DENVER - The Denver Pioneers hockey family mourns the loss of former head coach Ralph Backstrom, who passed away at 83 earlier this week.

Backstrom coached the Pioneers to six winning seasons during his nine-year tenure from 1981-1990. The Kirkland Lake, Ontario native reached the high point of his Denver career in 1985-86 when he took DU to a 34-13-1 season, won the WCHA regular season and playoff titles and earned a trip to the Frozen Four. Backstrom's 34 wins set the mark for Pioneer teams and earned him accolades as the WCHA and National Coach of the Year. As a player, Backstrom was a six-time Stanley Cup Champion, six-time NHL All-Star and recipient of the Calder Memorial Trophy. His 20-year career included more than 1,000 NHL games, played primarily with the Montreal Canadiens and Los Angeles Kings, and 234 WHA games. Immediately after retirement, Backstrom began his coaching career at DU as a three-year assistant under Marshall Johnson, then spent a season in the same role with the Kings before returning to DU as a head coach. Backstrom eventually left Denver to serve as the head coach of the IHL's Phoenix Road Runners. He later became the founder and president of Roller Hockey International and founder, general manager and president of the Colorado Eagles.
 

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"Ralph did everything. He did all the travel, all the equipment ordering. He was really hands-on, and I think that was the case everywhere he went no matter what he did. He wanted the best for the Pioneers and wanted to manage it as best he could." – Ron Grahame, Student-Athlete- 1963-'73, Assistant Coach - 1982-'90, Administrator - 1993-'19

"Ralph was constantly thinking about hockey and ways he could improve his teams. He would call you up to his office in the middle of spring break or summer if you were hanging around and show you the line combinations he was thinking about for the upcoming season and we would talk hockey for hours. Here I thought I was in trouble again on campus and he wanted to talk hockey." – Don Mercier, Student-Athlete - 1983-'86

"He was always a gentleman." – Emory Sampson, Student-Athlete - 1961-'64

"I was coached by Ralph for all four years I was at DU. What I can say about Ralph is that he was a class act. He looked after his players, which I think was very important to him. He made sure we had the best equipment and were taken care of on our road trips. A fine gentleman… Not only the hockey world, but mankind has lost a true great person and he will be forever missed" – Jim Onstad, Student-Athlete - 1983-'87
 
"Because of his experience, his playing for different coaches and so on, he related well to the player. He was a humble guy and didn't want to come across as 'I've been there done that'– that type of thing. One time I asked, 'you had so much success in Montreal – how were you able to have that success?' He said there are two things. I played center and you always pass the puck wide at the offensive blue line. I said, 'what's the other thing?'. He said, 'don't lose two in a row.'" – Marshall Johnston, Student-Athlete - 1959-'63, Head Coach - 1977-'81

"When Ralph was recruiting me, he told me that being a Pioneer was a great opportunity and that for the rest of my life I would never regret coming to DU. Man, was he right. I am a Pioneer for life thanks to Ralph. He changed my life." – Rod Summers, Student-Athlete - 1986-'90
 
 "He gave me the first opportunity to coach, to come back to my alma mater after I was done playing. He hired me and we spent probably 8-10 years coaching together. I really enjoyed it and will always be indebted (to him) and appreciate the opportunity he gave me" – Ron Grahame, Student-Athlete- 1963-'73, Assistant Coach - 1982-'90, Administrator - 1993-'19

 "He was living in Parker, Colorado when he called me (about an opportunity for him to coach at Denver). We didn't have funding then for an assistant coach. We had a stipend for a graduate student – it paid their tuition. I told him what the situation was, and he said that's fine I just want to keep my hand in the game."- Marshall Johnston, Student-Athlete - 1959-'63, Head Coach - 1977-'81

"Ralph had the best one-liners I've ever heard anyone in any sport or business.  One of the cleaner lines he had yelling at the referee: "ref, this is Division I hockey now, not your kid's peewee game. My dog can skate and keep up better than you" – Don Mercier, Student-Athlete - 1983-'86

VIRTUAL SEASON TICKET: Activate exclusive virtual benefits for the 2020-21 season! Denver Athletics & Recreation is committed to making the best out of an unprecedented situation and, if we are not able to be together in person at Magness Arena, then we will do our very best to bring Denver Hockey to you! When you opt-in to be a Virtual Season Ticket Holder you gain access to exclusive season-long benefits including:

• 5280 TOGETHER limited-edition commemorative poster
• Access to individual home game tickets based upon availability and guidelines set forth by the NCAA, DU, and local and state health officials
• Exclusive invitation to the weekly coaches "chalk talk"
• Complimentary NCHC.TV & Pioneer Vision subscriptions
• Official tailgate package delivered to your home

 
CORONAVIRUS UPDATES: For the latest University of Denver updates on the coronavirus, click here.

DONATE: Fans interested in making a donation to the Pioneers Athletic Fund can do so by clicking here. Your gift will transform the lives of our student-athletes by giving them the first-class resources needed to excel in the classroom, in the classroom and beyond. Thank you for Building Pioneers for Life!
 
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