2012-11-19 13:37:00 | Skellefteå AIK

A brief background on Bud Holloway

Bud Holloway. Photo: Bert Söderström / Pic-Agency

If you have been following the Elitserien this year, one player you’re bound to be aware of is Skellefteå’s right winger Bud Holloway, who is the currently the leading point scorer in the league and is freshly off a three goal and four point performance against the Elitserien’s bottom dwellers, Rögle.

For some of our North American readers, you may already be aware of Mr. Holloways background in the WHL as well as the AHL, but for those of you who are only aware of Bud’s recent exploits, here is a little background on George "Bud" Holloway III.

Born in Wapella, Saskatchewan, Bud had a strong five year career playing for the WHL’s Seattle Thunderbirds, accumulating 106 goals and 209 points, Holloway was then selected 86th overall in the 2006 NHL draft by the Los Angeles Kings and designated straight to their AHL affiliate the Manchester Monarchs.

Holloway and his teammates after a goal. Photo: Per Friske / Pic-Agency

After scoring a goal in his professional debut against the Portland Pirates, Holloway split his time between the Monarchs and the King’s ECHL affiliate, the Ontario Reign, in the 08-09 season before finding solid playing time at the AHL level in the 09-10 season with 75 games played and 61 points split between the regular season and playoffs.

In his third professional season Bud’s game found a new level as he was the Monarchs leading scorer with 28 goals alongside his 33 assists, helping Manchester reach the postseason, where his good form continued to show through.

Despite a first round exit in the playoffs to the eventual Calder Cup champions, the Binghamton Senators, Holloway lead the team in both goals (4) and assists (7), showing a sign of things to come in Elitserien where he currently holds the record for most points in a single playoff year after last seasons 10 goal and 13 assist effort for Skellefteå.

Bellemare and Holloway. Photo: Bert Söderström / Pic-Agency

However, after deliberating with his agent and observing the King’s offseason moves, Holloway decided not to accept the King’s qualifying offer to him and to play his trade elsewhere, and after hearing of former Manchester Monarch’s teammate Oscar Möller’s move to Skellefteå, he decided to make a fresh start in the Elitserien.

After signing a one year deal with Skellefteå for the 2011-12 campaign, Holloway went onto record 21 goals and 28 assists in 55 regular season games before breaking Espen Knutsen’s record for points in a single playoff year.

This year, Holloway is truly out to set his mark on the Sweden’s Elitserien, having recorded 32 points in only 23 games, he has his team in second place in the league table just behind HV71. Whilst playing in the NHL is still every young Canadian hockey player’s dream, I think it’s safe to safe that, for now, Bud Holloway has found his niche here in Sweden.