Ralph Backstrom

Ralph Backstrom
Backstrom with the Montreal Canadiens in the 1960s
Born	(1937-09-18)September 18, 1937 Kirkland Lake, Ontario, Canada
Died	February 7, 2021(2021-02-07) (aged 83) Windsor, Colorado, U.S.
Height	5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
Weight	165 lb (75 kg; 11 st 11 lb)
Position	Centre
Shot	Left
Played for	Montreal Canadiens Los Angeles Kings Chicago Black Hawks Chicago Cougars Denver Spurs Ottawa Civics New England Whalers
National team	Canada
Playing career	1956–1977

Ralph Gerald Backstrom (September 18, 1937 – February 7, 2021) was a Canadian professional ice hockey centre and later a coach, entrepreneur and hockey executive. He played in the National Hockey League with the Montreal Canadiens, Los Angeles Kings, and Chicago Black Hawks between 1956 and 1973. He also played in the World Hockey Association with the Chicago Cougars, Denver Spurs/Ottawa Civics, and New England Whalers from 1973 to 1977. With the Canadiens, he won the Stanley Cup six times, and won the Calder Memorial Trophy as the NHL's rookie of the year in 1959. After retiring he served as head coach of the University of Denver Pioneers for several years in the 1980s.