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H-K’s Helm to be Inducted into CT Field Hockey Hall of Fame

As a freshman at Haddam-Killingworth High School (HKHS), Leah Helm was happy to be her team’s goalkeeper. When she was ready for varsity the next year, Hall of Fame Head Coach Patsy Kamercia asked her to consider a field position because there were already two senior goalies on the roster. While Kamercia valued Helm’s versatility and athleticism, she also recognized what a great goalie she was, and she promptly put her back in the net at the start of her junior year.

Helm was a standout goalie for HKHS in her junior and senior seasons, and her strong play helped lead her team to great success. In her junior season, her team did very well and made it to the Class M finals, where they fell to Enfield 1-0. They returned to the state finals in her senior season, and as a captain, Helm and her team held off a feisty Canton squad to secure their first Class S State Championship title in 1994. They ended their season as the top seed with a 17-0-2 record, and Helm was named the MVP of the state finals game.

Helm was also named to the All-State team in her junior and senior seasons (1993 and 1994), and she allowed only 10 goals in 39 games. She had 15 shutouts in her junior year and 14 in her senior year. Helm’s athleticism often led her far beyond the goal to chase a ball down, and she was known for having the ability to clear the ball out past the 50-yard line. In a Hartford Courant article from Nov. 20, 1994, Kamercia stated that “Leah is the best goalie in the state of Connecticut.” She clearly made her mark in her league and beyond.

Helm was a stellar softball player for HKHS, as well, playing on the varsity team all four years. She earned All-State honors in her junior and senior seasons and served as a key leader in the infield for her team. In her senior season, she was named captain, and she had a batting average of .453 with 39 hits and 31 RBIs. She also hit four home runs and stole 30 bases. Helm was honored as a Connecticut High School Coaches Association (CHSCA) Senior All-Star captain and also received all-league honors, in addition to being named to the New Haven Register All-Area team.

Helm served as an assistant field hockey coach for HKHS for a short period of time, and she now works as a welder and resides in Middletown, CT.

Helm will be inducted into the Connecticut Field Hockey Hall of Fame at its induction ceremony on Sunday, Sep. 8 at the Aqua Turf Club.