1
He won the Calder Memorial Trophy as the NHL's rookie of the year in 1959.
15 Interesting Facts About Ralph Backstrom
Ralph Backstrom was a six-time Stanley Cup champion with the Montreal Canadiens, a Calder Memorial Trophy winner, and later a successful coach and executive who founded the Colorado Eagles.
Position
Centre
Jersey
#19
Status
Retired
Teams
9
Facts
15
2
He was a six-time Stanley Cup champion with the Montreal Canadiens.
3
His professional playing career spanned from 1956 to 1977.
4
He appeared in six National Hockey League All-Star Games during his career.
5
He played for both the National Hockey League and the World Hockey Association.
6
In his first WHA season, he led the Chicago Cougars in scoring with 33 goals and 83 points in 70 games.
7
His trade to the Los Angeles Kings in 1971 indirectly enabled the Montreal Canadiens to draft superstar Guy Lafleur.
8
He represented Canada at the 1974 Summit Series on an all-star team of Canadian WHA players.
9
He won the Paul Deneau Trophy in 1974, an award for the WHA's most gentlemanly player.
10
After retiring as a player, he served as head coach for the University of Denver Pioneers, leading them to a team-record 34-win season in 1985-86.
11
He earned the Spencer Penrose Award as national coach of the year for his impressive 1985-86 season with the Pioneers.
12
He co-founded Roller Hockey International and served as its commissioner for a time.
13
He founded the Colorado Eagles CHL team in 2002, serving as owner, general manager, and president for its first three seasons.
14
His brain was donated for study after his death, and researchers found he had been suffering from stage 3 chronic traumatic encephalopathy.
15
His parents were both born near Vaasa in Finland, and he was a cousin of NHL player Daren Puppa.
About Ralph Backstrom
Ralph Backstrom was a highly decorated center, winning six Stanley Cups with the Montreal Canadiens and the Calder Memorial Trophy as NHL Rookie of the Year in 1959. He also played a significant role in the WHA, leading the Chicago Cougars to the Avco Cup Finals and representing Canada internationally. After his playing career, he transitioned into successful roles as a coach, entrepreneur, and hockey executive, notably founding the Colorado Eagles.
Career Achievements & Milestones
✓
Stanley Cup Champion
1969
✓
Calder Memorial Trophy
1959
✓
Paul Deneau Trophy
1974
✓
Memorial Cup Champion
1958
✓
Spencer Penrose Award
1986
Player Information & Stats
Detailed career statistics and background information about Ralph Backstrom.
Player Info
Country: Canada
Position: Centre
Jersey #: 19
Status: Retired
Physical Stats
Height: 5' 10" (178 cm)
Weight: 165 lbs (75 kg)
Born: Kirkland Lake, Ontario
Died: 2/7/2021
Career Stats
Seasons: 22
Goals: 363
Assists: 490
Points: 853
Teams: 9
Teams & Career
Montreal Canadiens Rochester Americans Montreal Royals Los Angeles Kings Chicago Black Hawks Chicago Cougars Denver Spurs Ottawa Civics New England Whalers
Ralph Backstrom played for 9 different teams during his 22 seasons career.