Quick Facts
Biography
Neil Little (born December 18, 1971) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender. He was a member of the Philadelphia Flyers organization nearly his entire professional career, helping backstop the Philadelphia Phantoms to two Calder Cup championships and playing in two career National Hockey League (NHL) games with the Flyers. Until 2015, he was previously an amateur scout for the Flyers. He is now a scout for the NHL Florida Panthers.
Playing career
Little has played for the Hershey Bears and Philadelphia Phantoms in the AHL, as well as playing two NHL games for the Philadelphia Flyers. He signed with the Espoo Blues in the Finnish SM-liiga for the 2005–06 season, playing until leaving the team because of a dispute with the Espoo coach, then finished the season in Geneva, Switzerland.
On December 28, 2003, he was the "flying goalie" in a brawl between the Phantoms and the Binghamton Senators as several players from the two teams were fighting next to the Senators' net, Little skated across the rink and dove into the crowd.
Despite only playing two career games with the Philadelphia Flyers, Little was named as one of the Flyers goaltenders for the 2012 NHL Winter Classic Alumni game.
Coaching career
Following his playing career, Little was named an assistant coach/goaltending development coach for the Philadelphia Phantoms as well as a global scout for the Philadelphia Flyers, concentrating his focus on goaltenders.
He was the assistant coach for the Princeton University Men's hockey team from 2007–08 to 2010–11 seasons.
Personal life
He married Catherine M Foote, DMD of Ardmore, PA in July 2013. Neil has three children, Nicholas, Elsie and Graysen.
Awards and honours
| Award | Year |
|---|---|
| All-ECAC Hockey Rookie Team | 1990–91 |
| All-ECAC Hockey First Team | 1992–93 |
| AHCA East Second-Team All-American | 1992–93 |
- 1997–98: Calder Cup Philadelphia Phantoms
- 2004–05: Calder Cup Philadelphia Phantoms
- 2006: Inducted into Philadelphia Phantoms Hall of Fame
- 2007: Inducted into RPI's Athletic Hall of Fame
- "Peter White Hall Of Fame Induction Higlights [sic] Big Night With Phantoms". OurSports Central. 2009-04-03. Retrieved 2011-03-21.
- "Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Athletics - Hall of Fame". Retrieved 2011-03-21.
Career statistics
Regular season
| Season | Team | League | GP | W | L | T | MIN | GA | SO | GAA | SV% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990–91 | R.P.I. | NCAA | 18 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 1991–92 | R.P.I. | NCAA | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 1992–93 | R.P.I. | NCAA | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 1993–94 | R.P.I. | NCAA | 33 | 19 | 10 | 4 | 1920 | 102 | 0 | 3.19 | -- |
| 1993–94 | Hershey Bears | AHL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 1 | 0 | 3.23 | .889 |
| 1994–95 | Johnstown Chiefs | ECHL | 16 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 897 | 55 | 0 | 3.68 | .896 |
| 1994–95 | Hershey Bears | AHL | 19 | 5 | 7 | 3 | 919 | 60 | 0 | 3.91 | .868 |
| 1995–96 | Hershey Bears | AHL | 48 | 21 | 18 | 6 | 2680 | 149 | 0 | 3.34 | .895 |
| 1996–97 | Philadelphia Phantoms | AHL | 54 | 31 | 12 | 7 | 3007 | 145 | 0 | 2.89 | .909 |
| 1997–98 | Philadelphia Phantoms | AHL | 51 | 31 | 11 | 7 | 2960 | 145 | 0 | 2.94 | .903 |
| 1998–99 | Grand Rapids Griffins | IHL | 50 | 18 | 21 | 5 | 2740 | 144 | 3 | 3.15 | .894 |
| 1999–00 | Philadelphia Phantoms | AHL | 51 | 26 | 18 | 2 | 2830 | 143 | 1 | 3.03 | .906 |
| 2000–01 | Philadelphia Phantoms | AHL | 58 | 22 | 27 | 4 | 3117 | 148 | 2 | 2.85 | .909 |
| 2001–02 | Philadelphia Phantoms | AHL | 35 | 13 | 15 | 7 | 2079 | 70 | 2 | 2.02 | .926 |
| 2001–02 | Philadelphia Flyers | NHL | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 60 | 4 | 0 | 4.00 | .862 |
| 2002–03 | Philadelphia Phantoms | AHL | 42 | 18 | 19 | 4 | 2478 | 103 | 4 | 2.49 | .907 |
| 2003–04 | Philadelphia Phantoms | AHL | 34 | 21 | 12 | 1 | 1900 | 62 | 6 | 1.96 | .920 |
| 2003–04 | Philadelphia Flyers | NHL | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 33 | 2 | 0 | 3.64 | .750 |
| 2004–05 | Philadelphia Phantoms | AHL | 26 | 15 | 7 | 0 | 1382 | 54 | 3 | 2.34 | .921 |
| 2005–06 | Espoo Blues | SM-liiga | 37 | 14 | 16 | 7 | 2100.03 | 85 | 2 | 2.43 | .916 |
| NHL totals | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 93 | 6 | 0 | ||||
