Corsair ice hockey coach John Rolli calls Brian Holmes "arguably the most exciting player and top play-making center" in the history of the program. A four-year center for Rolli's Corsairs, Holmes finished his career as the leading scorer in Corsair history with 89 goals and 117 assists for a total of 206 points. A graduate of Mt. St. Charles HS in Rhode Island, Holmes was no stranger to successful ice hockey programs. He was an outstanding player for the then SMU Corsairs as a 5-7, 150 pound center who was considered too small for everyone else. "Only his size kept him out of Division I hockey," said Rolli.

Coach Rolli describes Holmes as a Gretzky-type player who had the ability to elevate the game of those around him. He teamed with wingers Bill Kennedy and Bill Kewer resulting in the second most productive scoring line in the program's history. In his four years with the Corsairs, his SMU teams compiled a record of 89-14-1 (.861 winning percentage). Winner of the Corsairs' seventh player award as a freshman, Holmes concluded his career as a member of SMU's ECAC Championship in 1989. He was also a member of the 1987 ECAC North championship squad. Following his senior year, he was awarded the team's James Costa student athlete award for the team's highest grade point average and was an ECAC New England Ice Hockey Writers All-Star.