Ronnie Attard
Attard with Team USA in 2023
Born (1999-03-20) March 20, 1999
White Lake Township, Michigan, U.S.
Height 6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Weight 207 lb (94 kg; 14 st 11 lb)
Position Defence
Shoots Right
NHL team (P)
Cur. team		 Philadelphia Flyers
Lehigh Valley Phantoms (AHL)
National team  United States
NHL Draft 72nd overall, 2019
Philadelphia Flyers
Playing career 2022–present

Ronald Attard (born March 20, 1999) is an American professional ice hockey defenceman for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms of the American Hockey League (AHL) as a prospect under contract to the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was drafted 72nd overall by the Flyers in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft.

Early life

Attard was born on March 20, 1999, in White Lake Township, Michigan, USA[1] to parents Toms and Sue. He grew up alongside two older sisters; Jessica and Julia.[2]

Playing career

Amateur

Growing up in Michigan, Attard played minor ice hockey for the Honeybaked and Victory Honda before being drafted by the Tri-City Storm of the United States Hockey League (USHL).[1] During his rookie season with the Storm, Attard announced his commitment to play NCAA Division I ice hockey with the Western Michigan Broncos men's ice hockey team.[3]

Through the offseason prior to the 2018–19 season, Attard split his training between working out at Western Michigan with former NHL head coach Andy Murray and the Broncos.[4] His offseason coaching caused Attard to endure a breakout season and win both the USHL Player and Defenseman of the Year. During the 2018–19 season, he set a league single-season record for most goals and points by a defenseman with 30 goals and 65 points.[5] On the way to 30 goals, he also recorded a four-goal game, becoming the first USHL defenseman in more than three years to achieve this feat.[6] As a result of his play as team captain, he won both the 2019 Dave Tyler Junior Player of the Year Award and USHL Defenseman of the Year award.[7]

Leading up to the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, Attard was ranked 76th amongst all North American skaters by the NHL Central Scouting Bureau.[8] He was eventually drafted in the third round, 72nd overall, by the Philadelphia Flyers.[2]

Following the NHL Entry Draft, Attard began his freshman season at the Western Michigan University which was eventually cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic. During the shortened season, he appeared in 30 games, finishing with 14 points, and was the top scoring defenseman on the team.[9] The following year, Attard continued his offensive output and was selected for the AHCA First-Team All-American team[10] and nominated for the Hobey Baker Award.[11]

Professional

Following the completion of his junior season with Western Michigan, Attard concluded his collegiate career in agreeing to immediately join the Philadelphia Flyers for the remainder of the 2021–22 season on a two-year, entry-level contract on March 29, 2022.[12] Four days later, Attard made his NHL debut in the Flyers' 6–3 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs. He was subbed in for Keith Yandle, whose iron man streak ended after a record 989 games.[13] On April 5, Attard recorded his first NHL point, assisting on a goal by James van Riemsdyk in the Flyers' 4–2 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets.[14]

As restricted free agent following the conclusion of his entry-level contract, Attard was re-signed to a two-year, two-way $1.7 million contract extension on July 5, 2023.[15]

International play

Attard was named captain of Team USA at the 2018 World Junior A Challenge, where he helped lead the team to a gold medal win over Russia.[16]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GPGAPtsPIM GPGAPtsPIM
2016–17 Tri-City Storm USHL 4632527—————
2017–18 Tri-City Storm USHL 50871512620006
2018–19 Tri-City Storm USHL 483034646660118
2019–20 Western Michigan U. NCHC 30681429—————
2020–21 Western Michigan U. NCHC 25814228—————
2021–22 Western Michigan U. NCHC 3913233624—————
2021–22 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 152248—————
2022–23 Lehigh Valley Phantoms AHL 681220324130114
2022–23 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 20000—————
NHL totals 172248—————

International

Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2023 United States WC 4th 4 1 0 1 2
Senior totals 4 1 0 1 2

Awards and honors

Award Year Ref
College
All-NCHC First Team 2020–21 [17]
AHCA West First Team All-American 2020–21 [18]
All-NCHC First Team 2021–22 [19]
AHCA West First Team All-American 2021–22 [20]

References

  1. 1 2 "Ronald Attard". Elite Prospects. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  2. 1 2 Mackinder, Matt (July 4, 2019). "Local talent Attard chosen in NHL Draft". Clarkston News. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  3. ↑ Fine, David (December 8, 2016). "Attard commits to Western Michigan". USHL. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  4. ↑ "A 30-goal defenseman? Flyers prospect Ronnie Attard is on Double Whammy Watch". NBC Sports. August 17, 2019. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  5. ↑ "Incoming WMU Hockey Freshman Ronnie Attard Named USA Hockey's Junior Player of the Year". Western Michigan Broncos. May 22, 2019. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  6. ↑ Robinson, Tom (February 14, 2019). "Defenseman Ronnie Attard Scores Four to Lead Storm Shutout". USA Hockey. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  7. ↑ Grayson, Kendall (April 25, 2019). "Ronnie Attard Named USHL Player of the Year and Defenseman of the Year". USHL. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  8. ↑ "2019 NHL Draft Profile: Ronnie Attard". USHL. 2019. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  9. ↑ "Ronnie Attard". Western Michigan. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  10. ↑ "Ronnie Attard Named First Team All-NCHC". Western Michigan. March 8, 2021. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  11. ↑ "Vote Ethen Frank and Ronnie Attard for the Hobey Baker Award". Western Michigan. February 1, 2021. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  12. ↑ "Flyers sign defenseman Ronnie Attard to entry-level contract". Philadelphia Flyers. March 29, 2022. Retrieved March 29, 2022.
  13. ↑ Fish, Wayne. "Yandle handles end of record ironman streak with class; Flyers fall to Toronto". Bucks County Courier Times. Retrieved April 29, 2022.
  14. ↑ Han, Giana. "Noah Cates, Ronnie Attard score first NHL points in Flyers' 4-2 loss to Blue Jackets". inquirer.com. Retrieved April 29, 2022.
  15. ↑ "Flyers sign Ronnie Attard and Victor Mete". Philadelphia Flyers. July 5, 2023. Retrieved July 5, 2023.
  16. ↑ "2018 World Junior A Challenge Final". Hockey Canada. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  17. ↑ "North Dakota Paces 2020-21 NCHC All-Conference Teams". nchchockey.com. March 8, 2021. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
  18. ↑ "Boston College, Minnesota, North Dakota, Wisconsin lead way with three All-American college hockey players apiece for '20-21 season". USCHO.com. April 9, 2021. Retrieved April 10, 2021.
  19. ↑ "Five Different Teams Represented on All-NCHC First Team". NCHC. March 9, 2022. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
  20. ↑ "Four players return to 2021-22 Division I men's All-American teams, led by three-time pick Dryden McKay". USCHO.com. April 8, 2022. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
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