Today, I'm looking at Keith Magnuson: The inspiring Life and Times of a Beloved Blackhawk, by Doug Feldmann.

Keith Magnuson was a defensive standout for Chicago between 1969 and 1980. He probably experienced just about everything in his tenure with the team, except one thing; a Stanley Cup championship. He did see the rise of Bobby Hull and Stan Mikita, he watched as the WHA came and raided the NHL rosters, tearing apart a Blackhawks team that could have challenged for the Stanley Cup, and he saw the departure of Bobby Hull to the WHA.

Not to mention the constant string of injuries that, for many players, would have pulled someone out of the line-up much more often. But, somehow, Magnuson stayed in, and thrived. He simply would not allow any excuses to keep him out of the lineup on a nightly basis. He was very well liked and appreciated by his teammates and coaches, not to mention the opposition, who respected him every single game they would face him.

Although told by someone else, in this book you really get a feeling for what “Maggie” was like. From the stories by his teammates, he was the type of player who would give almost anything and practically everything to someone if it meant they would benefit from it.

On December 14, 2003, Magnuson was riding in a car driven by former NHL defenseman standout Rob Ramage. Ramage lost control of the car, and crashed. While Ramage would survive his injuries, Magnuson would be pronounced dead at the scene. The ensuing memorial would be attended by so many that over 200 people had to sit in another room with the services being shown on televisions.

Maggie's number three would eventually hang in the rafters of the United Center, a fitting tribute to a defenseman that “did it right, every night.” What better legacy need be said?

Special thanks to Triumph Books for making this book available for reviewing purposes.

Link to Triumph Books: http://www.triumphbooks.com/products/keith_magnuson_/1572436622.php

Link to Powell's City of Books: http://www.powells.com/biblio/61-9781600788314-0

Link to Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Keith-Magnuson-Inspiring-Beloved-Blackhawk/dp/1600788319/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1385012386&sr=1-1&keywords=Keith+Magnuson%3A+The+Inspiring+Life+and+Times+of+a+Beloved+Blackhawk

Link to Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/keith-magnuson-doug-feldmann/1114986815?ean=9781600788314