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Oh brother, what a series 91Ƶ Vernon siblings91Ƶ teams in NHL conference final

Ken Holland (Edmonton GM), Dennis Holland (Dallas scout) meet with Stanley Cup final berth on line

Thanks to Connor McDavid, older brother has the early upper hand against younger brother.

The National Hockey League91Ƶs Western Conference final 91Ƶ with the winner advancing to play for the Stanley Cup 91Ƶ features the Edmonton Oilers against the Dallas Stars. Edmonton won Game 1 Thursday, May 23, with McDavid scoring in the opening minute of double overtime to give the Oilers a 3-2 victory in Big D.

Vernon91Ƶs Ken Holland is in his fifth season as president of hockey operations and general manager of the Oilers, moving to Edmonton after 22 seasons as a scout and general manager with the Detroit Red Wings, winning four Stanley Cups in Motown (three as GM).

Younger brother Dennis Holland is in his 21st season as a scout with the Dallas Stars, who lost the 2020 Cup final to the Tampa Bay Lightning. The last time the Stars were in the final prior to that was in 2000, three years before Dennis joined the organization.

91ƵI91Ƶm so proud of Dennis,91Ƶ said Ken Friday morning, May 24. 91ƵHe was a great player in Junior (Portland, Western Hockey League) and when I was Western scout for Detroit, we drafted him in the third round (1987). He was a great American Hockey League player but never made it to the NHL. He tried coaching for a bit win Toledo but he really found his passion in scouting.

91ƵDallas has built an incredible team and they91Ƶre a great organization.

91ƵWe (Dennis) haven91Ƶt talked. I texted him after we beat Vancouver, and I texted him before Game 1, saying we91Ƶll talk after the series.

91ƵWe both want to win and advance to the next level.91Ƶ

Asked if there was any kind of friendly wager on the series, Dennis simply said, 91ƵNo.91Ƶ

Both Hollands have spent their entire NHL careers in the Western Conference. Yet this is only the second time the two brothers have faced each other in the post-season.

91ƵThe first was in 2008 and they beat us in six games (Detroit went on to beat Pittsburgh for the Stanley Cup),91Ƶ said Dennis. 91ƵIt91Ƶs incredible, really, that this is only the second time we91Ƶve gone against one another.91Ƶ

Caught in the literal middle of the family feud is sister Diane Bowers, the second of three kids born to Rienie and Lee Holland in Vernon. Both parents have passed away.

Bowers posted a picture on Facebook prior to Game 1 of her wearing one Dallas sock, and one Edmonton sock. She would be happy for either brother, she said, to advance to the Stanley Cup final.

91ƵHow exciting for our family right now knowing we will have a team in final,91Ƶ said Bowers, who did admit when the two teams faced each other three times in the regular season, she was hoping for tie games, and whoever needed the one point more in overtime or a shootout to get it.

91ƵIt really is a hockey family91Ƶs dream come true. We can91Ƶt win and we can91Ƶt lose. It91Ƶs a win-win for us Hollands.91Ƶ

That being said, Bowers admitted to being anxious prior to Game 1 because she knows one brother91Ƶs dream will continue after the series, and one brother91Ƶs season will be over.

91ƵIt91Ƶs so hard to win a Stanley Cup and there is no guarantee either brother will be this close again,91Ƶ she said. 91ƵI think my family can watch it with more objective eyes and not as emotional as me.91Ƶ

Lots of friends have extended good wishes to all three siblings. And those who grew up with the Hollands in Vernon know that the city will be represented in the Cup final. Bowers echoed the comments of both brothers when asked for a prediction.

91ƵBoth are really good teams with different strengths. Just hoping for a good, long series,91Ƶ she said.

And all three Holland kids know mom and dad are looking down, smiling. The Hollands were longtime fixtures with Vernon Minor Hockey.

91ƵMy mom and dad would be thrilled,91Ƶ said Bowers. 91ƵMy mom would be a nervous wreck. She would be so stressed but a happy stress. My dad would be quietly taking it all in and beaming with pride that his boys and their teams are in the Western Conference Final.

91ƵWe are a hockey family and all grew up at the old Civic Arena. Here91Ƶs hoping for another Stanley Cup party in the Holland family.91Ƶ

The Oilers and Stars are meeting in the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the ninth time in their history, with this year91Ƶs meeting being the first time they91Ƶve met in the postseason since the 2003 Western Conference quarterfinals, which the Stars won four games to two.

Dallas has won six of the previous eight post-season series against the Oilers, including five straight playoff series dating back to Edmonton91Ƶs last win when Todd Marchant scored the OT winner in Game 7 of the 1997 quarters.

The Stars won two of the three regular-season meetings.

The teams face each other in Game 2 in Dallas Saturday, May 25 at 5 p.m.



Roger Knox

About the Author: Roger Knox

I am a journalist with more than 30 years of experience in the industry. I started my career in radio and have spent the last 21 years working with Black Press Media.
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