Former DU Coach & 6 Time Stanley Cup Winner
From: Denver Post
by Mike Chambers
(left) Ralph Backstrom is the President and General Manager of the Colorado Eagles hockey team
The affable Ralph Backstrom, a longtime Colorado resident and one of the most respected men in hockey, is hanging up his skates after 53 years of hanging out at ice rinks from Montreal to Los Angeles.
Backstrom, 69, retired Wednesday as president and general manager of the Colorado Eagles, completing a magnificent career that included winning six Stanley Cups as a player with the Montreal Canadiens.
"Lots of wonderful times; lots of painful times, too," Backstrom said. "But I'm leaving the game healthy and ready to enjoy the twilight years of my life."
A six-time NHL all-star, Backstrom - who amassed 278 goals and 639 points in 1,032 career NHL games - also was an NHL and college coach and scout. He said he made his decision after attending last week's funeral of John Ferguson, a former Montreal linemate.
"A lot of guys I played with who are my age are passing away. I said, 'Heck, I got to smell the roses,"' Backstrom said.
The 1959 Calder Trophy winner as NHL rookie of the year has called Colorado home since 1975, when he played half a season for the Denver Spurs of the World Hockey Association.
After 16 seasons in the NHL and four in the WHA, Backstrom joined the coaching staff at the University of Denver. He spent four years on Marshall Johnston's staff, then one as an assistant for the Los Angeles Kings, before beginning eight seasons as DU's head coach. He guided the Pioneers to the 1986 Frozen Four and was named NCAA coach of the year.
Backstrom later became coach of the International Hockey League's Phoenix Roadrunners, commissioner of Roller Hockey International and a scout for the St. Louis Blues. The native of Kirkland Lake, Ontario, said one of his fondest memories was in 1958, when he captained the Ottawa-Hull Junior Canadiens to the Memorial Cup.
"The six Cups are big, and I was very fortunate to win the Memorial Cup," Backstrom said. "I'd compare that to winning the Stanley Cup, and then we won a couple championships here in northern Colorado."
Backstrom said he would continue to reside in Windsor with his wife of 21 years, Janet.
"Ralph has been an icon and ambassador for this great sport for many years," Eagles coach Chris Stewart said in a release. "His vision brought the Eagles to northern Colorado, and we will continue to build on the foundation that he laid."
1 comment:
No question that 1985-86 season was one of the most thrilling experiences that I've ever had following a team.
Good luck Ralph.
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