Mike Helber - Athletic Alumni 2019

Michael Helber, Ann Arbor Pioneer High Class of 1988, enters the Ann Arbor Pioneer Athletics Hall of Fame as an Athletics Alumnus Award winner for his outstanding accomplishments as a three-sport student athlete.

 

Mike competed in ice hockey, baseball, and soccer, winning seven varsity letters (three in ice hockey and two each in baseball and soccer). Mike also served as captain of the ice hockey and baseball teams.

 

Mike established himself as the all-time scoring and points leader in Pioneer ice hockey by the time he graduated in 1988. In just three seasons, he scored an astounding 123 goals and 114 assists for a record total of 237 points. Mike also ranks first in hat tricks in a game with 12 in 87-88; sixth in goals (86-87); and first and eighth all-time in assists for a season, just inching by his younger brother Matt (91-92) in ninth place, and older brother Tim (84-85) in eleventh place. Mike led his 1987-1988 Pioneer team to second place in the state championship tourney.

 

On top of leading the Pioneer record book, he still ranks as the second leading scorer in MHSAA history.

 

With his impressive play on the rink, Mike garnered numerous honors. He was named to the All-State team two years, league and team MVP two times, and given the state’s highest honor, the Governor’s Trophy in 1988. That same year he was also named the Free-Press Player of the Year.

 

These accomplishments did not go unnoticed by Red Berenson, legendary coach of the University of Michigan’s (UM) Ice Hockey team. Berenson awarded Mike a full scholarship, enabling him to play for UM for four seasons, scoring 34 goals, 47 assists, and 81 total points.

 

Mike’s play at Pioneer also did not go unnoticed by the NHL’s Winnipeg Jets. They drafted Mike, age 18, in 1988.

 

Mike is perhaps the most international athletic alumnus to join the Pioneer Hall of Fame. After graduating from the University of Michigan in 1992, Mike was assigned by the Winnipeg Jets to a minor league club to start his pro career. A friend of Mike’s, who had gone to Sweden earlier to play there, suggested Mike might consider a similar move. Mike took the suggestion and made the decision to give hockey a try across the Atlantic.

 

That try turned into an All-Star professional career at the highest professional level, starring for Linkoping Lions Hockey Club for ten years and serving as captain for eight. Upon retirement in 2002, Mike’s number 16 was retired to the rafters of Linkoping’s rink.

 

He also was named President of the Linkoping club, serving in that capacity for 12 years and leading it to new heights and strength. As one Swedish hockey observer has stated, “…Linkoping would never be where they are…without Iron Mike.” In 2015, Mike was named an expert analyst for Swedish TV’s hockey broadcasts.

 

For all of his accomplishments, the Ann Arbor Pioneer Athletics Hall of Fame is honored to forward Michael Andrew Helber into its membership.