Former Mav Backes takes game to world stage

May 06, 2008 01:16 am

— There are a few places David Backes would rather be right now than Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Like St. Louis. Or Dallas. Maybe Detroit.
Backes is in Canada for the International Ice Hockey Federation men’s world championships as a member of the United States national team.
It’s the second consecutive spring that the ex-Minnesota State hockey star is representing his country, something, he says, he’s honored to do.
But ...
“To tell you the truth, I’d rather be playing for a big, silver trophy,” he said, alluding to the Stanley Cup.
Backes recently completed his second season with the National Hockey League’s St. Louis Blues. The Blues failed to make the postseason for the third year in a row. Meanwhile, rivals the Detroit Red Wings and the Dallas Stars are setting to do battle in the Western Conference finals.
“This is the next best thing,” Backes said when reached Saturday in Nova Scotia.
Once the regular season ended, Backes was among the first group of players selected for Team USA. Others have been added once their teams got eliminated from the Stanley Cup playoffs.
“We’re very, very skilled,” Backes said. “I think our weakness may be our toughness. But, playing in a world-championship atmosphere with no fighting and where they discourage big hits, having skill counts.”
The American team features 14 ex-college players, including Backes and nine others from the Western Collegiate Hockey Association.
If you type Backes’ name in a YouTube search, you’ll find fights against a couple of his U.S. teammates among the highlights, including a couple of scraps with ex-Gopher and current Phoenix Coyote Keith Ballard.
There is no bad blood, though, Backes insists. It’s just part of the game.
“It’s nice to be playing with these guys instead of against them,” Backes said. “(Ballard’s) one of the nicest guys I’ve ever met. We had a great time in Moscow together (during last year’s world championships). ... It’s all red, white and blue right now.”
In fact, Backes said, Ballard has been invited to his wedding, which will take place this June.
Admittedly, Backes started the season slowly then fought through a knee injury before coming on strong to finish with 13 goals and 18 assists in 72 games with the Blues. As a rookie, he had 10 goals and 13 assists in 49 games.
He is a now a restricted free agent but expects to re-sign with St. Louis this summer.
“I feel good there,” Backes said. “The people of St. Louis have been great to me. ... I love the city. I’d love to be back there.”
In the meantime, Backes is trying to help the United States improve upon last year’s fifth-place finish at worlds and, perhaps, win a medal.
The U.S. is 2-0 in pool play after a pair of lopsided wins over Latvia and Slovenia on Friday and Sunday, respectively. But it will have a tougher matchup at 2:30 p.m. today when it faces Team Canada.
The medal rounds will take place May 14-18 in Quebec City.

Shane Frederick is a Free Press staff writer. Access his college hockey blog through mankatofreepresshockey.blogspot.com/

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