Its the most gruesome distinction in hockey: Only one player has ever died from injuries directly suffered in an NHL game. Masterton was knocked backward in the resulting collision and landed on his head. Bill Masterton is the only man to die of injuries sustained in a National Hockey League (NHL) game. He cherished his son, Scott, 3, and daughter, Sally, 1. "This is an urgent matter," UMC CEO Bill Masterton said. It is named after Bill Masterton, the only player in NHL history to die as a direct result of injuries suffered during a game. 19, a tradition the franchise continued to honor when it moved and became the Dallas Stars. The season started with promise: Masterton scored the first goal in North Stars history. He played that game standing up, Williamson said. Talk centered on the divisive topic of helmets. "We didn't really know concussions in those days," said Bush, now 86. Bill Masterton, the only player to die from injuries suffered during an NHL game, might not have died in vain. It was always in the back of his mind.. [14] His wife Carol later recalled that it was a "dream come true" for her husband: "He always wanted a shot at the NHL, and expansion was a wonderful thing for him and guys like him. That honour followed the franchise when it relocated south to become the Dallas Stars. That was the NHL's code. The Toronto Star and thestar.com, each property of Toronto Star What killed this man was second-impact syndrome.. I was asked to take it off, Boudrias said. I looked at him and said, What are you going to do? because he was just starting a young family, said Bob. Boudrias is convinced his insistence on wearing a helmet factored into Blairs decision. . If you do not yet have a Torstar account, you can create one now (it is free), Copyright owned or licensed by Toronto Star Newspapers Limited. RIP in hockey heaven. [15] He received treatment on the ice and in the dressing room before being rushed to Fairview-Southdale Hospital.[3]. Bill Masterton's death sparked a long-running debate in hockey about the merits of wearing helmets, as few NHL players did so in that time. For my iTunes documentary, "The California Golden Seals Story" - I interviewed three witnesses to the tragic sequence of events that led to the death of Minn. He wasnt the most talented guy in the world but he really wanted to play. cemeteries found in Masterton, Masterton District, Wellington, . Typical of the attitude of the day, North Stars coach Wren Blair frowned on the practice. A team of doctors at the hospital treated Masterton with steroids and diuretics, but the swelling in his brain was so swift and severe that they decided against operating. I don't think his heart completely stopped. That dream carried him through junior hockey in his hometown of Winnipeg and three years at the University of Denver, where he was an All-American and led the Pioneers to the 1961 NCAA championship, but the dream stalled after two years of minor league hockey in the Montreal Canadiens organization. Bill Masterton died from head injuries he suffered in a National Hockey League game in 1968, sparking a long-running debate over helmets, which were finally made mandatory 11 seasons later. One account holds that Masterton regained consciousness for a few moments and repeated the words, Never again, never again, before closing his eyes for the final time. "What killed this man was second-impact syndrome.". I am convinced he had some type of concussion beforehand, said Dr. Jesse Corry, a specialist in neurocritical care at the John Nasseff Neuroscience Specialty Clinic in St. Paul who studied the autopsy report. There is evidence of massive brain swelling . Like many Canadian boys growing up in the '50s, Masterton listened to Saturday night radio broadcasts of "Hockey Night in Canada" and dreamed of Foster Hewitt making the call: "Masterton shoots, he scores!". It is very rare to see that level of swelling in the brain from a single injury, he said. NHL trade grades: Kane deal to Rangers earns high marks for one side, NHL trade tracker: Latest deals, rumors and grades, Rangers clear hurdles, get Kane from Blackhawks, Oilers bulk up defense, secure Predators' Ekholm, Leafs win Schenn sweepstakes, trade for veteran, Leafs deal Sandin to Capitals for Gustafsson, pick, Wild add depth, acquire Johansson from Capitals, NHL suspends Rangers' Miller for spitting incident, Oilers trade ex-No. You hold out four fingers. [11] The new team's coach and general manager, Wren Blair, had scouted Masterton while he played with the US Nationals and purchased his NHL playing rights from the Canadiens. "We watched his head bounce," Lindgren said. Masterton left pro hockey after two seasons when it appeared hed never make the NHL. When Masterton's head struck the ice at Met Center, there was no skull fracture, but his brain swelled very quickly, evidenced by his dilated pupils and elevated blood pressure -- which pointed to a previous head injury. The scoreboard showed a video of Laperriere getting nailed in face with a puck in the opening series against New Jersey, blood pouring from a gash over his right eye. Corry confirmed the opinion of Dr. Charles Tator, a Toronto neurosurgeon quoted in the Toronto Star article, who also said Masterton showed signs of "second-impact syndrome." It sounded like a baseball bat hitting a ball, teammate Andr Boudrias recalled. "I was asked to take it off," Boudrias said. To order copies of States the autopsy report: "There was a blow to the left temple in a game some days prior to the fatal injury and the deceased is said to have complained of headaches in the left temporal region.". ' said Mastertons son, Scott, now 50. The specter of Masterton's death hung over the NHL All-Star Game, which was played in Toronto the next day, Jan. 16, 1968. The following season, Blair traded Boudrias, who had scored the second-most points for the team in its first season, citing a drop in his production. [16] Legislators in New York considered a law to make their use mandatory,[20] and the NHL voted on and rejected a rule requiring players wear helmets three times by 1971. His eyes were gray at the time it was like a horror picture, Boudrias says. He and others considered it a sign of weakness. ", North Stars coach Wren Blair describes Masterton's qualities as a player. He cherished his son, Scott, 3, and daughter, Sally, 1. This reminded me of Rich Beverly or Peverly for the Stars. That's what men did. [4] At the time of his graduation, he was the Pioneers' all-time leading point scorer, a record he held for 25 years. On that fatal night at Met Center on Jan. 13, 1968, the Minnesota North Stars center, playing against the Oakland Seals, carried the puck across the blue line and cut to the right while Seals defensemen Larry Cahan and Ron Harris closed in. Boudrias helped the team's trainer onto the ice to tend to Masterton. Its a fine tribute to a respected player who exhibited those virtues himself, but its regrettable that it ever came to be. And in Mastertons case, it probably cost him his life. His death . John Rosengren is the author of Blades of Glory: The True Story of a Young Team Bred to Win. Season. Hes also convinced a helmet would have saved Mastertons life. He didnt just work on the ice. [11], The NHL expanded in 1967, doubling from 6 teams to 12. He and the Stars' trainer had noticed Masterton's face was "blood red, almost purple," and were concerned enough that they wanted Masterton checked out by a doctor. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? After his death, his #19 jersey was officially retired by the Minnesota North Stars. When Masterton's head struck the ice at Met Center, there was no skull fracture, but his brain swelled very quickly, evidenced by his dilated pupils and elevated blood pressure -- which pointed to a previous head injury. The Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy was created in 1968 under the trusteeship of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association and is presented annually to the "National Hockey League player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey". He's also convinced a helmet would have saved Masterton's life. Awareness about brain injuries and how to treat them has come a long way since then. They and many others claim the league could be doing more to protect its players from returning to action too soon. States the autopsy report: There was a blow to the left temple in a game some days prior to the fatal injury and the deceased is said to have complained of headaches in the left temporal region.. Since Masterton was off balance at the time he got checked (cleanly; there was no penalty called), his brain twisted inside of his skull before his head struck the ice. Republication or distribution of this content is Blair, in charge of the North Stars, came calling. "When he had headaches early on, we wouldn't have had him on the ice," he said. the Story Of Hockey History Bill Masterton a unforchanate hit that lead to his death "He was a team man off the charts.". When the brain hasn't healed completely from a previous injury, a subsequent blow can cause the type of sudden and severe swelling found in Masterton's brain. TikTok video from That Stars Fan (@hockey_unpaused): "Bill Masterton is the only player in NHL history to die as a direct result of an injury suffered on the ice. "You protect your elbows, hips, knees and hands, I figured, why not protect your head?" It honours perseverance and dedication to hockey. It took the NHL more than a decade to catch up to Boudrias' logic. States the autopsy report: "There was a blow to the left temple in a game some days prior to the fatal injury and the deceased is said to have complained of headaches in the left temporal region.". 4 pick Puljujarvi to Canes, Chasing history in Boston: The numbers behind the Bruins' wild 2022-23 season, McDavid, then who? The following season, Blair traded Boudrias, who had scored the second-most points for the team in its first season, citing a drop in his production. That's what men did. "[11] The force of the impact caused Masterton to bleed from his nose, ears, and mouth. "He was a team man off the charts.". William Masterton (August 13, 1938 - January 15, 1968) was a Canadian American professional ice hockey centre who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Minnesota North Stars in 1967-68. The hit was considered clean but the back of Masterton's head hit the ice hard and he died after being rushed to the hospital. [3] Masterton was promoted to the Cleveland Barons of the American Hockey League (AHL) for the 196263 season, where he led the team with 82 points. Boudrias is convinced his insistence on wearing a helmet factored into Blair's decision. "He played that game standing up," Williamson said. In the week before his last game, Masterton had complained to his wife and several teammates about headaches. Corry confirmed the opinion of Dr. Charles Tator, a Toronto neurosurgeon quoted in the Toronto Star article, who also said Masterton showed signs of "second-impact syndrome." Throughout his college career, right through to his training camp in Memphis, Masterton wore a helmet, a rarity in an age when head protection was dismissed by players and management alike. Star Newspapers Limited and/or its licensors. When Masterton's head struck the ice at Met Center, there was no skull fracture, but his brain swelled very quickly, evidenced by his dilated pupils and elevated blood pressure -- which pointed to a previous head injury. Corry does not think the amount of swelling would have been caused from the singular impact at Met Center. "We watched his head bounce," Lindgren said. Masterton died on Jan. 15, 1968, after head injuries suffered during a game. "He played that game standing up," Williamson said. [16] He played two seasons with the St. Paul Steers between 1964 and 1966. They carried Masterton off on a stretcher, and an ambulance rushed him to Fairview Southdale hospital, seven miles away. Nor did he see evidence of CTE, the progressive degenerative disease found posthumously in the brains of nearly 87 of 91 NFL players who suffered multiple blows to the head. You took a stick to the face? He didnt move after that. Death 20 Feb 2002 (aged 86) New Zealand. . Yet players such as Masterton learned to play hurt. He admits he lied to team doctors about his post-concussion issues in order to return for a shot at the Stanley Cup. "I am convinced he had some type of concussion beforehand," said Dr. Jesse Corry, a specialist in neurocritical care at the John Nasseff Neuroscience Specialty Clinic in St. Paul who studied the autopsy report. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dh_uLi6Bf7s, https://www.hockey-reference.com/awards/masterton.html. "[Masterton] probably had some earlier swelling going on, so if he got a second injury, it would be catastrophic.". New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. There's also the girl that was killed in the stands by a puck. But he played as though he was, said Muckler. RIP Bill Masterton. . Im fine, hed say, the mantra of a thousand hockey players. [1] Following a second season in which he recorded 53 points in 30 games, Masterton chose to attend the University of Denver where he was offered a scholarship to play with the Denver Pioneers hockey program. He is the only player in NHL history to die as a direct result of injuries suffered during a game, the result of massive head injuries suffered following a hit during a January 13, 1968 contest against the Oakland Seals. Oakland defencemen Larry Cahan and Ron Harris moved in to check Masterton, who wound up falling on the back of his head. On that fatal night at Met Center on Jan. 13, 1968, the Minnesota North Stars center, playing against the Oakland Seals, carried the puck across the blue line and cut to the right while Seals defensemen Larry Cahan and Ron Harris closed in. He understands how passion and perseverance can deliver both glory and death. But four neurologists cleared him to play after the spot disappeared. The irony is that perseverance probably killed Bill Masterton. He bore the bruises of that hit and others in subsequent games -- on his left arm, both thighs and, unwittingly, his brain. Theres no doubt in my mind about that, Boudrias said. Its a badge of honour, he said. One of their sticks tangled with Masterton's skates as he slid a pass to his wing, and he lost his balance, pitching forward. They carried Masterton off on a stretcher, and an ambulance rushed him to Fairview Southdale hospital, seven miles away. If anyone is wondering his story here's a short video TSN did on him https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dh_uLi6Bf7s and here is a list of the previous winners of the trophy named after him. The night before the Oakland game, Mastertons family gathered at the house of their neighbor, North Star goaltender Cesare Maniago, to celebrate Maniagos 29th birthday. A team of doctors at the hospital treated Masterton with steroids and diuretics, but the swelling in his brain was so swift and severe that they decided against operating. Toronto Star articles, please go to: www.TorontoStarReprints.com, Conversations are opinions of our readers and are subject to the. For the 1979-80 season, the league finally made helmets mandatory for new players allowing those who signed professional contracts prior to June 1, 1979, the option not to wear them but it would be 18 years before every NHL player complied. Still, it's very hard because I made the play. The Professional Hockey Writers Association proposed -- and the league immediately approved -- the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy to be awarded annually to the player who best exemplifies the virtues of perseverance, courage and sportsmanship that Masterton displayed. But from that moment forward, the echoes of his fathers life stopped. He's also convinced a helmet would have saved Masterton's life. He had been checked hard into the glass -- less yielding in those days -- two weeks earlier in a game against the Boston Bruins. Hed never show when he got hurt. We didnt really know concussions in those days, said Bush, now 86. We didnt think it was that serious.. He finished with a master's degree in business at Denver and landed a job at the Minneapolis-based technology company Honeywell, where he worked in the financial department for the Apollo project, married his high school sweetheart and started a family, adopting a son and a daughter. More importantly, he earned a degree. In 1968, Boudrias was the only North Star who wore a helmet. [22] The "macho" attitude of the game, including fear of being called a coward, was an often cited reason for reluctance. [16] In that game, a 22 tie, Masterton scored the first goal in Minnesota franchise history. My interpretation is that the seeds of this catastrophic injury were sown days before.. That injury was compounded by the age-old hockey code that preaches shake-it-off-and-get-back-out-there resilience in the face of pain, serious injury, even brain trauma. When he had headaches early on, we wouldnt have had him on the ice, he said. Press J to jump to the feed. That dream carried him through junior hockey in his hometown of Winnipeg and three years at the University of Denver, where he was an All-American and led the Pioneers to the 1961 NCAA championship, but the dream stalled after two years of minor league hockey in the Montreal Canadiens' organization. Masterton was soft-spoken and modest, a quiet guy with a good sense of humor. The team doctor soon joined him. Awareness about brain injuries and how to treat them has come a long way since then. Id been knocked out myself playing football. Masterton was not a marquee player, but he was a skilled playmaker who was willing to work in the corners and be a team player. (The trainer) said, Yeah, I notice that too. I said, I wonder if we could have him checked. The idea that you persevere goes back to time immemorial. "You know the diagnosis of a concussion back in those days?" Masterton was soft-spoken and modest, a quiet guy with a good sense of humor. But even if they had, he might still have been in the lineup against Oakland. If the guy only sees two, you send him back out there because it doesn't matter anyway. . With a blown knee and broken bones, Scott stepped away from his sport. His playing style has endeared him to hockey fans. Boudrias helped the team's trainer onto the ice to tend to Masterton. Didn't he die on the bench and then was revived. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. The specter of Mastertons death hung over the NHL All-Star Game, which was played in Toronto the next day, Jan. 16, 1968. If the guy only sees two, you send him back out there because it doesn't matter anyway. Masterton was soft-spoken and modest, a quiet guy with a good sense of humor. [9] He settled in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where he took a job in contracts administration. [1][2] He added eight points in six games during the Memorial Cup playdowns, however St. Boniface failed to reach the national championship final. Nowhere was that more apparent than during a standing ovation for Laperriere during Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against Boston last year. "His eyes were gray at the time -- it was like a horror picture," Boudrias says. But even if they had, he might still have been in the lineup against Oakland. Murray Williamson, who coached both amateur teams Masterton played for, remembered a night in Rochester, Minnesota, when Masterton backed into a radiator in the dressing room and singed his rear end. Prior concussion was a factor in Bill Masterton's death, Wyshynski's NHL trade deadline tiers: From elite game-changers to bargain beauties, NHL trade deadline guides for all 32 teams: Players, picks in play, cap space, team status. "[16] By mid-season, Masterton had scored 4 goals and 12 points in 38 games. He was the first on-ice casualty in NHL history. "You protect your elbows, hips, knees and hands, I figured, why not protect your head?" We didn't think it was that serious.". He said prior to the start of the 196768 season that being able to play in Minnesota was key as he would have been unlikely to consider an offer with any other team. 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