Braden Holtby facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Braden Holtby
Holtby with the Washington Capitals in April 2018
Born	(1989-09-16) September 16, 1989 (age 35) Lloydminster, Saskatchewan, Canada
Height	6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight	215 lb (98 kg; 15 st 5 lb)
Position	Goaltender
Catches	Left
NHL team Former teams	Free agent Washington Capitals Vancouver Canucks Dallas Stars
National team	Canada
NHL Draft	93rd overall, 2008 Washington Capitals
Playing career	2009–present

Braden Holtby (born September 16, 1989) is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender. He played for the Washington Capitals, Vancouver Canucks, and Dallas Stars in the National Hockey League (NHL). The Capitals picked him in the fourth round of the 2008 NHL entry draft. He spent his first ten seasons with them.

After a few years of training, Holtby became the Capitals' main goalie in the 2012–13 season. From the 2014–15 season onwards, he won at least 40 games for three years in a row. In 2016, Holtby tied a league record with 48 wins in one season. He also won the Vezina Trophy as the best goalie in the league. The next year, he won the William M. Jennings Trophy for helping his team allow the fewest goals. In 2018, Holtby helped the Capitals win their first ever Stanley Cup championship.

Playing Career

Junior Hockey Years

Holtby played his junior hockey with the Saskatoon Blades in the Western Hockey League (WHL). His team had a tough time in his first two seasons. He only won 42 games in 115 matches. However, in his last WHL season, after being drafted by the Capitals, he won 40 games in 61 matches. This was a big improvement.

Professional Hockey Journey

Time with the Washington Capitals (2010–2020)

In 2009, Holtby started his professional hockey career. He played for the South Carolina Stingrays (ECHL) and the Hershey Bears (AHL). He had a great record with the Bears, winning 24 games in 37 tries. He also had a good goals against average (GAA) and save percentage. He played well for the Stingrays too and was chosen for the ECHL All-Star Game.

Holtby played his first NHL game on November 5, 2010. It was against the Boston Bruins. He came into the game when it was tied 3–3. He stopped four shots, and the Capitals scored two goals to win. Holtby's first NHL start was two days later against the Philadelphia Flyers. The Capitals won that game 3–2 in overtime. On March 9, 2011, he got his first NHL shutout. He stopped 22 shots in a 5–0 win against the Edmonton Oilers. Because of his strong play, Holtby was named the NHL's First Star of the Week. Even with a great record, he was sent back to Hershey on March 27, 2011.

Holtby with the Capitals in May 2012

He returned to the Capitals for the last game of the 2011–12 season. This happened because the main goalies were injured. Holtby started Game 1 of the 2012 playoffs against the Boston Bruins. He played very well, helping the Capitals upset the Bruins in Game 7. He continued his strong play against the New York Rangers. Even though the Capitals lost Game 7, Holtby showed he was a top goalie.

After his impressive playoff games as a rookie, Holtby became the Capitals' starting goalie for the 2012–13 season. In February 2013, he signed a new two-year contract with the Capitals.

On April 8, 2015, Holtby shut out the Boston Bruins 3–0. He had already shut out Boston in his two previous games that season. This made him the first goalie to shut out Boston in three or more games in one season. This win also gave him 41 wins for the season. This tied the Capitals' record for most wins by a goalie in a single season. The Capitals lost their playoff series to the New York Rangers in Game 7, even after being up 3–1.

After the 2014–15 NHL season, Holtby signed a new 5-year, $30.5 million contract. On April 9, 2016, the Capitals beat the St. Louis Blues 5–1. This win gave Holtby his 48th win of the season. This tied him with Martin Brodeur for the most wins in a single season. After the season, Holtby won the Vezina Trophy, given to the league's best goalie.

Holtby with the Capitals in April 2016.

On March 28, 2017, Holtby got his 40th win of the season. This made him one of only three goalies in league history to have at least 40 wins in three seasons in a row.

During the 2017–18 season, Holtby became the second-fastest NHL goalie to reach 200 career wins. He did this on November 10, 2017, against the Pittsburgh Penguins. He was also chosen for the NHL All-Star Game for the third time. Holtby helped lead the Capitals to their first Stanley Cup in team history. He had a great record in the playoffs. He is famous for a amazing stick save in Game 2 of the 2018 Stanley Cup Finals. Many people call it "The Save."

In the 2018–19 season, Holtby started slowly. But on November 7, 2018, he made 41 saves in a 2–1 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins. On October 14, 2019, Holtby allowed three goals on three shots against the Colorado Avalanche. This was a rare event in NHL history.

Time with the Vancouver Canucks (2020–2021)

On October 9, 2020, Holtby signed a two-year contract with the Vancouver Canucks. In the shorter 2020–21 season, he played 21 games. He finished with a 7–11–3 record. His goals-against average and save percentage were the highest and lowest of his NHL career.

The Canucks later bought out the final year of his contract. This made him a free agent.

Time with the Dallas Stars (2021–2022)

On July 28, 2021, Holtby signed a one-year contract with the Dallas Stars. On November 30, he earned his 293rd win. This was the most wins by an NHL goalie in their first 500 games. He faced the Capitals for the first time since leaving them on January 28, 2022. In March, Holtby was placed on the injured list due to a lower body injury. It was later reported that he would likely miss the entire 2022–23 season. He did not play in the 2022–23 or 2023–24 seasons.

Personal Life

Holtby was born in Lloydminster, Saskatchewan, Canada. He grew up in Marshall, Saskatchewan. Braden and his wife Brandi have two children. They lived in Alexandria, Virginia, for ten years while he played for Washington. They moved to Vancouver, British Columbia, and then to Dallas. The Holtbys bought a home in Washington, D.C., and plan to live there after he retires.

Community Involvement

Holtby has been a strong supporter of equal rights for all people. He was an ambassador for LGBTQ+ inclusion for the Capitals. He received an award for his support from the Capital Pride Alliance. He also attended the Capital Pride parade many times. He learned about the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) during his honeymoon. In 2018, he spoke at the HRC's annual dinner. The next year, he helped raise money for the HRC.

Holtby was one of three Capitals players who chose not to visit the White House after winning the Stanley Cup. He said he needed to "stay true to [his] values."

After the protests in 2020, Holtby showed his support for the Black Lives Matter movement. He said he recognized his own advantages and urged others to speak up. He and his wife held an auction that raised nearly $40,000 for groups supporting fairness and equality.

In late 2020, an artist designed a new mask for Holtby's Canucks gear. The design caused some discussion. Holtby apologized and decided not to wear the mask. He then worked with a Coast Salish artist to create a new mask. This new mask featured the legend of the Gonakadet, or Sea-Wolf. This story teaches about the importance of family working together.

Awards and Honors

Images for kids

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  Holtby with the Washington Capitals in April 2018

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  Holtby with the Capitals in May 2012

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  Holtby with the Capitals in April 2016.