Flyers sign defenseman Ronnie Attard from Western Michigan to entry-level contract

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Ronnie Attard and his Western Michigan team’s historic run may have come to an end last weekend, but the conclusion of his college career has opened the door for him to begin his professional career.

Monday night, the 23-year-old defenseman signed a two-year entry-level contract with the Flyers that will begin this season. He announced the news on Instagram, with Flyers winger and fellow Western Michigan Bronco Wade Allison sharing the news on his own Instagram story.

“We’re very happy to have Ronnie sign with us after a great career with the Broncos,” said general manager Chuck Fletcher when the Flyers announced the news Tuesday morning. “He is a big, mobile defenseman who has steadily improved his game each season. We are excited to have him join our group and look forward to his continued development at the pro level.”

The Flyers selected Attard, a 6-foot-4, 210-pounder, in the third round of the 2019 NHL entry draft with the 72nd overall pick. Attard is the third of seven players from the Flyers’ 2019 draft class to sign a contract, joining Cam York and Mason Millman. Two others, Bobby Brink (Denver) and Bryce Brodzinski (Minnesota), will be participating in the NCAA’s Frozen Four which begins on April 7.

While playing at Western Michigan, Attard steadily improved his production. As a sophomore, he was named the National Collegiate Hockey Conference’s offensive defenseman of the year and made first-team All-NCHC and All-American. Over three collegiate seasons, Attard scored 27 goals and 45 assists for 72 points in 94 games.

» READ MORE: Noah Cates looking forward to ‘picture-perfect’ debut with Flyers

This past season, Attard had 13 goals and 23 assists in 39 games, leading all conference defensemen and ranking third among defensemen in the NCAA. He, along with Brink, were the only repeat first team All-NCHC selections.

The Broncos, who won their first-ever NCAA Tournament game last week, were eliminated on Sunday by Brodzinski and Minnesota.

“I got the chance to watch his game the other day,” said Flyers interim coach Mike Yeo. “You could see his skill set. A big, great-shot defenseman. Heavy, heavy shot and seems very willing to use that. So that would be a real bonus for us.”

Attard would be the fifth WMU player to play for the Flyers, joining Ross Fitzpatrick, Bill Armstrong, Keith Jones, and Allison. The Flyers signed fellow collegian Noah Cates from Minnesota-Duluth on Sunday.

Yeo said the Flyers expect Attard to be present at this weekend’s practice. The Flyers play a back-to-back with the Toronto Maple Leafs and the New York Rangers on Saturday and Sunday. Yeo said it will be good to start working with him.

“I’ve only seen the one game, but I’ve heard really good things about him as far as his character, his skating ability, his size, and just his natural ability,” Yeo said.

With more family and friends than he can count cheering from the stands of Xcel Arena, Cates will make his NHL debut with the Flyers against his home-state team, the Minnesota Wild.

Cates will slot in on the third line with Morgan Frost and Owen Tippett. Yeo said offensive players, especially young ones like Frost and Tippett, need to play alongside someone they can trust. That’s why he originally had Oskar Lindblom on the line. Now, he thinks Cates can fill that role, and he’s excited to see how the line of three young players will do.

“He’s a smart player,” Yeo said. “Thinks the game. He plays a 200-foot game.”

Hayden Hodgson will move down from the third line to the fourth, and Max Willman will sit out. Although Willman has scored two goals this trip, Yeo said there were some things on the other end of the ice that went into the decision. The Wild are a physical team, and Hodgson has proven to be a big, strong player.

The Flyers will play the Wild at 8 p.m.. ... Martin Jones will be in net with Felix Sandström backing him up. Carter Hart has an undisclosed, nagging injury, but Yeo expects he’ll be good to go by the weekend. ... Scott Laughton (concussion) participated in an optional practice Monday and in the morning skate Tuesday. Yeo said there are no updates and no timeline but that Laughton has been feeling well. Laughton was surprised that he failed his recent concussion test. ... Sean Couturier (back) appeared at the end of the morning skate dressed in full pads. He’s still out for the season, but Yeo said he’s been getting stronger and stronger.