Ralph Backstrom

We'll never know how much Ralph Backstrom could have accomplished at the NHL level. The fine playmaker and two way center spent his first 13 seasons with the Montreal Canadiens helping the Habs win 6 Stanley Cups. But Backstrom was never better than a number 3 center in Montreal, always playing behind the legendary Jean Beliveau and Henri Richard.

After establishing himself as a fan favorite, Memorial Cup champion and arguably best junior player in all of Canada with the Hull-Ottawa Canadiens, Backstrom entered the league in 1958-59 and scored 40 points in limited ice time in 64 games with the Habs. Despite his lack of quality ice time due to the Habs incredible depth, the 5'10" 165 lb native of Kirkland Lake, Ontario earned the Calder Trophy as the league's best rookie.

Backstrom was a solid offensive contributor but was best used as a checking center by the team he grew up dreaming about. He was a very solid two way player. A magnificent skater, his best offensive season came in 1961-62 when in 66 games he scored career highs with 27 goals, 38 assists, and 65 points.

One has to wonder what heights Backstrom could have achieved had he had more of an opportunity to play on one of the top two lines, especially with the powerful Montreal Canadiens of the 1960s. But Backstrom never complained. Instead he accepted his role and excelled at it.

And because of that the already amazing Canadiens were that much better.

After 13 seasons and 6 Stanley Cup championships in Montreal, Backstrom went to GM Sam Pollock and requested a trade in 1970. The Habs sent Backstrom to Los Angeles, one of his requested destinations, in exchange for Gord Labossiere and Ray Fortin.

"It was very refreshing for me to play in Los Angeles. It was one of the most enjoyable times in my hockey career. The environment, the lifestyle everything seemed to be new and different," says Backstrom.

It was in California that Backstrom first began experimenting with the first inline skates.

"A friend of mine, Maury Silver, had a concept back in 1971 when I was playing for the Kings," recalled Backstrom. "His idea was to put wheels on the bottom of my skate boot instead of the blade. I remember taking my blade off and trying out the wheels. As a matter of fact I would train during the off-season with the so called super street skate."

Backstrom and Silver's "Super Street Skate" was the forerunner to the inline skate. While neither were involved in the evolution to the inline skate, Backstrom would later go onto be a big part of the success of Roller Hockey, serving as the commissioner of Roller Hockey International.

Backstrom played in 188 games in a Kings uniform before being traded to Chicago. The Kings traded him late in the 1972-73 season in exchange for Dan Maloney, fearing that Backstrom would sign with the upstart World Hockey Association. After only 16 games with the Blackhawks, Backstrom would sign with the WHA's Chicago Cougars. He would play 4 seasons in the WHA with three different organizations and was named WHA's most gentlemanly player in 1974.

Backstrom appeared in 1032 NHL games, scoring 278 goals, 361 assists and 639 points. He also appeared in 116 playoff games, scoring 27 goals and 32 assists. He added 100 goals and 253 points in 304 WHA games.

He would settle in Denver, Colorado. In addition to his role with Roller Hockey International, Backstrom became a long time coach at the University of Denver. He later became owner, president and general manager of the Colorado Eagles of the Central Hockey League.