Banner Night for a Franchise Legend

There are a lot of banners hanging from the rafters of Acadia Place but in the coming days there will be a new one joining all of the team accolades as the Grizzly Bears have announced their plans to immortalize the number of star netminder Braden Holtby.

"This will be the first time we have retired a player's number and I don't think there is any question that Braden is deserving of this type of honour," said General Manager Guy Flaming earlier today at a press conference in front of local media. "We're ecstatic to be able to hold this celebration this coming week against a meaningful opponent and in front of our fanbase that have always supported us so passionately." 

Holtby was chosen by Acadia in the 3rd round of the 2008 SICHL Draft, 63rd overall, in 2008 after his second season in the Western Hockey League with the Saskatoon Blades. The Lloydminster, AB product finished his WHL Career having appeared in 177 games while holding a 2.87 GAA and .905 sv%.

The 6'2 netminder made his SICHL debut with the Bears in 2011-12 but only appeared in 21 games that season. The Bears decided to keep Holtby in the minors the following campaign before brining him back up to be the #1 goalie in 2013-14 and that proved to have been a brilliant decision. Holtby went on to an impressive 37-8-0-1 record with a 2.18 GAA and .931 sv% which was enough for him to be named the league's Rookie of the Year, the only Acadia player to have ever earned the Teemu Selanne Trophy. 

In all, Holtby was a member of the Acadia Golden/Grizzly Bears franchise for a full decade. Along the way, he appeared in 476 regular season games with 57 more in the playoffs. He was a member of three SICHL Continental Cup champion rosters including 2015-16 where he was also named the league's regular season and Playoff MVP. Holtby claimed a trio of Ken Dryden Trophies as the SICHL Goalie of the Year. The now 34-year-old goalkeeper holds every one of the franchise's all-time and single season records (regular season) for goaltenders including games played in a single year (all 82) which he managed to accomplish twice. 

"He was an unbelievable mentor for me and really helped me get comfortable at the SICHL level," said Tristan Jarry who took over the #1 job, "It's going to be great to see him again and to watch the fans get to celebrate him."

Acadia has decided to hold Holby Night on Day 113 when the Las Vegas Aces are in town, the team that Holtby and the Bears swept in the 2016 SICHL final, putting an exclamation mark on what was easily his greatest season in the league. 

"No other Bear before him ever wore, or will ever wear, #70 ever again", said Flaming, "And that's the way it should be. What a career, what human being."

Braden Holtby Facts

Drafted: 3rd round, 63rd overall, 2008   USS Ranking: 93rd overall

SICHL Seasons: 12  Regular Season Games Played: 511  Playoff Games: 61 

SICHL Continental Cup Champion: 2011-12, 2014-15, 2015-16 

Teemu Selanne Trophy (Rookie of the Year): 2013-14

Ken Dryden Trophy (Goalie of the Year): 2013-14, 2015-16, 2017-18  

Wayne Gretzky Trophy (League MVP): 2015-16

Jarri Kurri Trophy (League Playoff MVP): 2015-16