Alexander Holtz

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Alexander Holtz
Alexander Holtz.jpg
Holtz with the Utica Comets in 2021
Born (2002-01-23) 23 January 2002 (age 19)
Stockholm, Sweden
Height 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight 183 lb (83 kg; 13 st 1 lb)
Position Right wing
Shoots Right
NHL team (P)
Cur. team
Former teams		 New Jersey Devils
Utica Comets (AHL)
Djurgårdens IF
NHL Draft 7th overall, 2020
New Jersey Devils
Playing career 2019–present

Alexander Gabriel Holtz (born 23 January 2002) is a Swedish professional ice hockey forward for the Utica Comets of the American Hockey League (AHL) as a prospect to the New Jersey Devils of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected seventh overall by the Devils in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft.

Early life[]

Holtz was born on 23 January 2002 in Stockholm. His father, Magnus Holtz (born Andersson), is a former ice hockey player who played two seasons for Västerviks IK.[1] He also has an older brother, David.[2] As young, Holtz played several sports such as football, tennis, golf, and basketball, but eventually chose to bet on hockey.[3]

He started his hockey career in Boo IF at a young age and has since childhood followed his big brother who also played hockey. His father was the coach of Nacka HK at this time. Holtz already made his debut as a 13-year-old in a junior context when he played in U16 with Nacka/Farsta FoC and their U16 division 1 team during the 2014–15 season. Then there were two more seasons with the U16 team in Nacka where he performed so well that he was promoted to their J18 Elit team in the 2016–17 season. During those years, he averaged almost two points per game - even though he was two years younger than most he played against.[4]

He was named for the Stockholm South team in the national junior hockey tournament TV-pucken in 2017 and scored 6 goals and 10 points in 6 games. Holtz was awarded the Sven Tumba award as the best forward of the tournament.[5]

Playing career[]

Djurgårdens IF[]

Holtz moved to Djurgårdens IF for the 2017–18 season to play in the club's junior teams. Holtz made his professional debut in the Swedish Hockey League on 29 January 2019 in a home game against Färjestad BK.[6] At the conclusion of the J20 SuperElit regular season, Holtz was the leading goal scorer with 30 goals in 38 games. The J20 playoffs ended with a third place for Holtz and Djurgården.[7]

Holtz began the 2019–20 season by playing with Djurgårdens IF in the 2019–20 Champions Hockey League, a European ice hockey tournament. In the first game against Polish GKS Tychy, Holtz scored two goals.[8][9] He recorded his first SHL point in the league premiere on 14 September when assisting Michael Haga to the 1–1 equalizer in the 4–2 win against Linköping HC.[10] In the next game on 17 September, Holtz scored his first and second SHL goal against goaltender Viktor Fasth of Växjö Lakers in a 5–3 win.[11] Holtz extended his contract with Djurgårdens IF on 23 September by two years, allowing him to play with the club until the 2021–22 SHL season.[12]

In his first full season in the SHL in the 2020–21 campaign, Holtz appeared in a career-high 40 regular season games with Djurgårdens IF collecting 7 goals and 11 assists to set new career mark of 18 points. After co-leading the club in postseason scoring with four points in three games, Holtz was signed by draft club, the New Jersey Devils, to a three-year, entry-level contract on 19 April 2021.[13] He was immediately assigned to join AHL affiliate, the Binghamton Devils of the AHL, on an amateur try-out basis upon clearing his quarantine period for the remainder of the season.

New Jersey Devils[]

Holtz moved to North America for the 2021–22 season.

Career statistics[]

Regular season and playoffs[]

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2017–18 Djurgårdens IF J20 11 4 4 8 2 — — — — —
2018–19 Djurgårdens IF J20 38 30 17 47 12 5 2 2 4 2
2018–19 Djurgårdens IF SHL 3 0 0 0 0 — — — — —
2019–20 Djurgårdens IF J20 3 7 2 9 2 — — — — —
2019–20 Djurgårdens IF SHL 35 9 7 16 12 — — — — —
2020–21 Djurgårdens IF SHL 40 7 11 18 4 3 2 2 4 2
2020–21 Binghamton Devils AHL 10 1 2 3 0 — — — — —
SHL totals 78 16 18 34 16 3 2 2 4 2
Medal record
Representing  Sweden
Ice hockey
World Junior Championships
Bronze medal – third place 2020 Czech Republic
World U18 Championships
Gold medal – first place 2019 Sweden

International[]

Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2018 Sweden HG18 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 5 2 5 7 0
2018 Sweden U17 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 6 4 4 8 4
2019 Sweden U18 1st place, gold medalist(s) 7 4 3 7 4
2020 Sweden WJC 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 7 3 2 5 2
2021 Sweden WJC 5th 5 1 2 3 6
Junior totals 30 14 16 30 16

References[]

  1. ^ Åhman, Jonathan (25 November 2019). "Supertalangens pappa om tiden i VIK – Västerviks-Tidningen". vt.se (in Swedish). Retrieved 9 November 2021.
  2. ^ "David Holtz at eliteprospects.com". www.eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
  3. ^ "Hem - Hockeymagasinet". www.hockeymagasinet.com. Retrieved 10 November 2021.
  4. ^ "Djurgårdens 16-åriga underbarn siktar på SHL i vinter". www.aftonbladet.se (in Swedish). Retrieved 10 November 2021.
  5. ^ "BÄSTE SPELARE/ FORWARD i TV-pucken 1959-2018" (PDF) (in Swedish). Swedish Ice Hockey Association. Retrieved 28 April 2019.
  6. ^ Ros, Tomas (29 January 2019). "Förstod att något var på gång". Aftonbladet (in Swedish). Retrieved 28 April 2019.
  7. ^ James, David (31 August 2019). "Har längtat efter det här året sjukt länge" ["[I've] been looking forward to this year for a long time"]. Expressen (in Swedish). Retrieved 21 September 2019.
  8. ^ Karlsson, Erik (30 August 2019). "Jag ler varje gång jag ser honom" [I smile every time I see him]. Aftonbladet (in Swedish). Retrieved 31 August 2019.
  9. ^ Tengblad, Mattias (30 August 2019). "Succé direkt – för Dif:s supertalang" [Success immediately - for DIF's super talent]. Expressen (in Swedish). Retrieved 31 August 2019.
  10. ^ Larsson, Jonathan; Pinheiro Diamant, Jonatan (14 September 2019). "Patrik Berglunds hyllning till Alexander Holtz, 17" [Patrik Berglund's praise to Alexander Holtz, 17]. Expressen (in Swedish). Retrieved 21 September 2019.
  11. ^ Jansson, Hans (17 September 2019). "Supertalangen klippte till två gånger när Djurgården vann" [The Super talent scored twice when Djurgården won]. Dagens Nyheter (in Swedish). Retrieved 21 September 2019.
  12. ^ Thedéen, Jesper (23 September 2019). "17-årige Holtz skriver nytt avtal med Djurgården" [17 year old Holtz signs on a new deal with Djurgården]. Dagens Nyheter (in Swedish). Retrieved 25 September 2019.
  13. ^ "Devils sign 2020 first-rounder Alexander Holtz". New Jersey Devils. 19 April 2021. Retrieved 19 April 2021.

External links[]

Awards and achievements
Preceded by New Jersey Devils first round draft pick
2020 		Succeeded by
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