NEWCASTLE,U.K- Dean Holland is having a solid season so far this term for Elite league Newcastle Vipers in his role on the clubs third line. Holland has gained seven points from the 37 games he has played so far this campaign picking up 76 penalty points along the way illustrating that the young centre isn’t scared to drop the gloves with any player in the league. Holland took a little time out recently to give me his views on how he thought his game was progressing and his opinions on British hockey in general. Holland’s hard work has helped him make the jump from playing for the English National League Vipers up to playing at Elite level relatively 
comfortably which is a massive gap to overcome. At times last year the younger players (Holland, Lundin, B.Campbell, Lawson) in the Vipers set up were at times playing twice a day as they iced in early ENL face offs and then took the ice again on the evening in the Elite League. Holland states that this punishing schedule brought his game on as his general fitness increased significantly and he experienced many more situations than he would have by playing in the Elite league only. Holland’s form caught the admiring eye of other clubs last season and saw the young center offered the chance to move to the Peterborough Phantoms in the EPL such a move would have brought a great increase in ice time but the ‘Walkergate Warrior’ turned down the move as he aspires to stay at Newcastle for many years and wants to bring silverware back to the north east. Vipers have had many experienced players in their ranks over the last few years but it is current club captain David Longstaff who has had the greatest influence on the career of the gritty centre. Holland states that Longstaff is the best player he has iced alongside and that he tries to incorporate aspects of his skippers game into his own. Holland also admitted that moving abroad like Longstaff did several years ago would interest him in coming years if he had the opportunity to move his career into Europe in the future. Holland also spoke highly of the legendary Manchester Phoenix player coach Tony Hand as the best player he has shared the ice with, while his favourite arena to play at is the Hallam Arena home of the Sheffield Steelers. Edinburgh’s freezing Murrayfield rink is his least favourite to visit. On asked which young player in the north east has a big future in the British game Holland says that current Whitley Warrior Nathan Salem should make a great impact in the next few years. Salem has netted six times for the senior Whitley Bay side, and has a total of eight points from the 18 games he has iced for Simon Leach’s side this term. Salem though is still playing for the under 18s and has shown truly impressive form for the Braves netting braces in his two most recent games for his age group side. Holland goes on to say that Salem has everything a hockey player needs in that he has size, speed, strength and a good hockey brain. Holland appears eager to spend the next few years of his career in the north east with the Newcastle Vipers and if his game continues to progress as it has done in the last few years he could well be a pivotal member of a successful Vipers team in the future picking up the honours he is keen to see come to Tyneside. Contact the author at Chris.mckenzie@prohockeynews.com
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