Ronnie Attard Bio
Ronnie Attard (born March 20, 1999) is an American professional ice hockey defenseman who plays for the Colorado Eagles of the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to the Colorado Avalanche of the National Hockey League (NHL). Standing 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighing 207 pounds, the right-shooting blueliner was selected 72nd overall by the Philadelphia Flyers in the 2019 NHL entry draft. He turned professional in 2022 and has since logged NHL duty with the Flyers while spending most of his time in the AHL. Attard is widely regarded as an offensive defenseman with a powerful shot and a heavy physical presence along the blue line.
Early Life and Background
Attard was born on March 20, 1999, in White Lake Township, Michigan, to parents Toms and Sue Attard. He grew up alongside two older sisters, Jessica and Julia, in a household where sports played a central role. White Lake Township, a community in Oakland County, offered Attard ready access to youth hockey programs across southeastern Michigan, and he took advantage of that environment from a young age.
As a young player, Attard suited up for two of the most respected minor hockey organizations in the state, Honeybaked and Victory Honda, where he developed the foundation of his two-way game. His combination of size, skating, and offensive instincts eventually drew the attention of junior scouts. That development path set the stage for his progression to the United States Hockey League (USHL), the top amateur league in the country before players turn professional.
Path to Professional Hockey
Attard was selected by the Tri-City Storm of the USHL, where his rookie season coincided with a college commitment to the Western Michigan Broncos men’s ice hockey program. He split his offseason training between his future campus and sessions with former NHL head coach Andy Murray, a regimen that sharpened his preparation and helped him elevate his play. The work paid off immediately, as he announced his NCAA Division I commitment while still establishing himself in juniors.
After the 2019 draft, Attard began his freshman season at Western Michigan University, where his year was cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic. He appeared in 30 games and finished as the top scoring defenseman on the team with 14 points, then returned the following season to earn AHCA First-Team All-American honors and a nomination for the Hobey Baker Award. Those performances convinced Philadelphia that he was ready to leave school early and begin his professional career.
Ronnie Attard Career
Amateur Career (2017–2019)
Attard’s USHL career took off during the 2018–19 season, when he was named team captain of the Tri-City Storm. He set a league single-season record for most goals and points by a defenseman, finishing with 30 goals and 65 points, a campaign that established him as one of the most dynamic young blueliners in North American junior hockey. Along the way, he recorded a four-goal game, becoming the first USHL defenseman in more than three years to accomplish the feat.
His play that year earned him both the 2018–19 USHL Player of the Year and USHL Defenseman of the Year awards, along with the prestigious Dave Tyler Junior Player of the Year Award. Leading into the 2019 NHL entry draft, the NHL Central Scouting Bureau ranked him 76th among North American skaters, and the Philadelphia Flyers used a third-round pick, 72nd overall, to bring him into their system. Internationally, he had also been named captain of Team USA at the 2018 World Junior A Challenge, where he helped lead the squad to a gold medal victory over Russia.
Philadelphia Flyers Era (2022–2024)
Following the completion of his junior season at Western Michigan, Attard signed a two-year entry-level contract with the Philadelphia Flyers on March 29, 2022, and joined the team immediately. Four days later, he made his NHL debut in a 6–3 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs, subbing in for Keith Yandle and briefly extending the franchise’s consecutive-games streak narrative. On April 5, 2022, he recorded his first NHL point, assisting on a goal by James van Riemsdyk during a 4–2 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets.
As a restricted free agent after his entry-level deal expired, Attard was re-signed by the Flyers to a two-year, two-way contract worth $1.7 million on July 5, 2023. He continued to split time between the NHL roster and the AHL affiliate, working to refine his defensive game while still contributing offensively from the back end. The Philadelphia chapter provided Attard with his first sustained exposure to the professional ranks, and on November 4, 2024, the Flyers traded him to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for Ben Gleason.
Edmonton Oilers and AHL Stint (2024–2025)
After being acquired by Edmonton, Attard was assigned to the AHL affiliate Bakersfield Condors for the remainder of the 2024–25 season. He adapted quickly to his new organization, appearing in 59 games and producing 7 goals and 17 points from the blue line, totals that placed him third in offensive categories among Condors defensemen. His time in Bakersfield allowed him to play a top-four role and further his development in a structured environment.
Colorado Avalanche Era (2025–Present)
As a free agent following his time in the Oilers organization, Attard signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Colorado Avalanche on July 1, 2025. He was assigned to the Colorado Eagles of the AHL, where he continues to play a key role on the blue line while remaining on call to the parent club. The move represented an opportunity to join a deep Stanley Cup contender and showcase his offensive upside in a new system.
Driving Style and Strengths
Attard is best known for his offensive instincts as a defenseman, highlighted by his heavy shot and confident puck-moving ability. At 6 feet 3 inches and 207 pounds, he is comfortable engaging physically along the walls and in front of the net, and he has the skating to lead or support the rush. Coaches have leaned on him for power-play responsibility at every level, from the USHL through the AHL, and his calm distribution from the back end has been a hallmark of his game.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among his signature accomplishments, Attard set the USHL single-season record for goals and points by a defenseman in 2018–19, an offensive eruption that foreshadowed his professional trajectory. He also captained Team USA to gold at the 2018 World Junior A Challenge, and on the NHL stage, he debuted for the Flyers in 2022 stepping in for the legendary Keith Yandle. Each step has reinforced his reputation as a reliable, point-producing defenseman capable of contributing in all situations.
Ronnie Attard Career Wins
While Attard is a defenseman and not typically measured by win totals in the traditional sense, his career is defined by championships and individual awards at the junior and amateur levels. He captured a gold medal with Team USA at the 2018 World Junior A Challenge and earned USHL Player of the Year, USHL Defenseman of the Year, and the Dave Tyler Junior Player of the Year Award in a single dominant 2018–19 season. At the collegiate level, he was an AHCA First-Team All-American and a Hobey Baker Award nominee, milestones that confirmed his standing among the top young defensemen in the country.
USHL and Amateur Highlights
Attard’s headline amateur numbers came during the 2018–19 USHL season with the Tri-City Storm, when his 30 goals and 65 points set league records for a defenseman. He also led the Storm as captain and produced a four-goal game, the first such performance by a USHL defenseman in more than three years. His awards that season, including USHL Player of the Year and the Dave Tyler Junior Player of the Year Award, remain the most decorated stretch of his career to date.
International and Other Performances
On the international stage, Attard served as captain of Team USA at the 2018 World Junior A Challenge and helped the Americans capture gold against Russia. He later represented his country in additional youth showcases, performances that built his resume as a complete two-way blueliner. In the AHL with the Bakersfield Condors, he ranked third in offensive categories among team defensemen during the 2024–25 season with 7 goals and 17 points in 59 games.
Ronnie Attard Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Attard was raised in White Lake Township, Michigan, by his parents, Toms and Sue, and grew up alongside two older sisters, Jessica and Julia. Family has remained a steady presence throughout his hockey journey, and his Michigan roots continue to shape his identity as a player. Public details about his personal relationships and residence remain limited, as he tends to keep his off-ice life private.
2025 Season Performance
Attard’s 2025 calendar year began with the conclusion of his time in the Edmonton Oilers organization, where he closed the 2024–25 AHL campaign with 7 goals and 17 points in 59 games for the Bakersfield Condors. On July 1, 2025, he signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Colorado Avalanche and reported to the Colorado Eagles of the AHL, where he has continued to anchor the blue line with his usual mix of physical play and offensive contribution. The move places him within a deep Avalanche pipeline, giving him a clear path to potential NHL recalls should opportunities arise.
For the remainder of 2025, Attard’s focus is on cementing his role with the Eagles, refining his defensive details, and staying ready for any call-up to Colorado’s NHL roster. With a Stanley Cup contender organization in his corner and a contract that rewards strong two-way play, he has a chance to establish himself as a steady AHL contributor with NHL upside. The 2025–26 season represents an important opportunity to build on his steady AHL production and translate it into a more permanent NHL footprint.