From: 9news.comThe Selection Committee of the Colorado Sports Hall Of Fame has elected former DU hockey coach Ralph Backstrom into its Class of 2009. Backstrom will join fellow Pioneers Murray Armstrong, Bill Masterton, Keith Magnuson & basketballer Vince Broyla (complete HOF Roster list).
Ontario native Ralph Backstrom was a member of six Stanley Cup champions with the Montreal Canadiens and was the NHL’s rookie of the year in 1959.
His connection to Colorado began when he joined the World Hockey Association’s Denver Spurs in 1974.
He bought a home in Parker and has been a Colorado resident ever since, including during brief coaching and playing stints elsewhere.
He was both an assistant coach and head coach at the University of Denver, where he led the Pioneers to the Frozen Four, a WCHA title and was National Coach of the year in 1986. He was also the founder of Roller Hockey International and founded and was co-owner of the phenomenally successful Colorado Eagles Central Hockey League franchise that is based in Loveland and draws from all of Northern Colorado.
The mission of the Colorado Sports HOF is to honor, by public acknowledgment or commemoration, those individuals who merit recognition and distinction for their exploits, accomplishments and leadership in sports and athletic endeavors in the state of Colorado. Equally, to build and make available programs and support for youth in our state, to cultivate character and citizenship as they grow toward leadership in our state and throughout the Nation.
His connection to Colorado began when he joined the World Hockey Association’s Denver Spurs in 1974.
He bought a home in Parker and has been a Colorado resident ever since, including during brief coaching and playing stints elsewhere.
He was both an assistant coach and head coach at the University of Denver, where he led the Pioneers to the Frozen Four, a WCHA title and was National Coach of the year in 1986. He was also the founder of Roller Hockey International and founded and was co-owner of the phenomenally successful Colorado Eagles Central Hockey League franchise that is based in Loveland and draws from all of Northern Colorado.
The mission of the Colorado Sports HOF is to honor, by public acknowledgment or commemoration, those individuals who merit recognition and distinction for their exploits, accomplishments and leadership in sports and athletic endeavors in the state of Colorado. Equally, to build and make available programs and support for youth in our state, to cultivate character and citizenship as they grow toward leadership in our state and throughout the Nation.
2 comments:
As someone who watched Ralph's Backstrom's Pioneers win the 1985-86 WCHA regular season in the last game game against CC, The WCHA Playoff Championship over Minnesota, then beat Cornell in a memorable NCAA quarterfinal and go on the Frozen Four in Providence, we Pio fans all owe Ralph a debt of gratitude. For a while, he restored the glory of Pioneer hockey in an otherwide grim era when the school did not have the resources to sustain such excellence.
Nice to see him get this honor.
Ralph is so deserving of this award. He brought the only true spirit alive at DU while DU went through its most difficult days- That leadership brought many people together- not just the hockey team- but the whole school. Thanks Ralph
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