Neil Brady

Neil Patrick Brady (born April 12, 1968) is a Canadian retired professional ice hockey player. He is best known for scoring the first goal in the history of the contemporary Ottawa Senators franchise on October 8, 1992.

Playing career

Brady enjoyed an exemplary junior hockey career in the WHL 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 in both the pre-season, against the Hartford Whalers and the regular season 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.

Personal

• Brady currently lives and works in Calgary, Alberta.

Career statistics