| Born: | Apr 27, 1947 | Draft: | Undrafted |
| Hometown: | Vaughan, Ontario | Position: | Defense |
| Known For: | 2x NHL All-Star | Shoots: | Right |
| National Team: | Canada |
Keith Magnuson (April 27, 1947 – December 15, 2003) was a Canadian ice hockey player, having played his final year in the NHL with the Chicago Blackhawks during the 1979-80 season. Magnuson was a standout player at the collegiate level, leading the University of Denver to two consecutive NCAA Championships, the second of which he served as the team’s captain. His 34 points in 32 games during his final season with Denver earned him a contract with the Blackhawks for the 1969-70 season. In his first two seasons, Magnuson led the NHL in penalty minutes, collecting 504 minutes in the box during that span. Spending his entire career with the Blackhawks, he accumulated 100+ penalty minutes in seven of the 11 seasons he appeared in, while adding 139 points. While he never won a Stanley Cup, he aided the Blackhawks team to two Stanley Cup Finals, losing both to the Montreal Canadiens in 1971 and 1973
Magnuson’s NHL career came to an end in the 1979-80 season after three games, however he’d remain with the Blackhawks organization in a coaching role, serving as the team’s assistant. After one season, he was promoted to head coach and led the Blackhawks to a 31-33-16 record, losing in the first round of the playoffs. The following season, he was replaced by Bob Pulford midseason, bringing an end to his coaching days in the NHL. Sadly, Magnuson was involved in a car accident, along with Rob Ramage, leading to his death. Ramage, who was driving the vehicle at the time of the crash, was found guilty on impaired driving charges and sentenced to four years in prison. Magnuson’s #3 was retired by the Blackhawks in 2008.
Keith Magnuson Statistics
Deeper Dive
Staff History
- Chicago Blackhawks (Assistant Coach) 1979-1980
- Chicago Blackhawks (Head Coach) 1980-1982
Achievements
- 3x NCAA (WCHA) First All-Star Team (1967, 1968, 1969)
- NCAA (WCHA) Sophomore of the Year (1967)
- 2x NCAA (Championship) All-Tournament Team (1968, 1969)
- NCAA (WCHA) Player of the Year (1968)
- 2x NCAA (West) First All-American Team (1968, 1969)
- NCAA (Championship) Tournament MVP (1969)
- 2x NHL Most Penalized Player (1970, 1971)
- 2x NHL All-Star Game (1971, 1972)