The NHL began Phase 3 of its Return to Play plan today, allowing teams to hold formal training camps in their home cities. On July 12, the Winnipeg Jets released their roster for training camp. There are 18 forwards, 12 defencemen, and 3 goaltenders. Notably, 31-year-old winger, Bryan Little, was not on this roster of players.
Paul Maurice confirms @NHLJets Bryan Little will not return to play for this season.@TSN1290Radio @TSNHockey
— Brian Munz (@BrianMunzTSN) July 13, 2020
Bryan Little Will Not Report to Training Camp
Before the league paused in early March, Little was skating with the team in practices with a no-contact jersey on. In November, Little took a slap shot to the head from teammate Nikolaj Ehlers on November 5 in a game against the New Jersey Devils. He was brought off the ice and never returned to the game. It was confirmed he had to have had 25 stitches put in his ear. Prior to his season debut, Little was out with a concussion, so getting a puck to the head was a cause for concern by the health staff in Winnipeg.
On November 7, Little was placed on the team’s injured reserve list. In his seven games this season, he notched 2 goals and 3 assists for 5 points. On November 8, the team confirmed that Little had a perforated eardrum was showing signs of vertigo. The winger was showing signs of recovery, however. In mid-January, Little had started skating again with the team in a no-contact jersey. However, it was never clear whether or not he would have been fully recovered enough to join the team later in the season or in the playoffs.
With the league pause in March, Bryan Little’s chance of joining the team whenever the league resumed was unclear. In a press conference with the media this morning Winnipeg Jets Head Coach, Paul Maurice, confirmed the player will not be with the team when they travel to their hub city in Edmonton.
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