Neil Brady

Neil Brady
Born	(1968-04-12) April 12, 1968 Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Occupation	Retired professional ice hockey player
Years active	1989–2001
Known for	Scoring the first goal for the modern Ottawa Senators franchise

Neil Patrick Brady (born April 12, 1968) is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player, recognized for netting the inaugural goal for the contemporary Ottawa Senators franchise on October 8, 1992.

Playing career

Brady showcased impressive performance during his junior tenure with the Medicine Hat Tigers in the Western Hockey League (WHL), amassing 81 points across 72 games in the 1985–86 campaign. He was chosen third overall by the New Jersey Devils in the 1986 NHL Entry Draft. Following development in junior leagues and the American Hockey League's Utica Devils, he made his NHL debut on October 5, 1989.

Over three seasons, Brady appeared in just 29 games with New Jersey and faced challenges living up to expectations. In September 1992, he was traded to the expansion Ottawa Senators. He promptly made history by scoring the franchise’s first goals during both pre-season and regular season contests. In the 1992–93 NHL season, Brady posted career-high statistics with 7 goals and 17 assists, totaling 24 points, although these figures remained below his junior achievements.

After losing favor within Ottawa's lineup, Brady signed as a free agent with the Dallas Stars in December 1993 but spent most of his time playing for their minor league affiliates. Throughout his NHL career, he participated in 89 games, accumulating 9 goals and 22 assists for a total of 31 points. He concluded his playing days competing in the International Hockey League (IHL) until retiring in 2001 following the league’s closure.

Personal

Brady currently lives and works in Calgary, Alberta.