Former Rats d-man Helmer receives AHL's President's Award

As reported by Pete Dougherty of the Times Union:

Former Albany River Rats defenseman Bryan Helmer and the San Antonio Rampage have been selected 2010-11 winners of the American Hockey League President’s Awards.

The President’s Awards are given to an AHL organization for excellence in all areas off the ice, and to an AHL player in recognition of his outstanding accomplishments in the past year.

Helmer began the season without a team until earning a tryout with Oklahoma City. Helmer scored his 520th career point Jan. 13 to become the AHL’s highest-scoring defenseman of all time, and he appeared in his 1,000th career AHL game Feb. 18, the seventh player in league history to reach that mark.

Helmer, a native of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, and a three-time Calder Cup champion, is signed on with the Barons to play his 19th professional season in 2011-12.

Helmer played five seasons with the Albany River Rats between 1993 and 1998, recording a career high of 63 points (14 goals, 49 assists) for the Rats during the 1997-98 season. He was also a member of Albany's 1995 Calder Cup championship team.

Note: Don Ferlazzo is not an employee of the Albany Devils, nor is this blog sponsored or influenced by the organization in any way.