Keith Magnuson
Encyclopedia
Keith Arlen Magnuson was a professional ice hockey
defenceman from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
who played in the National Hockey League
(NHL) between 1969 and 1979. Magnuson was killed in an auto accident in Vaughan, Ontario
with fellow NHL alumnus Rob Ramage
behind the wheel (Ramage survived the accident, but was later found guilty of vehicular manslaughter).
Magnuson played 589 career NHL games, all with the Chicago Black Hawks
, wearing # 3, and scoring 14 goals and 125 assists for 139 points. Although he didn't score many goals, he was a part of a solid defensive team with the Blackhawks. Perhaps his most telling statistic is his 1,442 career penalty minutes, which included a large number of fighting majors. For a few seasons, Magnuson was captain
of the Chicago Black Hawks team. In April 1970, he graced the cover of Sports Illustrated
. He never played for a Stanley Cup winner, losing in the finals twice in 1971 and 1973 both to the Montreal Canadiens
. Prior to his NHL career, Magnuson was a two time All-American at the University of Denver
, who led his team to two consecutive NCAA titles in 1968 and 1969.
Magnuson was the uncle of Major League Baseball
pitcher Trystan Magnuson
.
was driving Magnuson to an NHLPA
players' alumni meeting when his rented Chrysler Intrepid swerved into the oncoming lane and collided with another vehicle, killing Magnuson and injuring the driver of the other vehicle. Ramage was charged with impaired driving causing death and dangerous driving
causing death. Defense lawyer Brian Greenspan
claimed the blood and urine tests were flawed, and the smell of alcohol came from beer cans that exploded after the crash.
On October 10, 2007, Ramage was found guilty on all counts. The Magnuson family had forgiven Ramage and urged the judge not to send him to prison, instead suggesting that Ramage speak to teens about the dangers of drinking and driving. On December 3, 2007, in a Missouri
civil suit, Ramage and National Car Rental of Canada were found liable for the death of Magnuson. The family of Magnuson was awarded $9.5 million. On January 17, 2008, Ramage was sentenced to four years in prison. Legal experts described the sentence as the harshest ever handed out in Ontario to a motorist with no previous record for drinking and driving. Ramage remained free on bail until his appeal of the sentence was denied on July 12, 2010.
On November 12, 2008, the Chicago Blackhawks retired Magnuson's number 3, along with that of Hall of Fame defenseman Pierre Pilote
, before a game against the Boston Bruins.
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
defenceman from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota....
who played in the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
(NHL) between 1969 and 1979. Magnuson was killed in an auto accident in Vaughan, Ontario
Vaughan, Ontario
Vaughan is a city in York Region north of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Vaughan is the fastest growing municipality in Canada achieving a population growth rate of 80.2% between 1996–2006, according to Statistics Canada having nearly doubled in population since 1991. Vaughan is located in Southern...
with fellow NHL alumnus Rob Ramage
Rob Ramage
George Robert Ramage is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman who played 15 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Colorado Rockies, St. Louis Blues, Calgary Flames, Toronto Maple Leafs, Minnesota North Stars, Tampa Bay Lightning, Montreal Canadiens and Philadelphia Flyers...
behind the wheel (Ramage survived the accident, but was later found guilty of vehicular manslaughter).
Magnuson played 589 career NHL games, all with the Chicago Black Hawks
Chicago Blackhawks
The Chicago Blackhawks are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They have won four Stanley Cup championships since their founding in 1926, most recently coming in 2009-10...
, wearing # 3, and scoring 14 goals and 125 assists for 139 points. Although he didn't score many goals, he was a part of a solid defensive team with the Blackhawks. Perhaps his most telling statistic is his 1,442 career penalty minutes, which included a large number of fighting majors. For a few seasons, Magnuson was captain
Captain (ice hockey)
In ice hockey, each team can designate an official captain for each game. The player serving as captain during the game wears a "C" on his or her jersey...
of the Chicago Black Hawks team. In April 1970, he graced the cover of Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
. He never played for a Stanley Cup winner, losing in the finals twice in 1971 and 1973 both to the Montreal Canadiens
Montreal Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is officially known as ...
. Prior to his NHL career, Magnuson was a two time All-American at the University of Denver
University of Denver
The University of Denver is currently ranked 82nd among all public and private "National Universities" by U.S. News & World Report in the 2012 rankings....
, who led his team to two consecutive NCAA titles in 1968 and 1969.
Magnuson was the uncle of Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
pitcher Trystan Magnuson
Trystan Magnuson
Trystan Stuart Gwyn Magnuson is a Canadian professional baseball pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays of Major League Baseball....
.
Death
On December 15, 2003, Rob RamageRob Ramage
George Robert Ramage is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman who played 15 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Colorado Rockies, St. Louis Blues, Calgary Flames, Toronto Maple Leafs, Minnesota North Stars, Tampa Bay Lightning, Montreal Canadiens and Philadelphia Flyers...
was driving Magnuson to an NHLPA
NHLPA
NHLPA is an initialism for:* The National Hockey League Players Association, a players' union* The National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act of 2000-Video games:...
players' alumni meeting when his rented Chrysler Intrepid swerved into the oncoming lane and collided with another vehicle, killing Magnuson and injuring the driver of the other vehicle. Ramage was charged with impaired driving causing death and dangerous driving
Dangerous driving
Dangerous driving is a statutory offence in England and Wales and Scotland and Northern Ireland. It is also a term of art used in the definition of the offence of causing death by dangerous driving...
causing death. Defense lawyer Brian Greenspan
Brian Greenspan
Brian H. Greenspan, is a Canadian lawyer. He is one of the most famous and well-regarded defence lawyers in Canada, owing to several high-profile clients and to his record in both trial and appellate law....
claimed the blood and urine tests were flawed, and the smell of alcohol came from beer cans that exploded after the crash.
On October 10, 2007, Ramage was found guilty on all counts. The Magnuson family had forgiven Ramage and urged the judge not to send him to prison, instead suggesting that Ramage speak to teens about the dangers of drinking and driving. On December 3, 2007, in a Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
civil suit, Ramage and National Car Rental of Canada were found liable for the death of Magnuson. The family of Magnuson was awarded $9.5 million. On January 17, 2008, Ramage was sentenced to four years in prison. Legal experts described the sentence as the harshest ever handed out in Ontario to a motorist with no previous record for drinking and driving. Ramage remained free on bail until his appeal of the sentence was denied on July 12, 2010.
On November 12, 2008, the Chicago Blackhawks retired Magnuson's number 3, along with that of Hall of Fame defenseman Pierre Pilote
Pierre Pilote
Joseph Albert Pierre Paul Pilote is a former professional ice hockey defenceman. After playing junior hockey for the St. Catharines Teepees in the Ontario Hockey Association, Pilote played minor professional hockey for the Buffalo Bisons in the American Hockey League. Pilote played 890 games in...
, before a game against the Boston Bruins.