My vote goes to Keith Magnusson. At the beginning of every season Blackhawks announcers would talk about how he spent his offseason learning how to box, learning karate, jujitsu, krav magna. They'd talk about the pros he trained with and how this was the season he'd rain down the pain. Then he'd proceed to go out on the ice and get his ass kicked by some kid called up from the AHL.
He wasn't a bad fighter, but all that training and preparation went out the window as soon as the gloves came off. He certainly wasn't an enforcer, but this is a guy that loved to fight and stood up for his teammates.
He died young and it had nothing to do with CTA. RIP Keith.
He wasn't a bad fighter, but all that training and preparation went out the window as soon as the gloves came off. He certainly wasn't an enforcer, but this is a guy that loved to fight and stood up for his teammates.
He died young and it had nothing to do with CTA. RIP Keith.
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.