Backes featured in NHLPA video

In response to the NHL owners' lockout of players, several players put out a video to give a message to fans. Former Minnesota State captain David Backes is prominent in the video, which also features superstars Sidney Crosby and Jonathan Toews. I'm writing about Backes — and why it should come as no surprise that he's a person the players want out front on this — for my regular Wednesday column in The Free Press.

Get the T-shirt!

Whenever I go  to cover Minnesota State games at Ralph Engelstad Arena in North Dakota, I usually take a stroll through the building's very nice team shop. They have a wide variety of jerseys, T-shirts, hoodies and other souvenirs.

One popular item there is an NHL T-shirt of a former UND player. The front has the  team logo, and the back has the name and number — the Devils' Zach Parise, the Blues' T.J. Oshie, etc.

Every time I see those shirts, I think, "Why doesn't MSU and the Verizon Wireless Center sell David Backes T-shirts?" Why not the Flames' Tim Jackman? I think they would be quite popular.

I figured it must be difficult to get those to sell in the team shop. No biggie, right? (Although it would have made a great Christmas present for my kid!)

But then I went to Bemidji this weekend and stopped by the Sanford Center's very nice team stor and saw Matt Read Flyers T-shirts for sale. And people were wearing them all over the arena. Matt Read! Read is a rookie (signed undrafted out of Bemidji State last spring) and having an outstanding season, even participating in All-Star weekend.

The point is this: If Bemidji found a way to get Matt Read T-shirts already, there's no reason MSU couldn't be selling tees representing its alumni. Backes is the Blues captain, a one-time All-Star and an Olympian in the midst of an outstanding NHL career.

Speaking of Backes, he didn't make the All-Star Game this year, but he sure did some good things over his break.

If the 'C' fits ... (update)

Former Minnesota State captain David Backes is now wearing the "C" for the St. Louis Blues.

On Friday, the Blues announced that Backes will be the franchise's 20th captain, putting him in some pretty good company. Others who have held the job in St. Louis have included: Brett Hull, Brian Sutter, Chris Pronger, Al MacInnis and Wayne Gretzky.

Backes, 27, has become a star in St. Louis. In five seasons, he has scored 102 goals and 218 points. Last season, he led the Blues in goals (31), points (62, a career high) and plus-minus (+32).

Backes was an assistant or alternate captain last season. Last November, the Olympian signed a new, $22.5 million contract to stay in St. Louis until 2015-16.

Read more here and here. See the list of Blues captains here.

Update: Watch video of Backes talking to the media about his new role here.

Backes among Hockey Hub's top 100

There's a pretty cool thing going on on the website Minnesota Hockey Hub right now. They're counting down the top 100 Minnesota high school hockey players. The countdown began this week, with Herb Brooks as No. 100. They're naming one player per day, leading up to the start of the 2011-12 high school hockey season. This is quite the undertaking, and undoubtedly will stir up great memories as well as a more than a few arguments.

On Friday, No. 96 was unveiled and it was none other than one of Minnesota State's top players, David Backes of Spring Lake Park.

The write-up on Backes praises him for staying in high school and staying at Spring Lake Park, specifically.

"He is all of what you look for in a high school hockey player," his coach, Tom Benson said. "He was committed to a small program like ours, both as a hockey player and baseball player.

"He was loyal to his school, very proud."

Who else from Minnesota State could be on the list? Anyone? Who do you think will be in the top 10? What about No. 1?

What do you think?

Animal adoption is Backes' cause

David Backes and his wife, Kelly, have become spokespeople for animal adoption in the St. Louis area. This week, the couple unveiled a media campaign with Adopt-a-pet.com, that includes a billboard blitz and TV commercials like this one:



Read/see more about Backes' cause here, here and here.