New Petes assistant coach knows defence
Bryan Helmer was a winner as player
Jody Hull took his time to find the right assistant coach and he’s glad he did.
The Peterborough Petes head coach believes he’s found the perfect fit in Bryan Helmer who just retired after a 20-year pro hockey career as a defencemen who played 146 NHL games, won three AHL Calder Cup titles and is the highest scoring defencemen in AHL history.
Hull was looking for a career defenceman to coach the defence but also someone who shared his approach and beliefs.
Hull did not know Helmer before interviewing him. Helmer did not apply for the job, the Petes pursued him after a contact of general manager Mike Oke suggest they talk to Helmer.
“We did our homework and didn’t jump to any conclusions,” Hull said, after Helmer was introduced Monday at press conference in the Petes Alumni Room. “I think we’ve found the guy who is going to help our defence become the best possible defencemen they can be.
“He played the game the right way. He never cut corners. He worked for everything he got. If anything, that’s what I’m about also.”
Helmer, 41, who grew up in Winchester, Ont., retired this offseason and hoped to get involved in coaching but was surprised it came together so quickly.
“I'm glad to be a part of this organization and I can’t wait to work with Jody and Andrew (Verner) and Mike,” Helmer said.
“I told my wife when I got off the phone with Jody he seemed like a real nice guy and would be fun to work with. His career, too, was pretty amazing. I liked when Jody talked about how the season ended and how the guys went on a tear and just missed the playoffs.
“How disappointed they were to miss by one point and how they wanted to come back right away and play again. I know it’s going to be exciting.”
Helmer’s story is one of perseverance. Never drafted into the OHL, he played six games for the Belleville Bulls but most of his junior for the Wellington Dukes. He was never drafted to the NHL but signed with the New Jersey Devils as a free agent. Only two players have played more AHL games than Helmer’s 1,147. He played his NHL games for the Phoenix Coyotes, St. Louis Blues, Vancouver Canucks and Washington Capitals.
“I don’t think there is anything that has happened in hockey that I haven’t been through, playing or not playing,” Helmer said.
“I want to bring that experience to the young guys. To play that long, I had to do something right. My motto is I always worked hard and I always had fun. When I was doing those two things I had success. The three championship teams I played on were the three closest teams I ever played and the most fun I ever had playing hockey.”
He believes in building confidence in players through positive reinforcement.
“I love coming to the rink and I’m a positive guy,” he said.
Helmer’s brother-in-law is former Petes captain Matt Carkner.
“He was one of the first guys I called after talking to Jody. Matt couldn’t say enough good things about the organization and his time here and the fans,” Helmer said.
He won two Calder Cups with the Hershey Bears and one with the Albany River Rats. In 1997-98, he was named to the AHL First All-Star Team and in 2005-06 to the AHL Second All- Star Team. While playing with the Oklahoma City Barons in 2011, Helmer became the AHL all-time leading scorer amongst defencemen with 562 points and was Oklahoma City’s winner of the AHL Man of the Year Award. Helmer has served as captain with San Antonio in 2007-08 and Hershey 2008-10.
“What Bryan has accomplished as a player speaks volumes,” Hull said.
One thing Hull liked in his interviews with Helmer is he talked about winning.
“He was a winner as a player,” Hull said. “One of the things he said as we left is maybe we can bring a championship to Peterborough. That kind of hit home a bit. That’s all our goal but when you meet a person for the first time and he says that, and you know he’s sincere and not joking around, that really rang a bell for me.”
NOTES: Jody Hull confirmed Andrew Verner will stay on as goalie coach but will not be on the bench as he was the last half of last season. Hull said it’s possible an eye-in-the-sky may be added to the staff but that’s not certain. The plan is to have two coaches on the bench.... Bryan Helmer and his wife Pam, son Cade, 12, and daughter Rylan, 8, will relocate to Peterborough from their home in Wesport, Ont.