Rob Ramage

Robert "Rob" Ramage was born on January 11, 1959 in London, Ontario, Canada and was a professional ice hockey player from 1979 to 1994. He attended Byron Southwood Public School and Saunders Secondary School in London, Ontario. Rob married his high school sweetheart Dawn Van Diepen in 1982. They have three children.

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 World Hockey Association for the Birmingham Bulls. His National Hockey League career spanned fifteen seasons, during which he played for the Rockies, the St. Louis Blues, Toronto Maple Leafs, Calgary Flames, Minnesota North Stars, Tampa Bay Lightning, Montreal Canadiens, and Philadelphia Flyers.

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.

Off-ice activities and trial

He is currently a broker at the Clayton, MO branch of A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc. brokerage firm.

On December 15, 2003, Ramage was behind the wheel when his 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. Charged with impaired driving causing death, jury selection began September 11, 2007. He pleaded not guilty to all five charges.

The charges 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).

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.

On December 3, 2007, 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. Ramage's lawyer stated that both the conviction and sentence would be appealed.

tatistics

*Position: Defence
*Height: 6 ft 2 in
*Weight: 210 lb
*Goals scored: 139
*Assists: 425
*Games played: 1,044

ee also

*Captain (hockey)
*List of NHL players
*List of NHL seasons

External links

*hockeydb|4447
* [http://bluesalumni.com/ St. Louis Blues Alumni Website]