David Backes shares memories of growing up in Spring Lake Park, playing for MSU-Mankato, 15 NHL seasons

During the 2022 Hockey Day Minnesota Celebration in Mankato, Minn., Minnesota State president Dr. Edward Inch (left) and athletic director Kevin Buisman (left) presented David Backes with an award commemorating his stellar college career with the Mavericks.

By Mick Hatten, Jess Myers, Eli Swanson, and Kris Kerzman

May 09, 2022 at 7:00 AM

David Backes grew up playing hockey, soccer and baseball in Spring Lake Park. He ended up playing 15 seasons in the NHL with the St. Louis Blues, Boston Bruins and Anaheim Ducks. Now, the 38-year-old has ventured into the restaurant business in retirement. Backes shares memories of growing up, why playing multiple sports was important, playing hockey with an edge and also analyzes the first two games of the Blues vs. Wild series with The Rink Live's Jess Myers and Mick Hatten.

TIME STAMPS

2:00 Growing up in Spring Lake Park, how he got started in hockey, dad being a junior college baseball player

4:30 Playing for Spring Lake Park High School, where his knack for the net, physical play comes from

7:00 Playing soccer, baseball in high school and how being a multisport athlete helped him

10:15 Being a nice guy off the ice, a tough guy on the ice

13:00 When did college hockey get on his radar, finishing his college degree

15:00 Memories of playing for MSU-Mankato

17:45 Hockey Day Minnesota in Mankato and being a part of the weekend

19:15 Memories of playing for the St. Louis Blues

21:25 Memories of playing for the Boston Bruins

24:20 Getting into plant-based restaurant business, living with diverticulitis

27:15 Son, daughter playing sports

29:00 Analysis of Wild vs. Blues series after two games

31:25 Playing defense in the NHL, the mentality

By Mick Hatten

Mick Hatten is a reporter and editor for Forum News Service and helps manage TheRinkLive.com, a website dedicated to hockey. He began working for Forum Communications in November 2018 and has covered St. Cloud State University hockey since 2010. A graduate of St. Cloud State, he has more than 30 years of experience as a journalist and has been a youth hockey coach since 2014. mhatten@forumcomm.com

For more coverage of St. Cloud and the surrounding communities, check out St. Cloud Live.

David Backes shares memories of growing up in Spring Lake Park, playing for MSU-Mankato, 15 NHL seasons

Former St. Louis Blues, Boston Bruins and Anaheim Ducks forward shares memories of his career on The Rink Live podcast with Jess Myers and Mick Hatten.