https://www.nhl.com/news/canadiens-ralp ... -321195750Ralph Backstrom won the Calder Trophy in 1959 and the Stanley Cup six times with the Montreal Canadiens, but it was a stop with the short-lived WHA Denver Spurs in the 70s that apparently stuck with him. He later returned to Colorado to serve as an assistant and later head coach of the men’s hockey team at the University of Denver. He later left to coach in the pros and founded the RHI roller hockey league, then served as a scout for the St. Louis Blues. But his most lasting legacy will be as a founder and, for the first three years of its existence, president and GM of the Colorado Eagles Franchise. The Eagles have been wildly successful in Windsor/Loveland, Colorado, and I’m almost certain throughout their existence as a CHL, ECHL, and AHL organization, they have not missed the playoffs once. They won a CHL title with Backstrom at the helm, and later won back-to-back ECHL titles before jumping to the AHL last season.
The article above even says that he played a part in the development of inline roller skates and composite sticks. I don’t know how much of a part he played but it only adds to the legend.
Backstrom retired but remained in Windsor, Colorado until his death today. Fare thee well and thanks so much for all you did for hockey in my home state, Ralph.