Neil Brady
Encyclopedia
Neil Patrick Brady is a retired Canadian
professional ice hockey
player. He is best known for scoring the first goal in the history of the modern Ottawa Senators
franchise on October 8, 1992.
with the Medicine Hat Tigers
. After scoring 81 points in 72 games and registering over 100 penalty minutes in 1985–86, Brady was chosen third overall by the New Jersey Devils
in the 1986 NHL Entry Draft
. He was returned to junior then turned pro with the AHL's Utica Devils
in 1988–89
.
After just 29 games in 3 seasons in which Brady struggled with his confidence, the Devils' organization gave up on him, and he was traded to the expansion Ottawa Senators
for future considerations on September 3, 1992. Brady found early success in Ottawa, scoring the first goal for the modern-day Ottawa Senators franchise against Montreal
goaltender Patrick Roy
. He went on to score 7 goals and 17 assists for 24 points during the 1992–93 season. Though these numbers were the best of his NHL career, they were nowhere near the standards he set at the junior level.
Brady fell out of favour with the Senators' organization, and was signed as a free agent by the Dallas Stars
in December, 1993, though he was chiefly a farmhand for his new team. In total, Brady played in 89 NHL games, scoring 9 goals and 22 assists for 31 points and 95 penalty minutes. Brady spent the remainder of his career in the now-defunct International Hockey League. He retired in 2001 after the league folded.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
professional ice hockey
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. He is best known for scoring the first goal in the history of the modern Ottawa Senators
Ottawa Senators
The Ottawa Senators are a professional ice hockey team based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
franchise on October 8, 1992.
Playing career
Brady enjoyed an exemplary junior hockey career in the WHLWestern Hockey League
The Western Hockey League is a major junior ice hockey league based in Western Canada and the Northwestern United States. The WHL is one of three leagues that constitute the Canadian Hockey League as the highest level of junior hockey in Canada...
with the Medicine Hat Tigers
Medicine Hat Tigers
The Medicine Hat Tigers are a junior ice hockey team in the Western Hockey League who play out of Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada. Established in 1970, the team has won two national Memorial Cups, five WHL League Championships and seven Division Titles. The Tigers play at the Medicine Hat Arena....
. After scoring 81 points in 72 games and registering over 100 penalty minutes in 1985–86, Brady was chosen third overall by the New Jersey Devils
New Jersey Devils
The New Jersey Devils are a professional ice hockey team based in Newark, New Jersey, United States. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
in the 1986 NHL Entry Draft
1986 NHL Entry Draft
The 1986 NHL Entry Draft was held on June 21, 1986 at the Montreal Forum in Montreal, Quebec. The National Hockey League teams selected 252 players eligible for entry into professional ranks, in the reverse order of the 1985–86 NHL season and playoff standings...
. He was returned to junior then turned pro with the AHL's Utica Devils
Utica Devils
The Utica Devils were an ice hockey team of the American Hockey League. The team played in Utica, New York at the Utica Memorial Auditorium.-History:...
in 1988–89
1988–89 AHL season
The 1988–89 AHL season was the 53rd season of the American Hockey League. Fourteen teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The league abandoned awarding points for an overtime loss. The Sherbrooke Canadiens finished first overall in the regular season...
.
After just 29 games in 3 seasons in which Brady struggled with his confidence, the Devils' organization gave up on him, and he was traded to the expansion Ottawa Senators
Ottawa Senators
The Ottawa Senators are a professional ice hockey team based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
for future considerations on September 3, 1992. Brady found early success in Ottawa, scoring the first goal for the modern-day Ottawa Senators franchise against Montreal
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 ...
goaltender Patrick Roy
Patrick Roy
Patrick Edward Armand Roy is a former Canadian ice hockey goaltender. Nicknamed "Saint Patrick," Roy split his professional career between the Montreal Canadiens, whom he played with for 10 years, and the Colorado Avalanche, whom he played with for 8 years, both of the National Hockey League...
. He went on to score 7 goals and 17 assists for 24 points during the 1992–93 season. Though these numbers were the best of his NHL career, they were nowhere near the standards he set at the junior level.
Brady fell out of favour with the Senators' organization, and was signed as a free agent by the Dallas Stars
Dallas Stars
The Dallas Stars are a professional ice hockey team based in Dallas, Texas. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The team was founded during the 1967 NHL expansion as the Minnesota North Stars, based in Bloomington, Minnesota. The...
in December, 1993, though he was chiefly a farmhand for his new team. In total, Brady played in 89 NHL games, scoring 9 goals and 22 assists for 31 points and 95 penalty minutes. Brady spent the remainder of his career in the now-defunct International Hockey League. He retired in 2001 after the league folded.
Other
- Brady scored the first goal in Ottawa Senators' franchise history... twice. He scored the team's first ever pre-season goal against the Hartford WhalersHartford WhalersThe Hartford Whalers were a professional ice hockey team based for most of its existence in Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.A.. The club played in the World Hockey Association from 1972–79 and in the National Hockey League from 1979–97...
, and later scored the team's first regular season goal against the Montreal CanadiensMontreal CanadiensThe 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 ...
. - Brady currently lives and works in Calgary, Alberta.
Career statistics
--- Regular Season --- ---- Playoffs ----
Season Team Lge GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1984-85 Medicine Hat Tigers WHL -- -- -- -- -- 3 0 0 0 2
1985-86 Medicine Hat Tigers WHL 72 21 60 81 104 21 9 11 20 23
1986-87 Medicine Hat Tigers WHL 57 19 64 83 126 18 1 4 5 25
1987-88 Medicine Hat Tigers WHL 61 16 35 51 110 15 0 3 3 19
1988-89 Utica Devils AHL 75 16 21 37 56 4 0 3 3 0
1989-90 Utica Devils AHL 38 10 13 23 21 5 0 1 1 10
1989-90 New Jersey Devils NHL 19 1 4 5 13 -- -- -- -- --
1990-91 Utica Devils AHL 77 33 63 96 91 -- -- -- -- --
1990-91 New Jersey Devils NHL 3 0 0 0 0 -- -- -- -- --
1991-92 Utica Devils AHL 33 12 30 42 28 -- -- -- -- --
1991-92 New Jersey Devils NHL 7 1 0 1 4 -- -- -- -- --
1992-93 New Haven Senators AHL 8 6 3 9 2 -- -- -- -- --
1992-93 Ottawa Senators NHL 55 7 17 24 57 -- -- -- -- --
1993-94 Kalamazoo Wings IHL 43 10 16 26 188 5 1 1 2 10
1993-94 Dallas Stars NHL 5 0 1 1 21 -- -- -- -- --
1994-95 Kalamazoo Wings IHL 70 13 45 58 140 15 5 14 19 22
1995-96 Michigan K-Wings IHL 61 14 20 34 127 10 1 4 5 8
1996-97 Michigan K-Wings IHL 76 13 20 33 62 4 1 0 1 0
1997-98 Houston Aeros IHL 65 9 26 35 56 4 2 0 2 34
1998-99 Manitoba Moose IHL 13 1 5 6 8 -- -- -- -- --
1999-00 Utah Grizzlies IHL 82 14 36 50 129 3 0 0 0 2
2000-01 Chicago Wolves IHL 24 1 1 2 12 -- -- -- -- --
2000-01 Utah Grizzlies IHL 26 0 4 4 34 -- -- -- -- --
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NHL Totals 89 9 22 31 95