The hockey world has lost another of its members. Former Montreal Canadiens skater Ralph Backstrom passed away over the weekend. He was 83-years-old. TSN announced the sad news late Sunday night.
Ralph Backstrom, a six-time Stanley Cup winner with the Montreal Canadiens who played in 1,336 career games in the NHL and the World Hockey Association, passed away on Sunday at the age of 83: https://t.co/YTs862VvwC pic.twitter.com/8JlJI8s9C2
— TSN Hockey (@TSNHockey) February 8, 2021
Canadiens Legend Ralph Backstrom Passes Away
Backstrom played for over 20 years. He debuted with Montreal in 1956-57 and retired after the 1976-77 season after a brief stint with the World Hockey Association’s New England Whalers franchise. He was the 1958-59 Calder Trophy thanks to 18 goals and 40 points in 64 games. Backstrom was also a member of six Stanley Cup teams, all with the Canadiens. The Kirkland Lake, Ontario native ultimately collected 378 goals and 514 points in 1336 games between the NHL and WHA.
Backstrom had remained active in the hockey world after his retirement. He was a coach with the University of Denver through the 1980s and also founded the Colorado Avalanche’s current AHL affiliate, the Colorado Eagles, in Loveland in 2002. His signature moment as a coach was leading Denver to the 1986 Frozen Four where they lost to the University of Minnesota in the tournament’s third-place contest. This is a sad loss for the hockey world given his efforts both on the ice and a builder of the amateur game.
Backstrom’s Legacy
It’s always sad when the hockey world loses a veteran. Backstrom played through some of hockey’s pivotal era. He was active when hockey began to integrate and even joined the rebel WHA as it tried to alter the balance of power in North American hockey. That led to many current NHL franchises joining the fold including the Edmonton Oilers, which brought Wayne Gretzky along. It’s safe to say that Backstrom saw some of the most important moments in hockey’s history and the world is sadder with his passing.
This is the second passing of an NHL star from the 1950s and ’60s. He joins George Armstrong as players from hockey’s pre-expansion to have passed in 2021.
Main Photo:
Embed from Getty Images
