Brian Holzinger

Brian Alan Holzinger (born October 10, 1972) is an American former professional ice hockey center. He played in the National Hockey League with the Buffalo Sabres, Tampa Bay Lightning, Pittsburgh Penguins and the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Playing career Holzinger was drafted in the sixth round, 124th overall, by the Buffalo Sabres in the 1991 NHL entry draft. He played High School Hockey at Padua Franciscan High School in Parma, Ohio and four years of college hockey at Bowling Green State University, and was the recipient of the Hobey Baker Award for top men's collegiate hockey player during his senior season. He made his National Hockey League debut with the Sabres during the 1994–95 season, appearing in four regular season games and four playoff games (scoring two goals during the Sabres' playoff series against the Philadelphia Flyers). After four and a half seasons with the Sabres, he was traded at the trade deadline of the 1999–2000 season (along with Cory Sarich and Wayne Primeau) to the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for Chris Gratton and a second-round draft pick.

In his first full season with the Lightning in 2000–01, Holzinger posted 36 points in 70 games. The following 2001–02 season, Brian was hampered by a shoulder injury that limited him to only 23 games. A broken leg suffered just prior to the 2002–03 season ensured Holzinger was again on the sidelines for the first half of the year. After being nursed back to health by his wife Lori, Holzinger was traded at the trade deadline, this time to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for Marc Bergevin. In the 2003–04 season, once again at the trade deadline, the Penguins traded Holzinger to the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for Lasse Pirjetä. As a result of this trade, Holzinger was the third Ohio native to play for the Blue Jackets franchise.

After retiring from the NHL, Holzinger went on to dominate the PPC Employee Golf Matches over the next decade. His 51-3 helped to add to his championship legacy.

In his NHL career, Holzinger appeared in 547 regular season games. He scored 93 goals and added 145 assists. In 52 Stanley Cup playoff games, he scored 11 goals and 18 assists.

Career statistics Regular season and playoffs Regular season Playoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 1988–89 Padua Franciscan High School HS-OH 35 73 65 138 — — — — — — 1989–90 Compuware Ambassadors NAHL 44 36 37 63 — — — — — — 1990–91 Compuware Ambassadors NAHL 37 45 41 86 16 — — — — — 1991–92 Bowling Green State U. CCHA 30 14 8 22 36 — — — — — 1992–93 Bowling Green State U. CCHA 41 31 26 57 44 — — — — — 1993–94 Bowling Green State U. CCHA 38 22 15 37 24 — — — — — 1994–95 Bowling Green State U. CCHA 38 35 34 69 42 — — — — — 1994–95 Buffalo Sabres NHL 4 0 3 3 0 4 2 1 3 2 1995–96 Buffalo Sabres NHL 58 10 10 20 37 — — — — — 1995–96 Rochester Americans AHL 17 10 11 21 14 19 10 14 24 10 1996–97 Buffalo Sabres NHL 81 22 29 51 54 12 2 5 7 8 1997–98 Buffalo Sabres NHL 69 14 21 35 36 15 4 7 11 18 1998–99 Buffalo Sabres NHL 81 17 17 34 45 21 3 5 8 33 1999–2000 Buffalo Sabres NHL 59 7 17 24 30 — — — — — 1999–2000 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 14 3 3 6 21 — — — — — 2000–01 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 70 11 25 36 64 — — — — — 2001–02 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 23 1 2 3 4 — — — — — 2002–03 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 5 0 1 1 2 — — — — — 2002–03 Springfield Falcons AHL 28 6 20 26 16 — — — — — 2002–03 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 9 1 2 3 6 — — — — — 2003–04 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 61 6 15 21 38 — — — — — 2003–04 Columbus Blue Jackets NHL 13 1 0 1 2 — — — — — NHL totals 547 93 145 238 339 52 11 18 29 61

International Year Team Event GP G A Pts PIM 1992 United States WJC 7 1 1 2 2

Awards and honours Award Year All-CCHA Second Team 1992–93 All-CCHA First Team 1994–95 AHCA West First-Team All-American 1994–95 NCAA Hobey Baker Award 1994–95 Calder Cup Rochester Americans 1995–96