Rob Ramage

Rob Ramage
Born	(1959-01-11) January 11, 1959 Byron, ON, CAN
Height	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight	210 lb (95 kg; 15 st 0 lb)
Position	Defence
Shot	Right
Played for	NHL Colorado Rockies St. Louis Blues Calgary Flames Toronto Maple Leafs Minnesota North Stars Tampa Bay Lightning Montreal Canadiens Philadelphia Flyers WHA Birmingham Bulls
National team	Canada
NHL Draft	1st overall, 1979 Colorado Rockies
Playing career	1978–1994

George Robert Ramage (born January 11, 1959) is a Canadian former 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. Ramage was born in Byron, Ontario, but grew up in London, Ontario.

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 played a season in the WHA for the Birmingham Bulls.

In his rookie season with Colorado, Ramage became a part of history. 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. Presumably before the penalty was called, 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 was traded to the Calgary Flames by St. Louis, along with Rick Wamsley, for Brett Hull.

Ramage's name is 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).

Personal

He attended Byron Northview Public School and Saunders Secondary School in London, Ontario. Ramage married his high school sweetheart Dawn Van Diepen in 1982. They have three children, Tamara, Jaclyn and John, who is currently a prospect in the Calgary Flames system.

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.

December 2011 - Ramage named assistant coach of The London Knights after Dale Hunter left the team to became head coach of The Washington Capitals.

Rob's son, John Ramage, was selected by the Calgary Flames in the 4th round of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. John currently plays NCAA Division I college ice hockey with the Wisconsin Badgers men's ice hockey, and he was named the USA team captain at the 2011 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.^[1]

Impaired driving conviction

On December 15, 2003, Ramage was driving former Chicago Blackhawks captain Keith Magnuson to an NHLPA players' alumni meeting when his rented Chrysler Intrepid car 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.^[2]

On October 10, 2007, Ramage, who had pleaded not guilty, 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]

In July 2010, Ramage began serving his sentence at Frontenac Institution,^[4] a minimum security facility in Kingston, Ontario, Canada.^[5] In March 2011, Ramage made his first application for day parole and release to a halfway house, but this request was denied. The board did grant him permission to leave the minimum-security prison for three-day unescorted absences once a month. The board cited its belief that Ramage did not yet understand the severity of the actions which led to his incarceration. Their concern centered on Ramage's drinking habits and whether he took responsibility for the crash.^[4] On May 5, 2011 Ramage's second request for day parole was granted. He is barred from drinking alcohol and he is restricted from visiting establishments where alcohol is the primary focus. Ramage must undergo psychological counseling and the court order prevents him from driving.^[6]

Originally Ramage was not eligible to seek accelerated parole because his crime was considered violent. The federal government is abolishing legal provisions that free some non-violent, first-time offenders as soon as six months into their sentences. Ramage’s full sentence is to expire in July 2014.^[7]

Career statistics

See also

• List of NHL players with 1000 games played
• List of NHL players with 2000 career penalty minutes

References

External links

• Rob Ramage's career statistics at The Internet Hockey Database
• Rob Ramage at Hockey-Reference.com
• Rob Ramage's biography at Legends of Hockey
• Rob Ramage's player profile at NHL.com