More than a big, strong, will-imposing physical force, David Backes is a leader. One of those guys who wears the “C” as naturally as a leopard displays its spots.

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

“He was loyal to his school, very proud.”

Character, loyalty, commitment – even opposing coaches tick off those attributes first when talking about one of the state’s most dominant players during the early 2000s.

