It isn’t quite the GM’s position, but Neil Little, the most famous non-NHL goalie in Philadelphia (he may be the most famous goalie there period is moving to the front offices of the Wachovia Center and Spectrum. This is from Our Sports Central, which is where I go for my minor league hockey news:
Global Spectrum, operators of the Wachovia Center and Wachovia Spectrum for arena owner Comcast-Spectacor, today named former Philadelphia Phantoms goalie Neil Little as the facilities’ new Event Manager, according to Global Spectrum’s Tim Murphy, General Manager of the Wachovia Complex.
“Neil is the ultimate ‘team player’ and we’re very fortunate that he is joining us in our event production department,” said Murphy. “Neil helped us build the Phantoms franchise as one of our franchise players. Now, he is making the transition to the front office and we are certain he will represent our company well in his new role.”
In his new role, Little will work directly with the touring shows, production companies and artists, the networks and teams in making all necessary arrangements to perform or play at either Wachovia Center or Wachovia Spectrum.
I have never wanted to go to Philly more than ever. I mean it. Neil Little, for those of you poor souls who don’t know, was a career backup goalie for the Philadelphia Phantoms. He played 2 games, both of which were losses. I was at his second and last game with the Flyers, where Robert Esche got injured, and Neil had to step in. Against a Tampa Bay Lightning team who would soon win the Stanley Cup, he gave up two goals in under two minutes, and the Flyers lost the lead and the game 2-1. The man was thrown under the bus, coming off the bench cold, the Flyers laving him out to dry defensively. It was a team that night who could defend or score, but both was too much for them. Little was benched in favor of Antero Niittymaki, and the rest was history for Niitty. Little faced 8 shots in the 33 minutes he played that game, and that was his last NHL action ever.
The Hockey News ran an interview and story about him on the last page a few years ago. I wish I knew where that was. He is LOVED by fans of the Phantoms, and was inducted in their hall of fame. Here is a little video about him made by the Phantoms:
But the other think he is known for was shown in that video around the 1:20 mark. In case you missed it, here is the game footage (this is a must watch):
Listen for the announcer with the line from Slap Shot.
That is my Neil Little story today. Of all the players I want to meet, he is near the top of the list. I kid you not. Nice one, Neil.