It's a scene out of any young hockey player's wildest dreams.

You're lacing up your blades and hitting the ice with former Norris Trophy winner Scott Niedermayer, All-Star Ryan Getzlaf and up-and-comer Bobby Ryan. You're rubbing elbows in the dressing room with Saku Koivu, Teemu Selanne and Jean-Sebastien Giguere.

That was the scene for Peter Holland earlier this fall. The 18-year-old Caledon, Ont. native walked into the Anaheim Ducks' rookie camp Sept. 5, just months after being selected by the NHL team in the first round of the 2009 NHL entry draft. Holland was one of two first-rounders for the Ducks, selected 15^th, 11 picks ahead of the club's other first-rounder, Kyle Palmieri (26^th overall).

"The draft kick-started my summer. I was pretty nervous and not sure what was going to happen, but when Anaheim picked me it was the best day of my life," said Holland, a 6-foot-2, 185-pound center. "I put a lot of hard work in during the summer and I think it's paying off this year."

Holland spent two weeks at training camp with the Ducks before returning to his junior club, the Ontario Hockey League's Guelph Storm, on Sept. 19. His reassignment, he admits, wasn't unexpected. Holland admits he isn't ready for the NHL game yet, but took much out of the two weeks spent in Orange County.

"It was a great learning experience for me to go to camp there, and just learning from them is special. You learn a ton," Holland said. "You watch guys like Scott Niedermayer, who doesn't even play my position, and you learn when you see the way he distributes the puck out there and makes space out there."

Other players who stood out, he said, included Getzlaf and Bobby Ryan.

"They both have unbelievable skills," Holland said.

Like most prospective draftees, Holland wasn't sure where he would end up being drafted. There was a slight feeling, however, that he was destined for Anaheim.

"There was a lot of interest going into the draft – you never know when you're going to be taken," he said.

He didn't have to wait long, when Ducks director of amateur scouting Martin Madden announced his name.

"Anaheim met with me a couple of times before the draft, so I knew they were high on me. I was really excited when they went up and they called my name – it was a thrill," said Holland, who had 17 family members in the stands for his special day.

"I was on cloud nine," Holland added. "It's one of those things you have to look back on, because you seem to miss things when you're in the moment. When you look back, though, it was so surreal. I will never forget that moment."

Heading into the NHL combine in May, Holland had two OHL seasons with the Storm under his belt. Last season he was second on the Storm with 28 goals and 39 assists, a total of 67 points in 68 regular-season games, and had four goals in four playoff games. He also represented Canada at the 2009 IIHF Under-18 World Championships, where he tallied a goal and four assists in six games. Holland was selected to the 2009 OHL All-Star Classic and participated in the 2009 CHL Top Prospects Game.

He was ranked 19^th by NHL Central Scouting heading into the draft.

"When he is competing, he is very noticeable and effective. He is used both on the power-play and penalty-kill units, and at times he has been used at the point on the power-play. He skates very well, smooth, and he generates good speed. He has a very good shot," NHL Central Scouting's Chris Edwards said prior to the draft.
Anaheim liked what it saw in the two-way player, who has the potential to become a power forward. They continued to express pleasure after his stint at training camp.

"They seem pretty confident I have all the tools, but they said I just need to keep working," said Holland.

One of the biggest pieces of his game he needs to improve on, he said, is competing harder.

"I watched guys like (energy-line forward Mike) Brown out there and he battled every shift, finishing every check. That what it takes at that level," said Holland.

Growing up, Holland idolized players like Joe Sakic and Mats Sundin. He hopes to one day become a leader as those two NHLers were, but understands it's going to take time.

"I try to play a leadership role, but when you come in and there are 15-year NHL veterans there, you aren't going to be a leader in that room," he said of Anaheim. "But I think they see the leadership potential in me for down the road."

In the meantime, he'll be stepping up for Guelph, where as of Oct. 29 he had 11 points in nine games. While he missed a few games with a shoulder injury, his strong performance on the ice recently led to him being named to the OHL's Team Canada roster that will compete against some of the top junior Russian players in the upcoming Subway Super Series. The series is an integral part of the evaluation process prior to Team Canada's World Junior Hockey Championships final selection camp in December.  This season, Canada will be competing for a record sixth straight gold medal at the 2010 World Juniors tournament in Saskatoon and Regina, Saskatchewan.

"I just want to have a strong outing with Guelph this year," Holland said. "We have a deep team so hopefully we can string everything together and have a long run in the playoffs."

He hopes to fine tune his game, and see where it takes him for next season.

"I just need a harder compete level and more consistency, and then go from there," said Holland, who plays with a number of other NHL draftees on the Storm, including Corey Syvret (2007, 181^st overall by Florida), Taylor Beck (2009, 70^th overall by Nashville), Michael Latta (2009, 72^nd overall by Nashville), Ben Chiarot (2009, 120^th overall by Atlanta) and Matt Kennedy (2009, 131^st overall by the Carolina Hurricanes).

In the long-term, however, he knows he wants to take his game to the next level and suit up in the NHL.

"I just want to get there as soon as possible, improve my game and one day help the Ducks win another Stanley Cup," Holland said.

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