Randy Holt
Encyclopedia
Stewart Randall Holt is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey
defenceman who spent 10 seasons in the National Hockey League
. Known as one of the toughest players in the sport during his career, he still holds the NHL single-game record for penalty minutes.
, Holt was selected 45th overall in the 1973 NHL Amateur Draft
by the Chicago Black Hawks
. He would spend most of the next four seasons in the Central Hockey League with the Dallas Black Hawks
, Chicago's top minor league affiliate, although he was a frequent callup to Chicago, appearing in 42 games over that stretch. He established himself as one of the toughest players in minor pro, recording a CHL record 411 penalty minutes in 1974–75, but also showed a fair amount of skill and was named a CHL First-Team All-Star in 1976 after scoring 52 points from the blueline.
Just after the start of the 1977–78 season, Holt was dealt to the lowly Cleveland Barons
and finally received a chance to stick in the NHL full-time. He finished the season with 1 goal and 5 points in 52 games, along with 249 penalty minutes. At the end of the season, however, the Barons ceased operations and Holt was claimed by the Vancouver Canucks
in the resulting dispersal draft.
Holt appeared in only 22 games for the Canucks before being dealt to the Los Angeles Kings
mid-way through the 1978–79 campaign. He finished the season with 1 goal and 9 assists for a career high 10 points, along with 282 penalty minutes, in 58 games between Los Angeles and Vancouver. Included in his penalty total was an NHL record 67 in a March 11, 1979 game against the Philadelphia Flyers
.
After another season in Los Angeles, Holt was traded to the Calgary Flames
for the 1980–81 season. He would play some of the best hockey of his career in the 1981 playoffs, recording 2 goals and 4 points in 13 games to help the Flames reach the Stanley Cup
semi-finals. For the 1981–82 season, he was dealt to the Washington Capitals
, where he would set a club record with 250 penalty minutes. He broke his own record with a league-leading 275 penalty minutes the following season, and also appeared in a career-high 70 games, recording 8 assists. He closed out his career with a 26-game stint for the Philadelphia Flyers
in 1983–84 before retiring.
In 395 NHL games, Holt scored just 4 goals and 37 assists, and amassed 1,438 penalty minutes.
His older brother Gary Holt
also played in the NHL during the 1970s.
at 14:58 of the first period, picking up 20 minutes in penalties. However, Holt felt that he had been a victim of a cheapshot from Flyers' agitator Ken Linseman
earlier in the game, and at the end of the first period instigated a bench-clearing brawl in an attempt to settle the score with Linseman. He was assessed a further 45 minutes in penalties for his actions during the brawl, including a triple game misconduct, bringing his game total to 67, shattering the previous NHL record of 52 set by Jim Dorey
in 1968. He was also suspended three games by the league for his actions.
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
defenceman who spent 10 seasons in the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
. Known as one of the toughest players in the sport during his career, he still holds the NHL single-game record for penalty minutes.
Playing career
After playing his junior hockey with the Sudbury WolvesSudbury Wolves
The Sudbury Wolves are the name of the ice hockey team from Sudbury, Ontario. Sudbury has had a hockey team known as the "Wolves" nearly every year since World War I. The Sudbury Wolves, the senior men's AAA team, have twice been chosen to be Canada's representatives at the Ice Hockey World...
, Holt was selected 45th overall in the 1973 NHL Amateur Draft
1973 NHL Amateur Draft
The 1973 NHL Amateur Draft, the 11th National Hockey League draft was the first to be held on a separate day from other league activities on May 15, 1973, at the Mount Royal Hotel in Montreal, Quebec so it would not overshadow the rest of the league meetings. Previously, the league had held the...
by the Chicago Black Hawks
Chicago Blackhawks
The Chicago Blackhawks are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They have won four Stanley Cup championships since their founding in 1926, most recently coming in 2009-10...
. He would spend most of the next four seasons in the Central Hockey League with the Dallas Black Hawks
Dallas Black Hawks
The Dallas Black Hawks were a minor-league professional ice hockey team in Dallas, Texas. They were a member of the Central Hockey League and played home games at State Fair Coliseum....
, Chicago's top minor league affiliate, although he was a frequent callup to Chicago, appearing in 42 games over that stretch. He established himself as one of the toughest players in minor pro, recording a CHL record 411 penalty minutes in 1974–75, but also showed a fair amount of skill and was named a CHL First-Team All-Star in 1976 after scoring 52 points from the blueline.
Just after the start of the 1977–78 season, Holt was dealt to the lowly Cleveland Barons
Cleveland Barons (NHL)
The Cleveland Barons were a professional ice hockey team in the National Hockey League from 1976–78. They were a relocation of the California Golden Seals franchise, which had played in Oakland since 1967...
and finally received a chance to stick in the NHL full-time. He finished the season with 1 goal and 5 points in 52 games, along with 249 penalty minutes. At the end of the season, however, the Barons ceased operations and Holt was claimed by the Vancouver Canucks
Vancouver Canucks
The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver, :British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Canucks play their home games at Rogers Arena, formerly known as General Motors Place,...
in the resulting dispersal draft.
Holt appeared in only 22 games for the Canucks before being dealt to the Los Angeles Kings
Los Angeles Kings
The Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles, California. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
mid-way through the 1978–79 campaign. He finished the season with 1 goal and 9 assists for a career high 10 points, along with 282 penalty minutes, in 58 games between Los Angeles and Vancouver. Included in his penalty total was an NHL record 67 in a March 11, 1979 game against the Philadelphia Flyers
Philadelphia Flyers
The Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
.
After another season in Los Angeles, Holt was traded to the Calgary Flames
Calgary Flames
The Calgary Flames are a professional ice hockey team based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is the third major-professional ice hockey team to represent the city of Calgary, following the...
for the 1980–81 season. He would play some of the best hockey of his career in the 1981 playoffs, recording 2 goals and 4 points in 13 games to help the Flames reach the Stanley Cup
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
semi-finals. For the 1981–82 season, he was dealt to the Washington Capitals
Washington Capitals
The Washington Capitals are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Since their founding in 1974, "The Caps" have won one conference championship to reach the 1998 Stanley Cup...
, where he would set a club record with 250 penalty minutes. He broke his own record with a league-leading 275 penalty minutes the following season, and also appeared in a career-high 70 games, recording 8 assists. He closed out his career with a 26-game stint for the Philadelphia Flyers
Philadelphia Flyers
The Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
in 1983–84 before retiring.
In 395 NHL games, Holt scored just 4 goals and 37 assists, and amassed 1,438 penalty minutes.
His older brother Gary Holt
Gary Holt (ice hockey)
Gary Ray Holt is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey forward who played 101 games in the National Hockey League for the Cleveland Barons and California Golden Seals. Holt now resides in Spokane, Washington....
also played in the NHL during the 1970s.
March 11, 1979
The toughest player on the Los Angeles Kings, Holt had been acquired mid-way through the 1978–79 season to add muscle to a skilled Kings team, and was expected to be a factor when the team travelled to Philadelphia to face off against the fearsome Flyers. After picking up a minor penalty early in the first period, Holt fought Philadelphia enforcer Frank BatheFrank Bathe
Francis Leonard Bathe is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who played nine seasons in the National Hockey League with the Detroit Red Wings and Philadelphia Flyers.-Playing career:...
at 14:58 of the first period, picking up 20 minutes in penalties. However, Holt felt that he had been a victim of a cheapshot from Flyers' agitator Ken Linseman
Ken Linseman
Kenneth "The Rat" Linseman is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre who played 15 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Philadelphia Flyers, Edmonton Oilers, Boston Bruins and Toronto Maple Leafs...
earlier in the game, and at the end of the first period instigated a bench-clearing brawl in an attempt to settle the score with Linseman. He was assessed a further 45 minutes in penalties for his actions during the brawl, including a triple game misconduct, bringing his game total to 67, shattering the previous NHL record of 52 set by Jim Dorey
Jim Dorey
Jim Dorey is a retired former professional ice hockey player who played over 650 professional games in the National Hockey League and World Hockey Association....
in 1968. He was also suspended three games by the league for his actions.