Keith Magnuson

Keith Arlen Magnuson (April 27, 1947 – December 15, 2003) was a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman from Wadena, Saskatchewan who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) between 1969 and 1979. Magnuson was killed in an auto accident in Vaughan, Ontario. Fellow NHL alumnus Rob Ramage was behind the wheel (Ramage survived the accident and later found guilty of impaired driving causing death).

Magnuson in 1973
Born	April 27, 1947 Wadena, Saskatchewan, Canada
Died	December 15, 2003 (aged 56) Vaughan, Ontario, Canada
Height	6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight	185 lb (84 kg; 13 st 3 lb)
Position	Defence
Shot	Right
Played for	Chicago Black Hawks
Playing career	1969–1979

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 many fighting majors. For a few seasons, Magnuson was captain of the Chicago Blackhawks team. In April 1970, he appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated.[1] In 1971 and 1972, Magnuson played in the National Hockey League All-Star Game. 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 great uncle to Major League Baseball pitcher Trystan Magnuson and uncle to former Canadian Football League player, Quinn Magnuson. His son Kevin was a member of the 1998 NCAA Ice Hockey Championship team at the University of Michigan and is now a NHLPA registered player agent and lawyer.

Life

Magnuson grew up in Wadena, Saskatchewan. His family moved to Saskatoon when he was 10 years old. When he was seventeen he played for the Saskatoon Blades, before he received a hockey scholarship to the University of Denver. He joined the Chicago Black Hawks for the 1969–70 season and led the league in penalty minutes in his first two seasons. He became an assistant coach for the Black Hawks after he retired in 1979 and was promoted to head coach for the 1980-81 season.

Death

On December 15, 2003, Rob Ramage 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. Defence 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.[2]

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.[2] 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.[2] 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.[3]

On November 12, 2008, the Chicago Blackhawks retired Magnuson's number 3, along with that of Hall of Fame defenceman Pierre Pilote, before a game against the Boston Bruins.

Awards and honours

• Played in 1971 and 1972 NHL All-Star Game

Award	Year
All-WCHA First Team	1966–67
All-WCHA First Team	1967–68
AHCA West All-American	1967–68
All-NCAA All-Tournament First Team	1968	[4]
All-WCHA First Team	1968–69
AHCA West All-American	1968–69
All-NCAA All-Tournament First Team	1969	[4]

Career statistics

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1964–65	Saskatoon Blades	SJHL		54	9	2	11	77		5	0	2	2	6
1965–66	University of Denver	WCHA		—	—	—	—	—		—	—	—	—	—
1966–67	University of Denver	WCHA		30	4	17	21	56		—	—	—	—	—
1967–68	University of Denver	WCHA		34	5	15	20	59		—	—	—	—	—
1968–69	University of Denver	WCHA		32	7	27	34	48		—	—	—	—	—
1969–70	Chicago Black Hawks	NHL		76	0	24	24	213		8	1	2	3	17
1970–71	Chicago Black Hawks	NHL		76	3	20	23	291		18	0	2	2	63
1971–72	Chicago Black Hawks	NHL		74	2	19	21	201		8	0	1	1	29
1972–73	Chicago Black Hawks	NHL		77	0	19	19	140		7	0	2	2	4
1973–74	Chicago Black Hawks	NHL		57	2	11	13	105		11	1	0	1	17
1974–75	Chicago Black Hawks	NHL		48	2	12	14	117		8	1	2	3	15
1975–76	Chicago Black Hawks	NHL		48	1	6	7	99		4	0	0	0	12
1976–77	Chicago Black Hawks	NHL		37	1	6	7	86		—	—	—	—	—
1977–78	Chicago Black Hawks	NHL		67	2	4	6	145		4	0	0	0	7
1978–79	Chicago Black Hawks	NHL		26	1	4	5	41		—	—	—	—	—
1979–80	Chicago Black Hawks	NHL		3	0	0	0	4		—	—	—	—	—
NHL totals				589	14	125	139	1442		68	3	9	12	164

Coaching record

Team	Year	Regular season						Post season
		G	W	L	T	Pts	Division rank	Result
CHI	1980–81	80	31	33	16	78	2nd in Smythe	Lost in first round
CHI	1981–82	52	18	24	10	46	4th in Norris	Fired
Total		132	49	57	26	124

References

1. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/cover/featured/8172/index.htm
2. Ramage gets 4 years but is freed on appeal
3. https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/crime/article/834920--appeal-court-upholds-former-leafs-captain-s-four-year-prison-term
4. "NCAA Frozen Four Records" (PDF). NCAA.org. Retrieved 2013-06-19.

External links

• Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or Hockey-Reference.com, or Legends of Hockey, or The Internet Hockey Database