in the Ontario Hockey League, one of the leagues of the Canadian Hockey League.-Early days–1968:... |
OHL Ontario Hockey League The Ontario Hockey League is one of the three Major Junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League. The league is for players aged 15-20.The OHL also operates under the Ontario Hockey Federation of Hockey Canada.... |
62 | 34 | 44 | 78 | 34 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 | ||
| 1982–83 | London Knights | OHL | 67 | 37 | 82 | 119 | 37 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| 1983–84 | London Knights | OHL | 49 | 40 | 60 | 100 | 24 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 0 | ||
| 1983–84 | Colorado Flames Colorado Flames The Colorado Flames are a defunct minor-pro hockey team that played in the Central Hockey League in Denver, Colorado for two seasons from 1982 to 1984. They were the top minor league affiliate of the NHL's Calgary Flames. They played their home games at McNichols Arena. When the league folded,... |
CHL | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | ||
| 1984–85 1984–85 OHL season The 1984–85 OHL season was the 5th season of the Ontario Hockey League. Fifteen teams each played 66 games. The Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds won the J. Ross Robertson Cup, defeating the Peterborough Petes. The Greyhounds also set an OHL record that still stands, going 33–0 at home in the regular... |
London Knights | OHL | 32 | 27 | 49 | 76 | 22 | 8 | 5 | 10 | 15 | 4 | ||
| 1985–86 1985–86 AHL season The 1985–86 AHL season was the 50th season of the American Hockey League. Thirteen teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The Hershey Bears finished first overall in the regular season... |
Moncton Golden Flames Moncton Golden Flames The Moncton Golden Flames were a professional ice hockey team based in Moncton, New Brunswick, playing home games at the Moncton Coliseum. The team operated in the American Hockey League between 1984 and 1987, as a minor league affiliate of the Calgary Flames and the Boston Bruins... |
AHL American Hockey League The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League... |
59 | 23 | 42 | 65 | 40 | 10 | 6 | 9 | 15 | 4 | ||
| 1985–86 | Calgary Flames Calgary Flames The Calgary Flames are a professional ice hockey team based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is the third major-professional ice hockey team to represent the city of Calgary, following the... |
NHL National Hockey League The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States... |
5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 1986–87 1986–87 AHL season The 1986–87 AHL season was the 51st season of the American Hockey League. Thirteen teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The league institutes awarding one point in the standings, for an overtime loss... |
Moncton Golden Flames | AHL | 20 | 12 | 16 | 28 | 8 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 16 | ||
| 1986–87 | Calgary Flames | NHL | 40 | 10 | 18 | 28 | 16 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1987–88 | Canadian Nat'l | Int'l | 54 | 18 | 23 | 41 | 42 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1987–88 | Vancouver Canucks Vancouver Canucks The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver, :British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Canucks play their home games at Rogers Arena, formerly known as General Motors Place,... |
NHL | 11 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1988–89 | Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 71 | 18 | 27 | 45 | 42 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 10 | ||
| 1989–90 | Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 67 | 19 | 29 | 48 | 65 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1990–91 | Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 44 | 11 | 20 | 31 | 42 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1990–91 | Toronto Maple Leafs Toronto Maple Leafs The Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League... |
NHL | 26 | 0 | 11 | 11 | 20 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1991–92 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 59 | 10 | 21 | 31 | 48 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1992–93 | Tampa Bay Lightning Tampa Bay Lightning The Tampa Bay Lightning are a professional ice hockey team based in Tampa, Florida. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . They have one Stanley Cup championship in their history, in 2003–04. They are often referred to as the... |
NHL | 80 | 42 | 44 | 86 | 92 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1993–94 | Tampa Bay Lightning | NHL | 78 | 24 | 40 | 64 | 56 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1994–95 | Tampa Bay Lightning | NHL | 46 | 13 | 27 | 40 | 42 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1995–96 | Tampa Bay Lightning | NHL | 75 | 23 | 56 | 79 | 77 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 6 | ||
| 1996–97 | Tampa Bay Lightning | NHL | 35 | 7 | 17 | 24 | 16 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1997–98 | Tampa Bay Lightning | NHL | 14 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| NHL totals | 651 | 182 | 321 | 503 | 528 | 13 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 16 | ||||
Post-hockey life
Bradley is still affiliated with the Lightning's organization and makes frequent appearances on Sun SportsSun Sports
Sun Sports is a Florida sports broadcasting network, with its headquarters in Orlando. Launched in 1988 as Sunshine Network, the station is now affiliated with virtually every cable company throughout the state of Florida and can be picked up by some satellite providers around the United...
television, which broadcasts regular season Lightning games. Bradley currently resides in Tampa
Tampa, Florida
Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....
.