Interview with Ontario Reigns Vincent LoVerde and Sean Backman

Sean Backman was born in 1986 in Cos Cob, CT and joined the Dallas Stars’ organization with a professional contract in 2010.

After playing for their AHL affiliated Texas Stars, the 5’8 speedy forward found his way to the Manchester Monarchs and also helped them achieve the Calder Cup in 2015 with 17 points in 19 games.

(Photo Credit to Lindsay A. Mogle / Utica Comets)

Deemed too small to play in the NHL, Backman plays the game with a hard work ethic like no one else, (his dynamic speed helps as well).  After the announcement that fellow Reign player Michael Mersch wasn’t going to be at the AHL All-Star weekend event and would be replaced with Backman, he made the most of his opportunity by finishing second in the “Fastest Skater” competition and lost only by a hair of 14.468 to Derek Grant of the Stockton Heat’s winning record of 14.307.

Backman then found a surprising chemistry with the San Diego Gulls’ Nick Ritchie during the All-Star Challenge game by scoring a beauty of a goal and also assisting on both of Ritchie’s 2 goals while Ritchie assisted on Backman’s only goal as well.

After the game, Ryan and I also got to briefly talk to Backman, who did the interview with a huge smile on his face.

Mr. Backman, what did you find was the biggest difference between playing in Ontario, California in comparison to playing in Manchester, New Hampshire?
For one the weather. We saw a lot of snow last year and you know the guys want to get in their tee times like they are now so that’s one big difference. Also the travel. It’s a little more strenuous. A lot longer bus rides up to San Jose and Stockton. The teams we see are different and you know it’s nice to play against the best.

Did you get a day with the Calder Cup?
Yep

What did you do on your day with the Cup?
I actually had it for a couple of days. For the first day we went out for dinner as a family and just had a nice meal with it. The following day we had a barbeque [and had a] couple of my buddies out there and family friends. Had a good time.

Who is your favorite hockey player of all time?
Probably Pavel Bure.

Afterwards we shook Mr. Backman’s hand and I even got a selfie with him.  To show the class and approachable personality that he has, after the All-Star event weekend had ended and Ryan and I were walking to my SUV so we could head back home to Canada, Backman was standing alone by the sidewalk, waiting for the team bus to pick him up.  Some players would be annoyed by being “bothered” by the same journalists that had just interviewed them earlier but if he was bothered, he never showed it.  Instead the big smile on his face reappeared and we shook hands again, wishing each other a “safe ride home.”  Just like the rest of his Reign teammates and coach we got to meet that weekend, Backman was also was a class act.

Well that concludes my coverage of the 2016 AHL All-Star Classic, Challenge, Press Conference, Hall of Fame induction ceremony, interviews and weekend and I hope you all truly enjoyed this series of Ontario Reign and San Diego Gulls’ related articles as a welcomed addition to my regular LA Kings coverage.  If so, then I would definitely love to return and cover another AHL event (all-star or other) as I was extremely impressed by the tight organization and friendly hospitality by everyone associated with running the All-Star Classic weekend event.

(I think Kingston had a good time too!)

With that said, I would like to thank the American Hockey League, AHL President Dave Andrews, AHL Vice-President Jason Chaimovitch, CaliSports News Emperor and good friend Mario Hicks, the beautiful Theresa Duarte, my “Habs” obsessed brother-in-law Marco “Derno” Medeiros, my ROAD TRIP partner and colleague Ryan Cowley of MakeWayForTheKings.net, Cornell University and of course the Ontario Reigns’ Vincent LoVerde, Sean Backman, Peter Budaj, Mike Stothers and the San Diego Gulls’ Nick Ritchie for giving us some precious time during a very busy event so Ryan and I could interview them and their charming friendliness while we did. Props. And to that guy from Smart Yogurt.  No soup for you.

Stay with us at Calisportsnews.com as we will keep you up-to-date on all things Los Angeles Kings and the rest of the LA sports teams! All Cali, All the time!