As a youth, he played in the 1994 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with a minor ice hockey team from Hobomock in Pembroke, Massachusetts.\n', '

After four seasons at Brown University, he signed a two-year rookie contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning. He was then assigned by the Lightning to the Pensacola Ice Pilots of the ECHL. In his first season with the Ice Pilots (02–03), he was the back up to Maxime Gingras. He played in 19 games and posted a 10–6–0 record with a 3.66 goals against average and a .896 save percentage. When the Ice Pilots concluded their season after being eliminated in the playoffs, he was called up to the Springfield Falcons of the AHL. He appeared in one game allowing only one goal and getting the win.[citation needed]\n', '

In the 03–04 campaign, Gingras did not return to Pensacola leaving the #1 goalie slot open for contest. Brian battled fellow Lightning prospect Evgeny Konstantinov for the #1 slot. He easily won the job. He appeared in all but 10 of the Ice Pilots 72 regular season games. This feat ranks second overall in the ECHL for games played in a season. As the top goalie, he shone even though the team lacked defense at times. He finished the season with a 38–17–7 record with a 3.01 GAA and a .921 SV%.[citation needed]\n', '

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