6 time Stanley Cup Champion Ralph Backstrom has passed away.

We have some sad news to report. 

On Sunday the National Hockey League announced that former 6 time Stanley Cup Champion Ralph Backstrom has passed away at the age of 83 years old. Backstrom, who was named the NHL's rookie of the year in 1959 capturing the Calder Trophy, had been suffering from what has been described as a "lengthy Illness" and we only hope that he has found some peace.

Backstrom will be best remembered for his time as a member of the Montreal Canadiens, the team with whom he spent the majority of his career and the team with whom he captured all 6 of his Stanley Cups, but he did also play a few seasons with the Los Angeles Kings and made a pit stop in Chicago to play for the Blackhawks at the end of his time in the NHL.

The NHL was not the end of Backstrom's career however. following his time with the Blackhawks he would go on to join the World Hockey Association where he would for 4 more seasons for various teams.In the NHL he finished with 1032 games, 278 goals and 361 assists for 639 career points, but he would add an additional 253 points over 304 games in the WHA, making Backstrom's career both a lengthy and successful one.

Our thoughts at this time are with Ralph's family and his loved ones, and we take solace in the fact that he lived a full life filled with amazing moments and achievements.