CHICAGO -- The family of Keith Magnuson says it does not blame Rob Ramage for the tragic car crash that killed the former Chicago Blackhawks defenceman. Ramage, also a former NHL defenceman and friend of Magnuson, was driving the car Magnuson was in when it crashed north of Toronto on Monday night.

Ramage, who suffered a broken leg in the wreck, is charged with impaired driving causing death and dangerous driving causing death.

Magnuson's wife, Cindy, phoned Ramage on Tuesday.

"We spoke to Rob and assured him that the family does not feel he was at fault," the Magnuson family said in a statement released yesterday by the Blackhawks.

"This was an accident and accidents happen. We told him how much Keith loved him and that he was certainly not to blame for what happened.

"Keith was a loving and forgiving man and in our hearts we all know that he would want us to support Rob during this difficult time."

The Blackhawks will pay special tribute to Magnuson before Sunday's home game against New Jersey. Magnuson, who was 56, will be remembered with a three-minute video tribute at centre ice. Magnuson's funeral will held tomorrow in the Chicago suburb of Lake Forest. Former Hawks great Stan Mikita and Blackhawk Alumni Association representative Jack Fitzsimmons, along with the entire Blackhawks team, will be honorary pallbearers.