Rob Ramage has been sentenced to four years in prison for a December 2003 crash that killed a former Chicago Blackhawks player..

Toronto - Rob Ramage has been sentenced to four years in prison for a December 2003 crash that killed a former Chicago Blackhawks player.

Keith Magnuson died on December 15th, 2003, when a rental car driven by Ramage slammed head-on into another vehicle just north of Toronto.

Before sentencing, Ramage told the court Magnuson “was a dear friend and mentor.”

The judge noted that while Ramage was an “exemplary citizen”, he could not ignore the fact the sentence had to send a message of general deterrence to the public.

The judge also called the accident tragic and senseless.

He also banned Ramage from driving for five years.

Ramage’s wife was in court and broke down in tears after hearing the sentence.

Outside court, Ramage’s lawyer, Brian Greenspan said he would appeal both the conviction and sentence Thursday afternoon at the Ontario Court of Appeal.

Greenspan expects Ramage to be released and returned to his family in St. Louis pending the outcome of the appeal.

Last October, a Newmarket jury found Ramage guilty on all five charges he faced, including impaired driving causing death.

Ramage spent 15 years in the N-H-L with eight teams, winning Stanley Cup finals with the Calgary Flames and Montreal Canadiens.

He captained the Leafs from 1989-91.