East Hants Sports Hall of Fame induction for J.C. Holland
It has been more than 35 years since J.C. Holland played competitive sports. Receiving a telephone call recently from the East Hants Sports Hall of Fame, Holland learned he was going to be inducted into the coveted shrine. The former Saint Mary’s Huskies hockey player and Brookfield Elks fastball player needed a few minutes to allow the news to sink in.
“Honestly, it is a great feeling to be recognized,” Holland, 67, of Shortts Lake, said. “In learning of the induction, I was happy for sure. Then I stopped and started thinking about all the places I played, the teams I played for and what all had happened during certain years. I’m looking very forward to the night; I’ve attended some of these sports inductions in the past and the East Hants people certainly do a tremendous job.”
Growing up in Stewiacke, Holland played both ball and minor hockey in East Hants, Don Garden, the vice-president and head of research for the East Hants sports hall, noted.
“J.C., like all the Hollands, excelled in sports. J.C. was the straw that stirred the drink, he especially stood out in hockey. Coming up through the East Hants minor hockey system, J.C. was the guy.”
A provincial all-star in midget, next stop for Holland was the junior B East Hants Penguins. The 1974-75 and 1975-76 seasons found the five-foot-seven, 170-pound centre playing for Saint Mary’s Huskies in intercollegiate hockey. Holland was a member of two Huskies
Atlantic university championship teams, and he got to play with and for the elite.
Teammates Malcolm Davis, Bob Warner and Mike Backman would all later log icetime in the National Hockey League. Saint Mary’s coach Bob Boucher went on to become part of the Philadelphia Flyers coaching staff.
“At the time I guess I didn’t realize how good the quality was on the bigger stage,” Holland said. “It was quite an opportunity after growing up in Stewiacke and playing sports in my home community and East Hants. It was after the fact that I would look back and realize just how good some of my teammates were and how great a coach Bob Boucher was.”
Holland was asked to share a special hockey memory.
“My last game was at Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ontario. I scored a couple and after the game there were suits all over the dressing room. A tall gentleman walked over to me. He said, ‘Hi, my name is Larry Pleau, you had a good game tonight. I’m the general manager of the New Hartford Whalers, I don’t have any drafts available, but I want to invite you to camp.’ I still remember those words.”
Holland did not attend the Whalers training camp, but went to Utrecht, Holland, for hockey the following season. Later, he played four seasons with Newcastle Northmen of the New Brunswick Senior Hockey League.
In fastball, Holland is recalled during the early 1970s playing with Brookfield teams. Very versatile, he could play first base, the outfield and other positions.
“I played first for Brookfield with the Junior Elks under ‘Chucker’ — John Matheson,” said Holland. “In both 1975 and 1976 I played with the senior A Brookfield Elks. That was a great time for me in sports, we were young bucks, up and coming. We wanted to beat everyone, especially Dartmouth Dairy Queen. I can still visualize the Halifax Commons filled to capacity, the seventh game under the lights between Dairy Queen and the Elks. Wow, it was awesome.”
Continuing in top-calibre fastball, Holland played three seasons in N.B. with Nelson Belvedere and Richibucto Bears. In 1981, he journeyed west to join Skeena Cedar
Kings in British Columbia senior ball. The team played out of Terrace, a small town six hours northwest of Prince George.
Playing for five seasons against some of Canada’s best fastball players, highlights included a couple championship seasons, being named the league’s all-star catcher and the dangerous line drive hitter won a couple tournament batting titles. In his last season (1985), Skeena Molson Kings joined the semi-pro Pacific Northwest Fastball League, Holland was both the catcher and captain of the team.
As a golfer, Holland represented the Skeena region in the 1986 Summer Games. He won the Skeena Valley Golf and Country Club’s men’s championship on one occasion.
“It was about a 20-year journey,” Holland said in reflecting on his accomplishments in sports. “It was all truly good; it was exciting everywhere I got to play. Sports allowed me to be accepted through doors I couldn’t have opened on my own.”
Kendall Nowe, the president of the EHSHF, said the following about Holland’s induction.
“We are thrilled to be inducting J.C. Holland. He is a multi-sport athlete, he has excelled in hockey, fastball and golf. J.C. achieved hall of fame accomplishments and he’s just a fabulous person, the kind we take extra pleasure in inducting into our sports hall of fame.”
The East Hants Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony takes place during July at the East Hants Sportsplex. We wish J.C., his wife Barb and family members a wonderful and memorable occasion.