Monday’s induction into his hometown’s Skating Wall of Fame could be the start of something special for Nick Holden.
“It’s going to be a real exciting year,” said Holden, who played five NHL games last season for the Columbus Blue Jackets.
His wife, Ang, is expecting their first child Oct. 29. The 24-year-old defenceman also has a shot at making the Blue Jackets after three seasons with their farm team in the American Hockey League.
“The seventh D spot is open so I would like to have a great camp again this year and if I do that they will give me the opportunity to start up there. Hopefully, if I can continue to improve and play well I will be able to stick up there all season, which is obviously my ultimate goal,” said Holden.
The former captain of the Chilliwack Bruins inked a one-year, two-way contract in the offseason. The St. Albert Catholic High School graduate was a free agent in 2008 when he signed a three-year standard entry deal with the Blue Jackets after leading all Western Hockey League defencemen in goals with 22.
“Hopefully I can sign another contract with them and maybe a one-way deal, too,” he said.
His goal is to play in the NHL for a long time, like some of the other players on the wall of fame.
“I’m excited for my career to start. There are some big names up here, and they’ve all had good careers. Most of them are established NHLers or are retired and had a good career.”
Holden sported a grin as wide as a hockey puck throughout Monday’s ceremony.
“It’s a proud moment. I’m obviously very honoured. It’s really cool and exciting for me, my wife, my grandma and grandpa and my mom and dad.”
After his last season of rep hockey in St. Albert with the midget AAA Raiders, Holden worked on his game in the Alberta Junior Hockey League with the Camrose Kodiaks and Sherwood Park Crusaders before cracking Chilliwack’s roster in 2006-07.
“St. Albert minor hockey is a good association. They do a good job. I always had an opportunity to play, whether it was house league or rep hockey, and every team I was with in St. Albert was fun and enjoyable.”
Holden is anxious to duplicate last year’s training camp performance when the Blue Jackets hit the ice Sept. 19.
“They had a lot of D-men, with eight one-way players. I knew I wasn’t going to get a spot out of camp, but I felt I had a really good camp. I went down to Springfield and I was there for two weeks or so and then I got called up.”
Holden was checking out the basketball hall of fame in Springfield with his wife and the in-laws on a day off, when Columbus’ assistant general manager Chris MacFarland delivered the good news.
“He said I was getting called up so I went to Columbus and played the next day. It was awesome.”
Holden made his NHL debut Oct. 20 against the Anaheim Ducks. He logged nearly 10 minutes of ice time in 14 shifts and was plus one in the 3-1 win.
“To get one game under my belt was amazing,” he said. “Luckily for me there were injury troubles so I got to stay up for eight games and I got into five. It was exciting every game. I just wanted to try and prove myself and enjoy the moment. My parents got to fly down for my first few games. My wife and her mom were there, too.”
Holden draws a blank trying to recall what happened in the game.
“I don’t remember my first shift. I don’t really remember much about the game either, except for the warm-up. Your adrenaline is pumping all the time,” he said. “I wasn’t nervous at all. I was excited for the opportunity to show that I could play up there. I was really excited to be playing against Teemu Selanne and Ryan Getzlaf and guys like that you see growing up.”
Holden also dressed for games against the Chicago Blackhawks, Philadelphia Flyers, Edmonton Oilers and Colorado Avalanche. He finished the five-game stint with six shots on net and was even in plus-minus statistics.
“They were very happy with how I played,” he said. “Overall it was nice to get my first taste of the NHL regular season. It kind of gives you a little more motivation to train hard in the summer.”
Holden completed his third AHL season with four goals, 21 assists, 63 penalty minutes and was plus-two in Springfield. In 161 career AHL games, he posted 14 goals, 56 assists and 161 PIM.
“It was a really good year but there were moments where I guess I wasn’t playing as well so that led to me not being called up a little later in the year.”
The six-foot-four, 210-pound blueliner has ramped up his physical play since turning pro.
“I’m a big guy and I’ve always been told the last few years to try to use my size a little bit more. In junior I didn’t have to, but now I do. That is the biggest part of my game that has changed the most and it’s made me a better player.”
