Wednesday, February 01, 2017
Bryan Helmer-Quality Guy.
Helmer 'surprised, emotional' at Hall of Fame selection
In 1993, when Bryan Helmer inked his first professional contract in the American Hockey League, he was thrilled to receive a $2,500 signing bonus.
Twenty-four years later, he's one of the newest members of the AHL Hall of Fame.
The former Wellington Dukes defenceman — whose jersey No. 44 was retired in 2014 by the Junior A hockey club — was enshrined in the Class of 2017 with ceremonies held during the recent AHL All-Star Classic in Allentown, PA.
Helmer, 44, now vice-president of hockey operations for the AHL Hershey Bears, spoke to The Intelligencer on Wednesday.
Here's the Q and A:
Q: What do you recall about your pro debut?
Helmer: “I remember before I played my first AHL game for Albany in Rochester against the Americans and I think I'd signed just a couple of days before. They gave me $2,500 to sign. I called my dad and told him. Then, I found out the other guys got $5,000 or $7,500 to sign. But, coming from Wellington and a Tier II junior team, I would've signed for anything.”
Q: What was your initial reaction upon learning of your Hall of Fame selection?
Helmer: “I was very surprised. To be honest, I didn't expect it. It caught me off guard. I got a little emotional when I told my family. It was a nice feeling.”
Q: What do you recall about playing four years (1989-93) with the Dukes in Wellington?
Helmer: "The old Duke Dome was really special and the Wellington fans were so passionate. That place really rocked in the playoffs. It was great for me, at 17, I billeted with the Lavenders and they became like a second family to me. I still stay in touch with people in Wellington. And, having my jersey retired was pretty special too.”
Q: You signed a pro contract straight out of Tier II, not the usual route to pro hockey. Is that something you remind your prospects, that there are many ways to achieve a goal?
Helmer: “I tell that to kids all the time. If you're good enough and work hard enough and are passionate enough, you can get there. I was never drafted — in any league — but played 20 years of pro hockey. Sure, you need some luck, and I had some. But you've got to work hard to make your own luck.”
Q: Few people know the AHL better than you. Will it work in Belleville when the Binghamton Senators move to Yardmen Arena next season?
Helmer: “I think it's going to be great. Any time you can get a team going back to Canada, that's great. I think they'll do well. The fans will support the team. It's good for the organization to be closer to Ottawa and it's a win-win for the league and Belleville. I hope to get up there a few times. It'll be a lot like having a junior club again. The AHL does a really good job of getting players out and into the community.”
Q: For you, your wife, Pam, and your two children — Kade, 15, and Rylan, 11 — was it time to put down some roots in Hershey, where you won two Calder Cup titles, after an often nomadic professional playing career?
Helmer: “When I got the opportunity to do this job, I was very happy. It was time to settle down. I grew up in a small town and my wife grew up in a small town. Hershey has that smalltown feel, but with big-city things to do.”
Q: Talent and desire were key to your success as a player. What else?
Helmer: “I was fortunate enough to play with a lot of really good players. I was surrounded by some great human beings.”
• NEED TO KNOW: Helmer retired as the AHL's all-time career leader for games played (1,117) and points (564) by a defenceman.
I was the scorekeeper, timekeeper, announcer for the Dukes when Bryan Helmer began his career with the Dukes. It was always a pleasure to deal with him. A quality guy.
Thanks to the Intelligencer and to Paul Svoboda for this article.
James Hurst
February 2, 2017
Twenty-four years later, he's one of the newest members of the AHL Hall of Fame.
The former Wellington Dukes defenceman — whose jersey No. 44 was retired in 2014 by the Junior A hockey club — was enshrined in the Class of 2017 with ceremonies held during the recent AHL All-Star Classic in Allentown, PA.
Helmer, 44, now vice-president of hockey operations for the AHL Hershey Bears, spoke to The Intelligencer on Wednesday.
Here's the Q and A:
Q: What do you recall about your pro debut?
Helmer: “I remember before I played my first AHL game for Albany in Rochester against the Americans and I think I'd signed just a couple of days before. They gave me $2,500 to sign. I called my dad and told him. Then, I found out the other guys got $5,000 or $7,500 to sign. But, coming from Wellington and a Tier II junior team, I would've signed for anything.”
Q: What was your initial reaction upon learning of your Hall of Fame selection?
Helmer: “I was very surprised. To be honest, I didn't expect it. It caught me off guard. I got a little emotional when I told my family. It was a nice feeling.”
Q: What do you recall about playing four years (1989-93) with the Dukes in Wellington?
Helmer: "The old Duke Dome was really special and the Wellington fans were so passionate. That place really rocked in the playoffs. It was great for me, at 17, I billeted with the Lavenders and they became like a second family to me. I still stay in touch with people in Wellington. And, having my jersey retired was pretty special too.”
Q: You signed a pro contract straight out of Tier II, not the usual route to pro hockey. Is that something you remind your prospects, that there are many ways to achieve a goal?
Helmer: “I tell that to kids all the time. If you're good enough and work hard enough and are passionate enough, you can get there. I was never drafted — in any league — but played 20 years of pro hockey. Sure, you need some luck, and I had some. But you've got to work hard to make your own luck.”
Q: Few people know the AHL better than you. Will it work in Belleville when the Binghamton Senators move to Yardmen Arena next season?
Helmer: “I think it's going to be great. Any time you can get a team going back to Canada, that's great. I think they'll do well. The fans will support the team. It's good for the organization to be closer to Ottawa and it's a win-win for the league and Belleville. I hope to get up there a few times. It'll be a lot like having a junior club again. The AHL does a really good job of getting players out and into the community.”
Q: For you, your wife, Pam, and your two children — Kade, 15, and Rylan, 11 — was it time to put down some roots in Hershey, where you won two Calder Cup titles, after an often nomadic professional playing career?
Helmer: “When I got the opportunity to do this job, I was very happy. It was time to settle down. I grew up in a small town and my wife grew up in a small town. Hershey has that smalltown feel, but with big-city things to do.”
Q: Talent and desire were key to your success as a player. What else?
Helmer: “I was fortunate enough to play with a lot of really good players. I was surrounded by some great human beings.”
• NEED TO KNOW: Helmer retired as the AHL's all-time career leader for games played (1,117) and points (564) by a defenceman.
I was the scorekeeper, timekeeper, announcer for the Dukes when Bryan Helmer began his career with the Dukes. It was always a pleasure to deal with him. A quality guy.
Thanks to the Intelligencer and to Paul Svoboda for this article.
James Hurst
February 2, 2017
# posted by James Hurst @ 4:31 PM 
