Attard named USA Hockey’s junior player of the year; Helms to receive Wm. Thayer Tutt Award

By @MichaelCaples –

Two Michigan natives will be honored by USA Hockey at its 2019 Annual Congress in June.

Ronnie Attard has been named USAH’s junior player of the year, while longtime MAHA volunteer Grant Helms will receive the Wm. Thayer Tutt Award.

Attard, a White Lake native, was named USHL player and defenseman of the year this past season after an outstanding 2018-19 campaign with the Tri-City Storm. He will be playing for Western Michigan next fall.

He registered 30 goals and 35 assists with a +47 rating while wearing the captain’s ‘C’ for the Storm, establishing new franchise and league records in the process.

Helms, a Grand Rapids native, will receive the Wm. Thayer Tutt Award, which is presented annually to “a volunteer who, during many years of service, has displayed a selfless dedication to the enhancement of ice hockey at the grassroots level in the United States.”

A longtime leader of the Midland Amateur Hockey League, Helms has worked within MAHA since 1988. He has also worked for USA Hockey, including as the risk manager for Michigan and team leader at USA Hockey camps in St. Cloud, Minn., Buffalo, N.Y., and Rochester, N.Y.