Hank Williams Jr. once penned a famous country song Family Tradition. Matt Holmes is continuing the family legacy, following in the footsteps of his father Michael, and Uncle Tommy. Born in Rye, Matt began his stellar hockey career at Brunswick, before completing high school at the powerhouse Salisbury School.
As I learned from Matt, it is very rare for eighteen-year-olds to make a college hockey team as a freshman. Brown University, where he will be attending this Fall told him to play in a Canadian Junior Program, gain ten pounds, and compete against men in order to be ready for the rigors of Division 1.
The 10580 product is currently the leading scorer for the Chilliwack Chiefs, part of the British Columbia Hockey League. Chilliwack is about ninety minutes from Vancouver. Most of his teammates are preparing for college hockey as well, although one has been drafted by an NHL team. The BCHL is an unpaid league where players traditionally lodge with host families. Matt stated,” there is the next level of Canadian Juniors, but that is paid league and college is no longer an option after you accept money”. An Ivy league education, not a bad backup plan.
Watch Matt score the winning goal in a shootout.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/15sAMNqY3r9-UuZUnn5-zez5N5yAeMDt8/view
Curious to know, is fighting allowed at this level of hockey? Yes, gloves are dropped on occasion, but unlike the NHL where the penalty is five minutes in the box, two combatants at this level are kicked out of the game. Of course, each team has a tough guy to protect its leading scorer. Matt Holmes will have all of his teeth when he enters Brown University.
Catch Rye’s latest hockey talent at an Ivy league Campus near you this Fall.
