Ralph Backstrom
Ralph Backstrom | |||
---|---|---|---|
Born |
Kirkland Lake, Ontario , Canada | September 18, 1937||
Died |
February 7, 2021 Windsor, Colorado, U.S. | (aged 83)||
Height | 5 ft 10 in (178 cm) | ||
Weight | 165 lb (75 kg; 11 st 11 lb) | ||
Position | Centre | ||
Shot | Left | ||
Played for |
New England Whalers | ||
National team | Canada | ||
Playing career | 1956–1977 |
Ralph Gerald Backstrom (September 18, 1937 – February 7, 2021) was a Canadian
Playing career
Backstrom played junior hockey from 1954 to 1958, with the Montreal Junior Canadiens, which relocated and was renamed the Ottawa-Hull Canadiens in 1956. He was captain of the team that won the George Richardson Memorial Trophy in 1957 and the Memorial Cup in 1958.[1]
As a professional, Backstrom joined the
Backstrom then jumped to the
Coaching
Immediately after his retirement Backstrom accepted an offer to join the staff of newly appointed
Backstrom jumped into the professional ranks in 1990–91 when he took over the Phoenix Roadrunners. After a good first season,[11] including pushing the number-one seeded Peoria Rivermen to a seventh game in the Turner Cup semifinals,[12] Phoenix dropped to dead last in the 10-team league.[13] Backstrom subsequently resigned as coach.[14]
Front office
Backstrom, along with Dennis Murphy and Larry King, founded Roller Hockey International and served as commissioner for a time. It soon became apparent that the league was in financial trouble and it suspended the entire 1998 season before playing one final campaign in 1999. While the league did not officially disband until 2001, Backstrom returned to the NHL in 1999–00 as a scout for the St. Louis Blues.[15]
After three seasons with the Blues, Backstrom founded a new CHL team called the Colorado Eagles in 2002.[16] He owned the team, was general manager and president for the first three seasons, including a CHL championship in 2004–05. His Eagles finished atop their division six times, made the finals five times, and won the Ray Miron President's Cup twice in eight seasons before moving to the ECHL in 2011–12.[17] Later moving to the AHL in 2018-19
Awards and achievements
- Memorial Cup champion — 1958[4]
- 1959[3]
- NHL All-Star Games — 1958, 1959, 1960, 1962, 1965, 1967[18]
- Stanley Cup champion — 1959, 1960, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969 (with Montreal)[15]
- 1974[3]
Personal life
Backstrom's parents were both born near Vaasa in Finland, and met in Kirkland Lake, Ontario.[19] He was a cousin of NHL player Daren Puppa.[3] He was not related to goalie Niklas Bäckström, nor centre Nicklas Bäckström.[3]
Backstrom married his first wife, Frances Richard, in April 1961.[20] He married his second wife, Janet, in 1985.[21] They remained married until his death. He had three children: Martin, Diana, and Andrew.[22]
Backstrom died after a long illness on February 7, 2021, aged 83, in his Windsor, Colorado, home.[15] Backstrom's brain was donated for study to researchers at Boston University and it was found that Backstrom had been suffering from stage 3 chronic traumatic encephalopathy at the time of his death.[23]
Career statistics
Source:[3]
Regular season and playoffs
Regular season
|
Playoffs | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
1954–55 | Montreal Jr. Canadiens
|
QJHL | 21 | 7 | 6 | 13 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 4 | ||
1955–56 | Montreal Jr. Canadiens | QJHL | 18 | 10 | 8 | 18 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1955–56 | Montreal Jr. Canadiens | M-Cup | — | — | — | — | — | 10 | 5 | 4 | 9 | 6 | ||
1956–57
|
Ottawa-Hull Canadiens | OHA-Jr. | 18 | 10 | 8 | 18 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1956–57 | Ottawa-Hull Canadiens | EOHL | 18 | 7 | 10 | 17 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1956–57 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1956–57 | Ottawa-Hull Canadiens | M-Cup | — | — | — | — | — | 15 | 17 | 11 | 28 | 19 | ||
1957–58 | Rochester Americans | AHL | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1957–58
|
Ottawa-Hull Canadiens | OHA-Jr. | 26 | 24 | 27 | 51 | 64 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1957–58 | Ottawa-Hull Canadiens | EOHL | 33 | 21 | 25 | 46 | 13 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1957–58 | Montreal Royals | QHL
|
1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1957–58 | Ottawa-Hull Canadiens | M-Cup | — | — | — | — | — | 13 | 17 | 9 | 26 | 24 | ||
1958–59 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 64 | 18 | 22 | 40 | 19 | 11 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 12 | ||
1959–60 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 64 | 13 | 15 | 28 | 24 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 2 | ||
1960–61 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 69 | 12 | 20 | 32 | 44 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | ||
1961–62 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 66 | 27 | 38 | 65 | 29 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 | ||
1962–63 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 70 | 23 | 12 | 35 | 51 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | ||
1963–64 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 70 | 8 | 21 | 29 | 41 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 8 | ||
1964–65 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 70 | 25 | 30 | 55 | 41 | 13 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 10 | ||
1965–66 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 67 | 22 | 20 | 42 | 10 | 10 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 4 | ||
1966–67 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 69 | 14 | 27 | 41 | 39 | 10 | 5 | 2 | 7 | 6 | ||
1967–68 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 70 | 20 | 25 | 45 | 14 | 13 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 4 | ||
1968–69 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 72 | 13 | 28 | 41 | 16 | 14 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 10 | ||
1969–70 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 72 | 19 | 24 | 43 | 20 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1970–71 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 16 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1970–71 | Los Angeles Kings | NHL | 33 | 14 | 13 | 27 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1971–72 | Los Angeles Kings | NHL | 76 | 23 | 29 | 52 | 22 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1972–73 | Los Angeles Kings | NHL | 63 | 20 | 29 | 49 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1972–73 | Chicago Black Hawks
|
NHL | 16 | 6 | 3 | 9 | 2 | 16 | 5 | 6 | 11 | 0 | ||
1973–74 | Chicago Cougars | WHA | 78 | 33 | 50 | 83 | 26 | 18 | 5 | 14 | 19 | 4 | ||
1974–75
|
Chicago Cougars | WHA | 70 | 15 | 24 | 39 | 28 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1975–76 | Denver Spurs/Ottawa Civics | WHA | 41 | 21 | 29 | 50 | 14 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1975–76 | New England Whalers
|
WHA | 38 | 14 | 19 | 33 | 6 | 17 | 5 | 4 | 9 | 8 | ||
1976–77 | New England Whalers | WHA | 77 | 17 | 31 | 48 | 30 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
NHL totals | 1,032 | 278 | 361 | 639 | 386 | 116 | 27 | 32 | 59 | 68 | ||||
WHA totals | 234 | 85 | 129 | 214 | 76 | 38 | 10 | 18 | 28 | 12 |
International
Year | Team | Event | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1974 | Canada | SS-74 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 10 | |
Senior totals | 8 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 10 |
Head coaching record
Season | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Postseason | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Denver Pioneers (WCHA) (1981–1990) | |||||||||
1981–82 | Denver | 21–19–3 | 9–15–2 | 4th | WCHA Semifinals
| ||||
1982–83 | Denver | 15–22–0 | 11–15–0 | 5th | WCHA Quarterfinals
| ||||
1983–84 | Denver | 14–25–0 | 8–18–0 | 5th | WCHA Quarterfinals
| ||||
1984–85 | Denver | 19–17–3 | 16–15–3 | 2nd | WCHA Quarterfinals
| ||||
1985–86 | Denver | 34–13–1 | 25–9–0 | 1st | NCAA Consolation Game (Loss)
| ||||
1986–87 | Denver | 19–18–3 | 16–16–3 | 3rd | WCHA Quarterfinals
| ||||
1987–88 | Denver | 20–17–2 | 19–14–2 | 3rd | WCHA Quarterfinals
| ||||
1988–89 | Denver | 22–19–2 | 16–17–2 | 5th | WCHA Runner-Up
| ||||
1989–90 | Denver | 18–24–0 | 13–15–0 | 5th | WCHA Quarterfinals
| ||||
Denver: | 182–174–14 | 133–134–12 | |||||||
Total: | 182–174–14 | ||||||||
National champion
Postseason invitational champion
|
Source:[24]
See also
References
- ^ "The Memorial Cup: A History...1958". Taking Note with Gregg Drinnan. May 27, 2008. Retrieved August 8, 2011.
- ^ "1958–59 Calder Memorial Trophy Winner". Hockey Hall of Fame. Retrieved August 8, 2011.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Ralph Backstrom Stats". Hockey-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved February 8, 2021.
- ^ a b "Ralph Backstrom (1956–1971)". Montreal Canadiens Hockey Club. Retrieved August 8, 2011.
- ^ Hawthorn, Tom (February 12, 2021). "NHL stalwart won six Stanley Cups with Canadiens". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved July 4, 2023.
Montreal gifted the talented player to Los Angeles to ensure the draft pick they held from another team would allow them to select Guy Lafleur.
- ISBN 1-894974-21-2.
- ^ "Ottawa Civics". WHA Hockey. Retrieved August 8, 2011.
- ^ "Ralph Backstrom". Elite Prospects. Retrieved July 18, 2014.
- ^ a b "Denver Men's Hockey Team History". USCHO.com. Retrieved July 18, 2014.
- ^ "Colorado Eagles Mourn Passing of Team Founder, Ralph Backstrom". Colorado Eagles. February 7, 2021. Retrieved February 8, 2021.
- ^ "Phoenix Roadrunners Statistics and History [IHL]". HockeyDB. The Internet Hockey Database. Retrieved February 8, 2021.
- ^ "Runners to absolve deal with Kings". Arizona Republic. Phoenix. May 20, 1994. p. 31. Retrieved February 8, 2021.
- ^ "1991–92 International Hockey League Standings". HockeyDB. The Internet Hockey Database. Retrieved February 8, 2021.
- ^ "Ralph Backstrom, coach of the Kings' minor..." Los Angeles Times. June 12, 1992. Retrieved February 8, 2021.
- ^ a b c Stubbs, Dave (February 7, 2021). "Backstrom dies at 83, won Stanley Cup six times with Canadiens". NHL.com. Retrieved February 7, 2021.
- ^ Lytle, Kevin (February 7, 2021). "Colorado Eagles founder Ralph Backstrom dies at the age of 83". Coloradoan.com. Retrieved February 7, 2021.
- ^ Blair, Darrel (March 2, 2003). "Inspired by Ice". Coloradoan.com. Retrieved August 4, 2007.
- ISBN 9780740719042.
- ^ Coleman, Jim (January 12, 1972). "World of Sport". Calgary Herald. p. 45. Retrieved February 8, 2021.
- ^ "Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Backstrom". Ottawa Journal. April 25, 1961. p. 22. Retrieved February 8, 2021.
- ^ "Eagles' owner turns dream into storied hockey history". Fort Collins Coloradoan. September 14, 2003. Retrieved February 8, 2021.
Janet, Backstrom's wife of 18 years
- ^ "Backstrom, who won 6 Stanley Cups with Montreal, dies at 83". Associated Press. February 8, 2021. Retrieved February 8, 2021.
- ^ Westhead, Rick (February 1, 2022). "Former Canadiens star Backstrom had CTE, researcher says". TSN.ca. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
- ^ "2013–14 Denver Hockey Media Guide" (PDF). Denver Pioneers. Retrieved July 17, 2014.
External links
- Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or Hockey-Reference.com, or The Internet Hockey Database