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This article may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia's quality standards. Please improve this article if you can. (September 2007) |
| Position | Defence |
| Shot | Right |
| Height Weight |
6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 210 lb (95 kg; 14 st 0 lb) |
| Pro clubs | NHL Colorado Rockies St. Louis Blues Calgary Flames Toronto Maple Leafs Minnesota North Stars Tampa Bay Lightning Montreal Canadiens Philadelphia Flyers WHA Birmingham Bulls |
| Nationality |  Canada |
| Born | January 11, 1959 , Byron, ON, CAN |
| NHL Draft | 1st overall, 1979 Colorado Rockies |
| Pro career | 1978 – 1994 |
Robert George "Rob" Ramage (born January 11, 1959) is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who played 15 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Colorado Rockies, St. Louis Blues, Calgary Flames, Toronto Maple Leafs, Minnesota North Stars, Tampa Bay Lightning, Montreal Canadiens and Philadelphia Flyers. He also played one season in the World Hockey Association (WHA) for the Birmingham Bulls.
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Playing career
Ramage was selected first overall by the Colorado Rockies in the 1979 NHL Entry Draft. He spent his junior career with the London Knights, who have since retired his number 5, and also played a season in the WHA for the Birmingham Bulls.
In his rookie season with Colorado, Ramage became a part of history in a rather embarrassing way. While the Rockies were playing the New York Islanders, the Rockies' goaltender left the ice for an extra skater after a delayed penalty was called on the Islanders. The puck deflected off the chest protector of Islanders goalie Billy Smith into the corner. Ramage picked up the puck and accidentally made a blind pass from the corner boards in the opposing zone to the blue line. Nobody was there to receive the pass, and so the puck sailed all the way down the length of the ice and into the Colorado net. Smith had been the last Islander to touch the puck, and so he became the first NHL goalie ever to be credited with a goal.
Ramage's name is engraved twice on the Stanley Cup, as a member of the 1989 Calgary Flames and the 1993 Montreal Canadiens. He also played in four NHL All-Star Games (1981, 1984, 1986, 1988).
Off-ice activities
He attended Byron Northview Public School and Saunders Secondary School in London, Ontario. Rob married his high school sweetheart Dawn Van Diepen in 1982. They have three children.
Up until January 23, 2009 Ramage was a broker at the Clayton, Missouri branch of Wachovia Securities (formerly A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc. brokerage firm), soon to be acquired by Wells Fargo. As a result of his conviction for impaired driving (see below), his US permanent residency was terminated, ending his employment.
Trial
Ramage and Magnuson had attended the the funeral of former NHL forward and union executive Keith McCreary, who died of cancer at age 63 on December 9, 2003. On December 15, 2003, Ramage and Magnuson were headed to a NHLPA players' alumni meeting when his rented Chrysler Intrepid car swerved into the oncoming lane and collided with another vehicle, killing passenger and former Chicago Black Hawk captain Keith Magnuson and injuring the driver of the other vehicle. Ramage underwent surgery for a dislocated hip as a result of the accident.
Jury selection began September 11, 2007. He pleaded not guilty to all five charges which were:
- impaired driving causing death (Magnuson).
- dangerous driving causing death (Magnuson).
- having blood alcohol over the legal limit of 80 millilitres in the death of Magnuson.
- impaired driving causing bodily harm (other driver).
- dangerous driving causing bodily harm (other driver).
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 jury needed only 4 1/2 hours to reach their verdicts. He faces up to 14 years in prison and will lose the ability to live and work in the United States. 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. [1]
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. Within days of the verdict, Ramage's mother-in-law died adding to the family's woes.
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. In addition, Ramage posed no danger to society and was described as a "highly regarded and decent man" who has worked tirelessly for charitable causes. The judge nonetheless choose prison over house arrest, saying that it was a general deterrent against impaired driving. Ramage remains free on bail as his lawyer Brian Greenspan stated that both the conviction and sentence would be appealed.[2]
References
External links
- Rob Ramage's career stats at The Internet Hockey Database
- Rob Ramage's biography at Legends of Hockey
- St. Louis Blues Alumni Website
| Preceded by Bobby Smith |
NHL First Overall Draft Pick 1979 |
Succeeded by Doug Wickenheiser |
| Preceded by Rick Vaive |
Toronto Maple Leafs captains 1989-91 |
Succeeded by Wendel Clark |
| Preceded by Lanny McDonald |
Colorado Rockies captains 1981–82 |
Succeeded by Don Lever (NJ) |
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