[News] Backlund named recipient of 2014 Ralph T. Scurfield Humanitarian Award

[MissTeeks]

Good for Backlund:

http://flames.nhl.com/club/news.htm?...id=DL|CGY|home

The Calgary Flames are honoured to announce that Mikael Backlund has been named the recipient of the 2014 Ralph T. Scurfield Humanitarian Award. Backlund will be presented his award in a pre-game ceremony this evening by Ralph and Kendra Scurfiled, son and granddaughter of the late Ralph T. Scurfield.


The Ralph T. Scurfield Humanitarian Award is presented annually to the Flames player who best exemplifies perseverance, determination and leadership on the ice, combined with dedication to community service off the ice.

Backlund, in his fifth professional season is the spokesperson for Kids Cancer Care Foundation and donates $150.00 per point to the organization, attends various events and invites groups from the organization to attend games and meet with him after in the Flames locker room. The 25 year old native of Sweden is also a spokesperson for Special Olympics. He attends floor hockey games and was an athlete leader at their Breakfast of Champions event. Adding to his resume of community work Backlund is an avid supporter of the Sunshine Foundation and has donated to the organization the last two seasons. The Sunshine Foundation grants wishes for Canadian youth impacted by illness.

Backlund’s caring and sensitive nature towards children has made him an amazing ambassador for the Flames Foundation for Life fundraisers and community programs. Last summer, he also entered the Ride for Hope bike race in Sweden where he raised $23 thousand for children’s’ cancer research and intends on making it an annual event

[nik-]

Wish we had locked him up for the 4 years at 2m per like I hoped

Maybe 4 years 12m total after next year? The guy is just an awesome Flame, even aside from his current great season.

[Hatter]

Good for Backlund. A good player and a good guy. We wouldn't go wrong with a fee more Backlunds in the organization!

[Gaskal]

Couldn't think of a more deserving recipient.

[btimbit]

Just saw this on Twitter. Congrats Backlund, great guy, great player.

[bubbsy]

Awesome to hear. He's become a true NHLer this season, and is solidying himself as a scoring line Center. I consider him the flames #1 center already, and if he continues that in the coming years, he has far exceeded my opinion of him topping out as a #2 center.

What's awesome is that this isn't just a few games or a week or two. Backlund has generated offensive chances and points regularly for several months now.

[undercoverbrother]

Sounds like he has empathy for others....................do not want.

[FlamesAddiction]

What an honour!

Congrats!

[Huntingwhale]

Awesome. What a story Backlund's career is becoming. So glad he's a Flame, hopefully for a long time.

[Plett25]

Are KHL players eligible for this award?

[BloodFetish]

Really great to see how he's grown into a great young man and important part of the team.

[codynw]

Originally Posted by Plett25

Are KHL players eligible for this award?

No. So it's a good thing he won it before he left.

[Coach]

Came to make KHL joke. Leaving satisfied.

[JiriHrdina]

I've heard from a couple people that Backlund is one of the most genuine guys on the team. There are a lot of folks really happy to see him succeed this season because he's one of the real good guys.

[Fire]

Originally Posted by nik-

Maybe 4 years 12m total after next year? The guy is just an awesome Flame, even aside from his current great season.

If Burke can get a 4 yr 12 m deal done he would be a miracle worker. If Backlund can at least maintain his level of play next season he will be getting about 4 million a season.

[Coach]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

I've heard from a couple people that Backlund is one of the most genuine guys on the team. There are a lot of folks really happy to see him succeed this season because he's one of the real good guys.

He does seem like a really great guy. Humble and willing to improve and proove his worth to the team. He also seems to be willing to do anything for the flaming C. A true Calgary Flame. He is always so pumped when the team scores and he hates the Oilers and Canucks as much as us.

[Calgary4LIfe]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

I've heard from a couple people that Backlund is one of the most genuine guys on the team. There are a lot of folks really happy to see him succeed this season because he's one of the real good guys.

That is really not very surprising. In most of his interviews I have seen him in, he really comes across in that way. Just really 'open' and honest, and you have that sense that he really is who he is during interviews. McGrattan and Backlund seem like the two most genuine characters on the team.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Good for him. Great guy and great player. I'm glad our patience with him has payed off. Hartley's tough love early this season didn't seem to derail him. Surprised how many people are still tempering their expectations of him and call him an ideal 3rd line centre. To me he looks like an elite 2nd line centre the 2nd half of this season. Hartley seems to agree based on his recent comments. We're looking pretty at centre long term for the time in the entire time I've been following the Flames.

[Schraderbrau]

Backlund is really growing on me. His play has come a long way this year and he really seems to be invovled in the community. Everytime they show a clip on the jumbo tron at the Flames game of a charity event Backlund seems to be invovled. He is the type of player that makes you proud to wear a Flames Jersey.

Congrats!!!

[getbak]

Originally Posted by mattyc

a true calgary flame. He is always so pumped when the team scores and he hates the oilers and canucks as much as us.

This is a few years old, but I've always liked it...



"I hate them. I want to beat them."


"This goalie's terrible."
"Yeah, it's Luongo. He's shi....He's terrible."