Bryan Little retires as a Winnipeg Jet

The Winnipeg Jets welcomed back a familiar face on Sunday to celebrate the career of a fan favourite.

The team paid tribute to Bryan Little at Sunday’s game against the Pittsburgh Penguins, as the forward retired from the game.

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“The fans in this city are so passionate about hockey and about the Jets,” Little said at a news conference on Sunday.

“That’s what every player dreams of in that atmosphere. [Winnipeg] became our second home.”

Little signed a one-day contract to officially retire as a Jet after playing his entire career with the Jets/Atlanta Thrashers organization.

Sunday’s game included a video tribute and ceremonial puck drop, with fans and players cheering Little on.

“It’s the only thing I’ve known; it’s the only team I played for, and I owe a lot to them,” he said.

“This isn’t just where I worked; the people around here were my family and my friends. A lot of the best memories I have playing hockey were with this team in this city and in front of these fans.”

Little was Atlanta’s first-round pick (12th overall) in the 2006 draft. However, his career was cut short by an injury in 2019.

- With files from the Canadian Press.