Holland goes into BC Sports Hall of Fame

The B.C. Sports Hall of Fame has welcomed its 2019 class of inductees, which includes Vernon native Ken Holland.

Holland was recently named Edmonton Oilers general manager.

He previously was GM of the Detroit Red Wings for 22 years, a span when his teams won three Stanley Cups.

He spent a total of 34 years with the Red Wings organization, starting out as a scout.

Holland called the Hall of Fame honour “humbling” and said it made him reflect on the support he got from his parents, Rienie, his father who passed away in 1999, and his mother Lee.

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Holland said in an article for Sportsnet, Vernon was a big part of why he wanted to pursue a life in professional hockey while growing up at his home on East Hill.

“Vernon and B.C. gave me the opportunity to pursue my dream and my dream obviously was to go as far as I could in hockey,” said the 63 year old

“And as big as I could dream, I could never have dreamed of being as fortunate as being in the National Hockey League for my entire career.”

Holland was a goaltender during his playing days, graduating to the Medicine Hat Tigers of the WHL, and drafted in the 12th round of the 1975 NHL Entry Draft, 188th overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs.

He played four NHL games with the Hartford Whalers and the Detroit Red Wings between 1980 and 1984.

Holland and his family own a home in Coldstream where they spend time in the off-season.

Holland’s brother, Dennis, is an amateur scout with the Dallas Stars.

The induction ceremony was held Thursday night at BC Place in Vancouver.

Ladies and gentlemen, the Class of 2019! We are so excited and proud to officially welcome this year's class to the BC Sports Hall of Fame at the 50th Anniversary #InductionGala, presented by @VicSquareTech tomorrow night. #2019Class #inspiringthefuture pic.twitter.com/gOHGeTRNiQ

— BC Sports Hall of Fame (@BCSportsHall) May 22, 2019

Class of 2019 Inductees

Athlete

Emily Brydon – Skiing
Roy Gerela – Football
Kelly McCallum – Rugby
Daniel Sedin – Ice Hockey
Henrik Sedin – Ice Hockey

Coach/Builder

Darlene Currie – Basketball
Ken Holland – Ice Hockey
Tony Waiters – Soccer

Team

1968 New Westminster Salmonbellies Lacrosse
Team Members: Bill Armstrong (general manager), Ray Bennie, Barry Bolton, Albert Brown (honorary president), Barrie Brownlie, Ian Bull, Dan DesLauriers, Steve d’Easum, Ron Flaten, Ed Goss, Wayne Goss, Ken Henry, Larry Henry, Ken Jew, Al Lewthwaite, Mickey Lynch, Gord MacNab (trainer), Ian Matheson (secretary-treasurer), Dave McDonald (president), Bill McMurchie, Doug McRory (playing manager), Ken Mikkelsen (trainer), Les Norman, Ken Oddy, Paul Parnell, Dr. Hugh Radford (team doctor), Bill Scriver, Cliff Sepka (playing coach), John Shmyr, Paul Shmyr, Wayne Shuttleworth, Dave Tory, Ken Tory, Mac Tyler, Don Wallis, Bill Wilkes, Ken Winzoski

Pioneer
Ralph ‘Hunk’ Henderson – Basketball/Football

W.A.C. Bennett Award
Ron Toigo

Media
Dan Jukich