Bisons goaltender Braden Holt is a man of many talents. In his free time, the 21-year-old loves to play chess, and also make music. A talented musician, he's shared some of his work on Spotify, and one of his songs, "Best Five Years" details his journey growing up in the Western Hockey League as a teenager. 
 
Originally born in Colorado (where he played with Avs legend Milan Hejduk's kids), Holt later moved to Montana, and then Detroit where he played Triple A hockey for three years. From there, he spent four seasons with the WHL's Washington-based Everett Silvertips, concluding his journey in the 'dub with the Victoria Royals from 2022-24. 
 
"Moved away from home when I was 16, to make the team and to follow my dream," says Holt in the aforementioned song. 
 
"I didn't know much about nothing, but through the work and sacrifice, I think I learned something. I learned what hard work was, through the blood, sweat and tears [. . .]. Nothing's better than just being with these guys, this has been the best five years of my life."
 
It's not hard to see how much the 6'2", 160-pound Holt loves the game of hockey. He's travelled all across North America to pursue his passion, and the sport's given back to him with some incredible experiences. 
 
When he was 18, Holt got the chance to go to Toronto Maple Leafs development camp, and the following year he went to Nashville Predators development and rookie camp. During the latter, he got to fly out to North Carolina to play against some other prospects, and he suited up in a game against Florida as part of his experience. 
 
"It was super fun to wear an NHL jersey and get that experience," recalls Holt. 
 
"Obviously Nashville has some really good goalies. [Yaroslav] Askarov was there when I was there, so I got to learn from him and I still chat with him quite a bit which is awesome, and getting to watch [Juuse] Saros and how he moves and how he treats his body and what makes him one of the best goalies in the world, you can really apply that stuff to your own game."


 
A student of the game, Holt's breadth of experiences helped mould him into a difference-maker at the WHL level. 
 
He began the 2021-22 season with Everett 9-0-1, helping the Silvertips to a franchise-record 18 game point streak. 
 
His strongest performance came on Dec. 18, 2021 against eventual Western Conference champion Seattle, where he stopped 49 of 50 shots in a 4-1 win with just 14 skaters dressed in front of him. 
 
Holt finished the season 24-6-4, with a save percentage above .900, along with a goals against average of 2.56, top ten in the WHL. 
 
Overall, Holt won 69 games at the WHL level, improving his game on a yearly basis. 
 
"When I was 17, 18, 19 I really started to put steps together and take strides in my game. In my 20-year-old season I really found out how to be consistent and what it takes on the ice day in and day out," he says. 
 
"I think I'm just big enough where I can play like a bigger goalie, but I'm also small enough where I have to be quick and mobile and move quickly. A lot of NHL goalies, the average size is 6'2", 6'3" so I can pick apart what the best guys in the world do. I can play at the top of the crease and take away the angle, but I'm also an athletic guy and can move side to side well. I get the best of both worlds there."
 
 
'I just love hockey'
Holt aged out of the WHL following the 2023-24 season with Victoria, and now his hockey journey's taken him to Winnipeg. 
 
Bisons head coach Gordon Burnett was a fan of his game, and with former teammates Caden Zaplitny, Dexter Whittle and Dawson Pasternak also making the jump from the WHL to U SPORTS, Manitoba was a perfect fit. 
 
"All the guys that I have kept in touch with are on the team here. Zaplitny, he's one of the best guys that I've ever played with. We get along well and we clicked when he came along to Everett. Whittle was actually my roommate for a little bit in Everett, him and I definitely got to know each other and bond well that way," Holt says. 
 
"And having the connection of being 20-year-olds in the WHL with Dawson is pretty cool. You don't get to share that experience of playing your last year of WHL hockey with someone but him and I got to share that and sit together on the bus, [with Victoria] and have some talks about anything other than hockey, growing up and life. Now we have a class together this semester. He's one of my best friends for sure."
 
Adding more knowledge to his game, Holt had the chance to attend Manitoba Moose camp in early September. It was "the hardest pro camp" that he's been to, and a valuable learning experience prior to the U SPORTS campaign.
 
"I found that the AHL camp was actually harder because it's a bunch of guys who are really competing for jobs and making a living in the American Hockey League and getting the chance to get called up to the AHL, or be sent down to the ECHL. The pace was honestly something I've never experienced before. It was really hard, but it was really good," Holt notes.
 
"The shots were obviously top notch, these are pro players, some of the best in the world. It was super fun and a really good experience. After Moose camp it really helped me to adjust getting shot on by older players in the U SPORTS league. I definitely left a better goalie than when I came in."


 
Holt's made a seamless transition to the Bisons, starting 11 of 14 games. His 406 saves are also second in Canada West ahead of this weekend's series to conclude the first half of play against Regina. 
 
No matter the result, Holt doesn't take the game for granted. His energy and positive attitude have had a massive impact on Manitoba's culture, and he'll often be heard pumping the team up before games. 
 
"It doesn't really matter where you're playing, I just love hockey. I like firing myself up before games, I just think it's super fun to drink a red bull and get energized. I love having super high energy and competing, it makes me feel good and excited. I play my best when I'm having fun. I like to fire up my teammates as well. It's just a ritual, no matter where we are. There's no place I'd rather be than right here with my teammates playing hockey and playing the game I love."