Rob Ramage found guilty of 5 charges

Last Updated: Thursday, October 11, 2007 | 1:18 AM ET

CBC Sports

A jury has found former Toronto Maple Leafs captain Rob Ramage guilty of five charges stemming from a fatal auto collision in 2003, including impaired driving causing death.

The jury of eight men and four women delivered the verdict Wednesday — its second day of deliberation — in a Newmarket, Ont., courtroom.

A police officer examines the rental car allegedly driven by Rob Ramage.
(Saul Porto/Canadian Press)

Ramage, 48, pleaded not guilty Sept. 11 to five charges stemming from the fatal collision of Dec. 15, 2003, which claimed the life of former NHLer Keith Magnuson.

The most serious conviction — impaired driving causing death — carries a maximum penalty of 14 years in prison.

"It is a tragedy for all involved, including my family," said Ramage, who will be sentenced Jan. 17.

Ramage underwent surgery for a dislocated hip after the rented Chrysler Intrepid he allegedly was driving veered into traffic and struck two vehicles near Vaughan, Ont., just north of Toronto.

Magnuson, a passenger in the Intrepid, was pronounced dead at the scene.

A former defenceman who spent his entire 11-year pro career with the Chicago Blackhawks, he was 56.

Michelle Pacheco, whose SUV collided with Ramage's vehicle, suffered non-life-threatening injuries, while both occupants of a third car involved in the crash were uninjured.

Ramage was charged with impaired driving causing death, impaired driving causing bodily harm, two counts of dangerous driving causing death and having a blood-alcohol level over the legal limit.

A York police report alleged that Ramage and Magnuson were headed to a players' alumni meeting after attending the funeral of former NHL forward and union executive Keith McCreary, who died of cancer at age 63 on Dec. 9, 2003.

The prosecution entered scientific evidence that showed Ramage had up to four times the legal blood-alcohol limit at the time of the crash, though none of the hundreds of people at the wake could verify he had a single drink.

The defence argued the blood and urine tests were flawed, and any scent of beer came from cans that exploded in the accident.

Ramage posted 139 goals and 564 points with 2,224 penalty minutes in 1,044 NHL games after being drafted first overall by the Colorado Rockies in 1979.

The London, Ont., native played for the Rockies, St. Louis Blues, Calgary Flames, Minnesota North Stars, Tampa Bay Lightning, Montreal Canadiens, Philadelphia Flyers and Maple Leafs, which he captained from 1989-91.

Ramage, who lives in St. Louis, must return to Canada for sentencing submissions on Dec. 18.

His permanent residency status in the United States will be terminated once he is sentenced.