Rob Ramage

Rob Ramage
Born	(1959-01-11)January 11, 1959 Byron,Ontario,Canada
Height	6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight	210 lb (95 kg; 15 st 0 lb)
Position	Defence
Shot	Right
Played for	Birmingham Bulls Colorado Rockies St. Louis Blues Calgary Flames Toronto Maple Leafs Minnesota North Stars Tampa Bay Lightning Montreal Canadiens Philadelphia Flyers
National team	Canada
NHL draft	1st overall,1979 Colorado Rockies
Playing career	1978–1994

George Robert Ramage(born January 11, 1959) is aCanadianformer professionalice hockeydefencemanwho played 15 seasons in theNational Hockey League(NHL) for theColorado Rockies,St. Louis Blues,Calgary Flames,Toronto Maple Leafs,Minnesota North Stars,Tampa Bay Lightning,Montreal CanadiensandPhiladelphia Flyers.He also played one season in theWorld Hockey Association(WHA) for theBirmingham Bulls.He was a two-timeStanley Cupwinner in the NHL.

Ramage was born inByron, Ontario,but grew up inLondon, Ontario.

Playing career

Rob Ramage spent his junior career with theLondon Knights,playing three seasons as adefenseman,and was highly touted by many scouts.In his final season with the Knights, Ramage shared the OHL'sMax Kaminsky Trophyas the league's most outstanding defenseman with his teammateBrad Marsh.His sweater number 5 was later retired by the team in his honour. Ramage's birthday fell 12 days too late to make him eligible for the NHL entry draft, though. Instead of returning to the Knights, Ramage elected to sign a contract withWorld Hockey Association'sBirmingham Bulls,as the WHA allowed its clubs to sign players who were younger than 20 years of age. Ramage became a member of an informal group of young Birmingham players known as the "Baby Bulls", all of whom would go on to successful NHL careers. Ramage's WHA rookie year was very successful, at the end of the season he was named a First Team All-Star. At the conclusion of the 1978-79 season, four WHA teams joined the NHL, the rest (including the Birmingham Bulls) ceased operations. Ramage entered the1979 NHL Entry Draftwhere he was selected first overall by theColorado Rockies.

Ramage inadvertently became a part of history in his first season in Colorado. While the Rockies were playing theNew York Islanders,the Rockies'goaltenderleft the ice for an extra skater after a delayed penalty was called on the Islanders. Before the penalty was called, the puck deflected off the chest protector of Islanders goaltenderBilly Smithinto the corner. Ramage picked up the puck and made a blind pass from the corner boards in the opposing zone to theblue 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.

After three seasons with the Rockies, Ramage was traded to theSt. Louis Bluesin exchange for a first-round draft pick. With the Blues, Ramage developed into a steady and skilled defenseman. During the 1985–86 season, Ramage's fourth with the Blues, he posted a career-best 66 points (which was a Blues team record for points by a defenseman). He added 11 more in 19 playoff games as St. Louis made theStanley Cup semi-finals,losing to theCalgary Flamesin seven games.

Two years later, on March 7, 1988, Ramage was traded to the Flames, along withRick Wamsley,forBrett HullandSteve Bozek.The blockbuster trade gave the Flames enviable defensive depth by adding Ramage to a core that already boasted veteransAl MacInnis,Gary SuterandBrad McCrimmon.The following year Ramage was part of the team that won the Flames' firstStanley Cup,but had little time to celebrate before being traded to theToronto Maple Leafsfor a second-round draft pick.

Ramage was named the 13th captain in Maple Leafs franchise history, and remains the only player in team history to be named team captain before playing a game for the team.He played two years on the Toronto blue line before he was left exposed for the1991 Expansion and Dispersal Drafts.As part of a complicated deal that saw theMinnesota North Stars' owners George and Gordon Gund awarded an expansion team inSan Jose,they were permitted to raid the roster and farm system of their former club.As a result, a dispersal draft was held that allowed the North Stars to select players from the rest of the league and Minnesota used their first pick to pluck Ramage from the Maple Leafs. Ramage was disappointed to end his tenure with the Maple Leafs in such an ignominious fashion. "It was upsetting. I guess all athletes have a certain amount of pride and to be left unprotected is definitely a blow to that pride."

Ramage spent one season in Minnesota which was cut short when a knee injury required surgery, before finding himself once again on the unprotected list as the league was set to expand by two more clubs with franchises granted inOttawaandTampa Bay.

Ramage was selected by the Tampa Bay Lightning but failed to make much of an impression with the club as he struggled with just 17 points in 66 games. Despite his diminishing offensive returns, he was still a respected veteran around the league and was acquired by theMontreal Canadiensin a trade that sent youngstersÉric Charron,Alain Côtéand future considerations (Donald Dufresne) to Tampa Bay. A sprained knee caused Ramage to miss the end of the season and the beginning of the playoffsbut he eventually played in seven playoff games, helping the Canadiens defeat the Los Angeles Kings for the 1993 Stanley Cup.

The following year, 1993–94, Ramage returned to the Canadiens, but the defending champions had a deep team and the emergence of rookiePeter Popovicmade him expendable so he switched teams for the final time in his career.Philadelphiaacquired Ramage from the Canadiens for cash and he suited up for the final fifteen games of his career with the Flyers before retiring on July 26, 1994.

Ramage's name is on theStanley Cupas a member of the1989Calgary Flames and the1993Montreal Canadiens. He also played in fourNHL All-Star Games(1981, 1984, 1986, 1988).

Personal

He attendedByron Northview Public SchoolandSaunders Secondary SchoolinLondon, Ontario.Ramage married his high school sweetheart Dawn Van Diepen in 1982. They have three children, Tamara, Jaclyn, John, and Dylan

Up until January 23, 2009, Ramage was a broker at theClayton, Missouribranch ofWachovia Securities(formerlyA.G. Edwards& Sons, Inc. brokerage firm), acquired byWells Fargoin 2009.

In December 2011, Ramage was named assistant coach of theLondon Knightsafter coachDale Hunterleft the team to become head coach of theWashington Capitals.

Rob's son,John Ramage,was selected by theCalgary Flamesin the 4th round of the2010 NHL Entry Draft.John played NCAA Division I college ice hockey with theWisconsin Badgers men's ice hockey,and he was named the USA team captain at the2011 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.

On July 30, 2014, Ramage re-joined the Canadiens organization, being appointed player development coach.

Rob is currently the head coach for the St Louis Blues Warriors.

Death of Keith Magnuson and impaired driving conviction

On December 15, 2003, Ramage was driving formerChicago Blackhawksdefenceman and coachKeith Magnusonto an NHLPA players' alumni meeting when his rentedChrysler Intrepidcar swerved into the oncoming lane near Toronto and collided with another vehicle, killing Magnuson and injuring the driver of the other vehicle. Ramage was charged withimpaired drivingcausing death anddangerous drivingcausing death. Defense lawyerBrian Greenspanclaimed 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, 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.On December 3, 2007, in aMissouricivil 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.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.

In July 2010, Ramage began serving his sentence atFrontenac Institution,a minimum security facility inKingston,Ontario,Canada.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.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.

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 sentence expired in July 2014.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1975–76	London Knights	OMJHL		65	12	31	43	113		5	0	1	1	11
1976–77	London Knights	OMJHL		65	15	58	73	177		20	3	11	14	55
1977–78	London Knights	OMJHL		59	17	47	64	162		11	4	5	9	29
1978–79	Birmingham Bulls	WHA		80	12	36	48	165		—	—	—	—	—
1979–80	Colorado Rockies	NHL		75	8	20	28	135		—	—	—	—	—
1980–81	Colorado Rockies	NHL		79	20	42	62	193		—	—	—	—	—
1981–82	Colorado Rockies	NHL		70	13	29	42	201		—	—	—	—	—
1982–83	St. Louis Blues	NHL		78	16	35	51	193		4	0	3	3	22
1983–84	St. Louis Blues	NHL		80	15	45	60	121		11	1	8	9	32
1984–85	St. Louis Blues	NHL		80	7	31	38	178		3	1	3	4	6
1985–86	St. Louis Blues	NHL		77	10	56	66	171		19	1	10	11	66
1986–87	St. Louis Blues	NHL		59	11	28	39	106		6	2	2	4	21
1987–88	St. Louis Blues	NHL		67	8	34	42	127		—	—	—	—	—
1987–88	Calgary Flames	NHL		12	1	6	7	37		9	1	3	4	21
1988–89	Calgary Flames	NHL		68	3	13	16	156		20	1	11	12	26
1989–90	Toronto Maple Leafs	NHL		80	8	41	49	202		5	1	2	3	20
1990–91	Toronto Maple Leafs	NHL		80	10	25	35	173		—	—	—	—	—
1991–92	Minnesota North Stars	NHL		34	4	5	9	69		—	—	—	—	—
1992–93	Tampa Bay Lightning	NHL		66	5	12	17	138		—	—	—	—	—
1992–93	Montreal Canadiens	NHL		8	0	1	1	8		7	0	0	0	4
1993–94	Montreal Canadiens	NHL		6	0	1	1	2		—	—	—	—	—
1993–94	Philadelphia Flyers	NHL		15	0	1	1	14		—	—	—	—	—
NHL totals				1,044	139	425	564	2,224		84	8	42	50	218

International

Year	Team	Event		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1977	Canada	WJC		7	0	1	1	6
1978	Canada	WJC		6	1	3	4	6
1981	Canada	WC		8	0	1	1	0
Junior totals				13	1	4	5	12
Senior totals				8	0	1	1	0

See also

• List of NHL players with 1,000 games played
• List of NHL players with 2,000 career penalty minutes

External links

• Biographical information and career statistics fromNHL,orEliteprospects,orHockey-Reference,orThe Internet Hockey Database