east coast
Well-known member
Don't know if it was posted. Gone at 83. the third man at centre, behind Beliveau, Richard on the great teams of the late fifties, and the forgotten dynasty of the mid/late sixties that won 4 Cups in 5 years. Championships were part of the man. A great junior who changed roles to fit the needs of the team. Many will know him from the story of the deal that landed Lafleur, but he was so much more. A team guy, all the way. Small but tenacious who could as easily been a scorer, which he reverted to in his later years a little more.
This one's special for me. Here's why. ....he was the first, and one of the few, NHL players I ever met. My neighbour, in central Newfoundland, was a Molsons rep....he called the house when I was 8 years old, and said he had someone there he wanted me to meet. It was Ralph. Yes, in those days players ended up in places, like a neighbour's in central NL, making a few good will tours for the boss, Molsons. My neigbour, his wife, Ralph, my dad then proceeded to play a game of pool in the basement...my Dad told the story for years of how I just followed Ralph all around he table.....he was so young, so kind to the kid, so down to earth. I couldn't believe how short he seemed. As you can imagine, that event stayed with me forever. (I've told the story of meeting Big Jean same way way, a couple of years later...different times).
montrealgazette.com
This one's special for me. Here's why. ....he was the first, and one of the few, NHL players I ever met. My neighbour, in central Newfoundland, was a Molsons rep....he called the house when I was 8 years old, and said he had someone there he wanted me to meet. It was Ralph. Yes, in those days players ended up in places, like a neighbour's in central NL, making a few good will tours for the boss, Molsons. My neigbour, his wife, Ralph, my dad then proceeded to play a game of pool in the basement...my Dad told the story for years of how I just followed Ralph all around he table.....he was so young, so kind to the kid, so down to earth. I couldn't believe how short he seemed. As you can imagine, that event stayed with me forever. (I've told the story of meeting Big Jean same way way, a couple of years later...different times).
Former Canadiens centre Ralph Backstrom dies at age 83
He won the 1959 Calder Trophy as the NHL's top rookie, along with six Stanley Cups, and played a key role in the Habs getting Guy Lafleur.
montrealgazette.com
