Bryan Little Out for the Season

Winnipeg Jets doctors have determined that veteran centre Bryan Little needs surgery to repair his injured eardrum and will not play again this season. Little was injured in the third period of a game on Nov. 5, an eventual loss to the New Jersey Devils, after he was hit by shot from Nikolaj Ehlers while skating around the Devils net. The puck hit him in the ear hole of his helmet, shattering his eardrum ad he was immediately taken to hospital. Head Coach Paul Maurice said after the game Little had received 25-30 stitches . It was a terrible injury at a terrible time. The 31-year-old Little was playing the best hockey he'd played in years. Although he had only two goals and five points in seven games -- he sat out the first nine because of a concussion -- he was one of the top platers on the ice every night after his return. Maurice made the announcement of Little's surgery after practice on Saturday. The coach said that while Little has made progress, he still requires surgery on his injured ear and will need at least an additional three months of rehabilitation. He will be re-evaluated by the Jets doctors and trainers in June.