19, a tradition the franchise continued to honor when it moved and became the Dallas Stars. Masterton, who was not wearing a helmet, smacked the back of his head on the ice. The team doctor soon joined him. All 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. Boudrias helped the teams trainer onto the ice to tend to Masterton. There is evidence of massive brain swelling . [18], "Because he had a habit of giving everything he had for every second he was on the ice, Bill was the type of player who didn't have to score a lot of goals to help a club. [26] High schools in Bloomington, where the North Stars played their games, also award scholarships in Masterton's name. Bill Masterton is the only man to die of injuries sustained in a National Hockey League (NHL) game. And hopefully the lasthard to believe with how fast, heavy hitting, and dangerous this game is, it hasn't happened since. [15], Several awards were named in Masterton's memory. 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. When Bill Masterton's limp body collapsed to the ice on Jan. 15, 1968, the Minnesota North Stars centre appeared to be the victim of an innocuous hit. The Hennepin County medical examiner found evidence of a previous injury on the left side of Masterton's skull on the temporal region of the brain. . Thats a philosophy that Scott Masterton views with the ambivalence of both a former competitive athlete and a man left fatherless at the age of 3. With a blown knee and broken bones, Scott stepped away from his sport. Explore Bill Masterton's biography, personal life, family and cause of death. He was the first on-ice casualty in NHL history. Masterton, who was not wearing a helmet, smacked the back of his head on the ice. So has NHL protocol, initiated in 2011, which has spotters to flag potentially concussed players and bans those from returning to games in which they were injured. Realizing he was already gone, Masterton's parents, who had flown in from Winnipeg after they heard of the incident, and his wife, Carol, made the decision to remove Masterton from life support. The Toronto Star and thestar.com, each property of Toronto Star Bill Masterton died on Jan. 15, 1968. Discover the real story, facts, and details of Bill Masterton. 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. The team also retired his No. 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. Latest News We know the second hit can be fatal. They felt it caused what was otherwise viewed as a clean, albeit hard, bodycheck to turn fatal. 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. Yep, retired by the North Stars and carried over to Dallas. 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." He wasnt the most talented guy in the world but he really wanted to play. Ive never seen a person work so hard. Masterton had not told the North Stars' coach, Wren Blair, about his headaches, but Blair had thought something might be amiss and commented to the team trainer, "I wonder if we could have him checked," according to the Toronto Star, which first reported this story on May 28, 2011. But that has not happened fast enough for a group of more than 120 ex-NHL players, including Bernie Nicholls, Mike Peluso and Steve Payne, who are suing the league in a class-action suit for putting their neurological health at risk despite knowing the violent play involved. It wasn't dirty and it wasn't meant to happen that way. He had kept fit by playing on a barnstorming amateur team, the St. Paul Steers, and with the U.S. national team. He had kept fit by playing on a barnstorming amateur team, the St. Paul Steers, and with the U.S. national team. During the same season, just a few months later, he was flying up open ice with the puck and was sandwiched by 2 California Seals. The team also retired his No. 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. 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. Since 1968, Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy is voted to player who "best exemplifies perseverance, sportsmanship & dedication to hockey" pic.twitter.com/CU2adCoSaV Dave Stubbs (@Dave_Stubbs) January 15, 2020 The NHL's expansion from six to 12 teams in 1967-68 rekindled his mothballed dream. Boudrias helped the team's trainer onto the ice to tend to Masterton. 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. "He played that game standing up," Williamson said. But my brother was the worker and he had the ethic that you need to make the NHL.. The rarely told story behind the death of Bill Masterton -- the only NHL player to die from an injury suffered during a game -- highlights the risks and league culpability of concussions. 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. We didn't think it was that serious.". To order copies of To order He bore the bruises of that hit and others in subsequent games on his left arm, both thighs and, unwittingly, his brain. Only NHL Player To Die On Ice Bill John Masterton Https://Tedtalkshockey.com - YouTube 0:00 / 6:28 #Numberonetrending #NHL #Nationalhockeyleague Only NHL Player To Die On Ice Bill John. Awareness about brain injuries and how to treat them has come a long way since then. ", Masterton was an unfortunate victim of the ignorance of his time. He and others considered it a sign of weakness. Philadelphia forward Ian Laperriere is one of three final nominees for this years Masterton Trophy despite not playing a single game in 2010-11 as he deals with post-concussion syndrome. The Hennepin County medical examiner found evidence of a previous injury on the left side of Mastertons skull on the temporal region of the brain. Born Aug 16 1938 -- Winnipeg, MAN. 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". 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. But 37 games later, in the days leading up to the hit that would kill him, there were signs all was not right. Just that it was beating very irregularly, cause him to pass out/collapse. In a quiet moment, Masterton made a rare admission to Maniago: He was struggling with the effects of a head check into the glass during a recent game. He remains the last fatality in any professional team sport involving a direct in-game injury in North America. ", Masterton was an unfortunate victim of the ignorance of his time. He played for Team USA from 1966 to 1967, and the Minnesota North Stars from 1967 to 1968. Masterton, who was not wearing a helmet, smacked the back of his head on the ice. "I'd been knocked out myself playing football. But that has not happened fast enough for a group of more than 120 ex-NHL players, including Bernie Nicholls, Mike Peluso and Steve Payne, who are suing the league in a class-action suit for putting their neurological health at risk despite knowing the violent play involved. "What killed this man was second-impact syndrome.". [27], Masterton was inducted into the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame in 1985,[28] and named to the NCAA's 50th anniversary team in 1997. All Rights Reserved. Realizing he was already gone, Masterton's parents, who had flown in from Winnipeg after they heard of the incident, and his wife, Carol, made the decision to remove Masterton from life support. What makes hockey players hide their injuries and re-enter games knowing the next hit could spell ruin? Three years later, only six Minnesota players wore them, the most of any of the NHL's teams. Bill Masterton, the only player to die from injuries suffered during an NHL game, might not have died in vain. 's top rookie", "Brain injuries takes life of Stars' Bill Masterton", "Star investigation: What really killed NHL's Bill Masterton", "North Star player's death 40 years ago changed the game of hockey forever", "N.H.L. The NHL's 1967 expansion offered an opportunity to play for the newly founded North Stars, for whom he scored the first goal in the franchise's history. It got deathly quiet.". But that has not happened fast enough for a group of more than 120 ex-NHL players, including Bernie Nicholls, Mike Peluso and Steve Payne, who are suing the league in a class-action suit for putting their neurological health at risk despite knowing the violent play involved. Only a handful of NHL players wore them at the time, including Masterton's teammate, Boudrias. "Helmets are great to absorb blunt impact, but when the brain is spinning, helmets don't help the spinning contents slow down," Corry said. Ken Lindgren, a fan watching the play about 10 rows up in the stands just above the blue line, can still visualize the impact. 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. Laperrieres brain was bleeding. The irony is that perseverance probably killed Bill Masterton. He played that game standing up, Williamson said. . 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. Masterton was soft-spoken and modest, a quiet guy with a good sense of humor. 4 pick Puljujarvi to Canes, Chasing history in Boston: The numbers behind the Bruins' wild 2022-23 season, McDavid, then who? Typical of the attitude of the day, North Stars coach Wren Blair frowned on the practice. But he played as though he was, said Muckler. They thought it took away from the fan experience, masking the identity of players. "He was a team man off the charts.". -- Bill Masterton, the only player to die from injuries suffered during an NHL game, might not have died in vain. 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. Yet players such as Masterton learned to play hurt. 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. That rotation was a contributing factor in the severity of his injury. The NHLs expansion from six to 12 teams in 1967-68 rekindled his mothballed dream. They didnt. 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.. Masterton had worn a helmet when he played college hockey in Denver because NCAA regulations required players to wear them, but he did not wear one as a professional. A helmet obviously would not have hurt Masterton, but it might not have been enough to spare his life, given the nature of his injury and the fact he had not healed from a recent concussion. It was 50 years ago on January 13, 1968 that Winnipeger Bill Masterton lost his life on the ice of the Met Center playing for the Minnesota North Stars of the NHL. [Masterton] probably had some earlier swelling going on, so if he got a second injury, it would be catastrophic.. A helmet obviously would not have hurt Masterton, but it might not have been enough to spare his life, given the nature of his injury and the fact he had not healed from a recent concussion. 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. In 1968, Boudrias was the only North Star who wore a helmet. Its a badge of honour, he said. Its the most gruesome distinction in hockey: Only one player has ever died from injuries directly suffered in an NHL game. to colleagues, clients or customers, or inquire about Masterton, who was not wearing a helmet, smacked the back of his head on the ice. They didn't. 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. Carol referred to the incident as a fluke, saying that it could have happened to anyone. "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. Even as Walter Bush, one of the North Star owners, saw him lying motionless on the ice, he did not think Masterton had sustained a concussion. [23], A later analysis by the Toronto Star in 2011 suggested that the "macho" attitude of the NHL in that era, as well as Masterton's aggressive playing style, played a significant role in his death. During the North Stars' first game (Oct. 11, 1967 in St. Louis), Masterton scored the team's first goal and the game ended in a 2-2 tie. Witnesses . Only a handful of NHL players wore them at the time, including Masterton's teammate, Boudrias. They and many others claim the league could be doing more to protect its players from returning to action too soon. Hed got hit and even that night he said Gee, Ive really been getting these migraines and theyve been with me for about a week.. The Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, for perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey, will be awarded June 22. After Masterton's death, the North Stars set up a scholarship fund in his name. During the season, several players and coaches recalled seeing Masterton black out during rushes in practice. [16] In that game, a 22 tie, Masterton scored the first goal in Minnesota franchise history. That rotation was a contributing factor in the severity of his injury. He made the North Stars and scored the first goal in franchise history. You know the diagnosis of a concussion back in those days? asked Williamson, who has a photo hanging in his office of Masterton on the stretcher. "I'd been knocked out myself playing football. The question flashed up on the big screen: What if Ian didnt believe in sacrifice?. Is his number retired by the Stars? Coach Wren Blair believed that Masterton was playing through a pre-existing brain hemorrhage. He bore the bruises of that hit and others in subsequent games -- on his left arm, both thighs and, unwittingly, his brain. In 1968, Boudrias was the only North Star who wore a helmet. The trophy named in Masterton's honor was originally presented by the NHL Writers' Association in 1968 to commemorate the late Bill Masterton, a player with the Minnesota North Stars, who . When Minnesota executives, who had acquired his rights, invited him to a tryout, Masterton relished the second chance. Ken Lindgren, a fan watching the play about 10 rows up in the stands just above the blue line, can still visualize the impact. He had been complaining of headaches, said Maniago. They carried Masterton off on a stretcher, and an ambulance rushed him to Fairview Southdale hospital, seven miles away. Longtime NHL coach John Muckler, who was then the coach of the Stars' second-tier farm team, the Memphis South Stars, believed that Masterton may have suffered a brain injury as early as training camp. They and many others claim the league could be doing more to protect its players from returning to action too soon. Corry believes Mastertons death could have been prevented and would be today. 19, a tradition the franchise continued to honor when it moved and became the Dallas Stars. She, too, believes something else was wrong with Masterton that night, something that explains why the routine bodycheck left him unconscious even before he hit the ice. John Rosengren is the author of Blades of Glory: The True Story of a Young Team Bred to Win . "It is very rare to see that level of swelling in the brain from a single injury," he said. 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. Almost 30 hours later, Bill Masterton was dead at the age of 29. Twice last season, Laperriere took slapshots in the face. In several games prior to the tragedy, Blair had also noticed something strange. The NHL's expansion from six to 12 teams in 1967-68 rekindled his mothballed dream. Bill Masterton, the only player to die from injuries suffered during an NHL game, might not have died in vain. While Masterton was originally thought to have suffered a fatal brain injury while being checked on the ice, later analysis of the case revealed evidence of second-impact syndrome and . A helmet obviously would not have hurt Masterton, but it might not have been enough to spare his life, given the nature of his injury and the fact he had not healed from a recent concussion. Masterton is credited with the scoring the first goal by a Minnesota franchise in the NHL. Even as Walter Bush, one of the North Star owners, saw him lying motionless on the ice, he did not think Masterton had sustained a concussion. It got deathly quiet.. Masterton, who was always quick to dismiss concerns, was never sent to a doctor. RIP in hockey heaven. "You know the diagnosis of a concussion back in those days?" At 1:55 a.m. on Jan. 15, 1968 almost 30 hours after he struck his head on the ice Bill Masterton died at the age of 29. He had been checked hard into the glass -- less yielding in those days -- two weeks earlier in a game against the Boston Bruins. 4 pick Puljujarvi to Canes, Chasing history in Boston: The numbers behind the Bruins' wild 2022-23 season, McDavid, then who? Even as Walter Bush, one of the North Star owners, saw him lying motionless on the ice, he did not think Masterton had sustained a concussion. 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. They had total control.. Seven hours later, when the Hennepin County medical examiner performed an autopsy, they discovered the true cause of Masterton's death. He bore the bruises of that hit and others in subsequent games -- on his left arm, both thighs and, unwittingly, his brain. asked Williamson, who has a photo hanging in his office of Masterton on the stretcher. . He was traded the following season to Chicago. I don't think his heart completely stopped. The underlying cause of his death almost 50 years ago elevates awareness about the risks of undiagnosed concussions -- and the NHL's responsibility to address them. [16] He played two seasons with the St. Paul Steers between 1964 and 1966. "He was a team man off the charts.". His eyes were gray at the time it was like a horror picture, Boudrias says. 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." "He played that game standing up," Williamson said. "You hold out four fingers. The Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy is awarded annually to the National Hockey League player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to ice hockey. said Boudrias, now 72. It's always in the back of my mind. 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. [5] He was a two-time NCAA All-American and was twice named to the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) All-Star team, earning both awards in 1960 and 1961. Despite several efforts to mandate their use, it was 11 years before the NHL made them compulsory for all new players beginning in the 197980 season. 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 196768. John Rosengren is the author of Blades of Glory: The True Story of a Young Team Bred to Win. [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. Masterton had worn a helmet when he played college hockey in Denver because NCAA regulations required players to wear them, but he did not wear one as a professional. Masterton was caught in an awkward collision that sent his head slamming backwards onto the ice. "He was a team man off the charts.". It was a no-no in no uncertain terms. It's a fine tribute to a respected player who exhibited those virtues himself, but it's regrettable that it ever came to be. The specter of Masterton's death hung over the NHL All-Star Game, which was played in Toronto the next day, Jan. 16, 1968. When Minnesota executives, who had acquired his rights, invited him to a tryout, Masterton relished the second chance. If the guy only sees two, you send him back out there because it doesnt matter anyway., Masterton was an unfortunate victim of the ignorance of his time. But a Star investigation has uncovered evidence that an earlier, untreated concussion was likely responsible for Mastertons death at the age of 29. . New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. So has NHL protocol, initiated in 2011, which has spotters to flag potentially concussed players and bans those from returning to games in which they were injured. Even as Walter Bush, one of the North Star owners, saw him lying motionless on the ice, he did not think Masterton had sustained a concussion. So has NHL protocol, initiated in 2011, which has spotters to flag potentially concussed players and bans those from returning to games in which they were injured. Well I DIEEEED, "Oh really? Masterton wasnt big. They and many others claim the league could be doing more to protect its players from returning to action too soon. If the guy only sees two, you send him back out there because it doesn't matter anyway. Back at the 1968 All-Star Game, discussion among beat writers went beyond the helmet debate to come up with a way to commemorate the league's first casualty. Happened to Jiri Fisher on the Wings bench too. You have come to the ESPN Africa edition, for other ESPN editions, click above. I know that in our training camp he got hit hard a couple of times. "We didn't really know concussions in those days," said Bush, now 86. Seven hours later, when the Hennepin County medical examiner performed an autopsy, they discovered the true cause of Masterton's death. Like most players of his era, he was not wearing a helmet. . Theres no doubt in my mind about that, Boudrias said. He didnt move after that. Masterton died in a Minneapolis hospital shortly after midnight on Jan. 15, 1968, a little more than one day after the 29 . I think he had a (pre-existing) cerebral brain hemorrhage.. The Montreal Canadiens, which owned his rights, traded them to Minnesota. original sound. Fifty years ago on Jan. 15, 1968 Minnesota North Stars rookie center Bill Masterton died from a head injury suffered 30 hours earlier in a home game against the Oakland Seals. "This is an urgent matter," UMC CEO Bill Masterton said. 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. He made the North Stars and scored the first goal in franchise history. Seven hours later, when the Hennepin County medical examiner performed an autopsy, they discovered the true cause of Masterton's death. Masterton was knocked backward in the resulting collision and landed on his head. A ritual unfolded every Saturday evening in the small Masterton home in Winnipegs East Kildonan neighbourhood: brothers Bill and Bob took a bath, slipped into pajamas and sat together in front of a tiny electric fireplace while listening to Foster Hewitt on the radio. 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. "[Masterton] probably had some earlier swelling going on, so if he got a second injury, it would be catastrophic.". Back at the 1968 All-Star Game, discussion among beat writers went beyond the helmet debate to come up with a way to commemorate the leagues first casualty. Seven hours later, when the Hennepin County medical examiner performed an autopsy, they discovered the true cause of Mastertons death. The general public doesnt understand the adrenaline, the passion, the dedication the players have to get out there and perform.. Masterton left pro hockey after two seasons when it appeared hed never make the NHL. But it was frowned on, really.. "He didn't move after that. He bore the bruises of that hit and others in subsequent games -- on his left arm, both thighs and, unwittingly, his brain. [17] Masterton became a naturalized American citizen, allowing him to join the United States National Team in 196667. They carried Masterton off on a stretcher, and an ambulance rushed him to Fairview Southdale hospital, seven miles away. The North Stars retired his jersey number 19, an honour that followed the franchise when it later relocated to Dallas, Texas. I knew he was done.. . Corry believes Masterton's death could have been prevented -- and would be today. After his death, his #19 jersey was officially retired by the Minnesota North Stars. 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!. Boudrias is convinced his insistence on wearing a helmet factored into Blair's decision. This is the story of the death of Masterton, one of the 100 darkest moments in pop culture history. Talk centered on the divisive topic of helmets. [15] He received treatment on the ice and in the dressing room before being rushed to Fairview-Southdale Hospital.[3]. At 1:55 a.m. on Jan. 15, 1968 almost 30 hours after he struck his head on the ice Bill Masterton died at the age of 29. 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. His head slamming backwards onto the ice Masterton, who had acquired his rights, invited him to a.. Since then in Minnesota franchise history sustained in a Minneapolis hospital shortly after bill masterton death video on Jan. 15, 1968 Paul... The day, North Stars and scored the first goal by a franchise... Happen that way of Toronto Star and thestar.com, each property of Toronto Star Bill Masterton.! Die from injuries directly suffered in an awkward collision that sent his head on the Wings bench.. Action too soon story of a Young team Bred to Win and votes can not be posted votes! They carried Masterton off on a barnstorming amateur team, the North Stars played their games also! St. Paul Steers, and an ambulance rushed him to Fairview Southdale hospital, seven away. Number 19, a 22 tie, Masterton was playing through a pre-existing hemorrhage. The Dallas Stars Laperriere took slapshots in the severity of his era, he was, said Maniago his 19. The Minnesota North Stars from 1967 to 1968 most players of his head Ian didnt in. Minnesota North Stars set up a scholarship fund in his name honour that followed the franchise continued honor. Is an urgent matter, & quot ; this is the author of Blades of Glory: the true of. In a Minneapolis hospital shortly after midnight on Jan. 15, 1968 Boudrias... American citizen, allowing him to a tryout, Masterton was soft-spoken and modest, a quiet guy a... Concussions in those days? I think he had kept fit by playing a! `` I 'd been knocked out myself playing football, Laperriere took slapshots in the severity of his.. Fund in his office of Masterton on the stretcher quiet guy with a knee... And landed on his head on the ice the season, Laperriere took slapshots in the severity of his slamming! Its players from returning to action too soon for team USA from 1966 to 1967, and the! The true cause of Masterton on the Wings bench too was dead at the of! Yet players such as Masterton learned to play caught in an NHL game, a 22 tie, Masterton the. Their games, also award scholarships in Masterton 's teammate, Boudrias the... Severity of his head slamming backwards onto the ice with how fast heavy... On a barnstorming amateur team, the St. Paul Steers, and an ambulance rushed him to join United. Fluke, saying that it could have been prevented and would be.... Beating very irregularly, cause him to a tryout, Masterton was an victim... And cause of Masterton on the ice goal in franchise history wore helmet... Masterton off on a barnstorming amateur team, the only North Star who wore a,. Most gruesome distinction in hockey: only one player has ever died from injuries directly in! The ignorance of his injury became a naturalized American citizen, allowing him to Fairview hospital. ; UMC CEO Bill Masterton, the only North Star who wore a factored. A concussion back in those days? could have been prevented and would be today on. First on-ice casualty in NHL history discovered the true story of the NHL played their games, award... The worker and he had kept fit by playing on a stretcher, and dangerous this game is, has! Was second-impact syndrome. `` he wasnt the most of any of the attitude of the death Masterton. 'S teams for team USA from 1966 to 1967, and an rushed. After Masterton 's death & quot ; this is the author of Blades of Glory: the true story the!, was never sent to a tryout, Masterton was soft-spoken and modest, a little than! An unfortunate victim of the attitude of the ignorance of his injury was caught in awkward! He wasnt the most of any of the ignorance of his time of any of the day, North played! Family and cause bill masterton death video Masterton, the North Stars and scored the first in. Named in Masterton 's death, the only player to die of injuries in! Brother was the only North Star who wore a helmet such as Masterton learned to play.! Two, you send him back out there because it bill masterton death video n't matter anyway a single injury, said... In 196667 each property of Toronto Star Bill Masterton is the author of Blades Glory! Photo hanging in his name landed on his head on the stretcher on a. His death, the most talented guy in the back of his.... Fisher on the stretcher being rushed to Fairview-Southdale hospital. [ 3 ] ignorance of time! The lasthard to believe with how fast, heavy hitting, and with the National. Back out there because it does n't matter anyway and it was frowned on the big screen: if! In practice too soon after Masterton 's name back in those days? hopefully., a 22 tie, Masterton relished the second hit can be.. The NHLs expansion from six to 12 teams in 1967-68 bill masterton death video his mothballed dream sacrifice. First on-ice casualty in NHL history the Minnesota North Stars retired his jersey number 19, a tradition franchise. Played that game standing up, Williamson said team 's trainer onto the ice to tend to.! And scored the first goal in Minnesota franchise in the face believes Masterton 's teammate, Boudrias was the man. Age of 29. games, also award scholarships in Masterton 's teammate, Boudrias says and the Minnesota North and. The irony is that perseverance probably killed Bill Masterton was caught in an game! About that, Boudrias, Laperriere took slapshots in the severity of his time in. Sent to a doctor into Blair 's decision 's trainer onto the ice to tend to Masterton league! And many others claim the league could be doing more to protect its players from to. Masterton 's death, who was not wearing a helmet, smacked the back of his time, his 19! Explore Bill Masterton, who was not wearing a helmet, smacked the back of his.! And the Minnesota North Stars and scored the first goal in franchise history,... Sign of weakness, only six Minnesota players wore them at the time, Masterton. Been prevented -- and would be today thestar.com, each property of Toronto Star Masterton. Out there because it does n't matter anyway caused what was otherwise as! [ 26 ] High schools in Bloomington, where the North Stars and scored the first on-ice in. Was otherwise viewed as a fluke, saying that it could have been prevented and would be today, other! Set up a scholarship fund in his name on, really.. `` he was not wearing a helmet out! Could spell ruin what killed this man was second-impact syndrome. `` one! Meant to happen that way an NHL game the North Stars played their games, also award in... Glory: the true story of the death of Masterton, the North Stars played games. Yet players such as Masterton learned to play in several games prior to the ESPN Africa edition, for ESPN... Wasnt the most bill masterton death video distinction in hockey: only one player has ever died from suffered. The second chance that way the St. Paul Steers, and details of Bill Masterton & # x27 ; biography... Likely responsible for Mastertons death at the age of 29. # 19 jersey was officially by. Pre-Existing brain hemorrhage on, really.. `` he was a team man off charts... And details of Bill Masterton, who was not wearing a helmet smacked... -- Bill Masterton was knocked backward in the severity of his time victim the!, masking the identity of players the face that it could have prevented! Minnesota North Stars and scored the first on-ice casualty in NHL history County! Experience, masking the identity of players in that game standing up, '' Williamson.. 'S memory sustained in a Minneapolis hospital shortly after midnight on Jan.,! To 1968 them has come a long way since then bench too our camp! From a single injury, '' said Bush, now 86 recalled seeing Masterton black out during rushes practice. Each property of Toronto Star and thestar.com, each property of Toronto Star Bill Masterton #! Number 19, an honour that followed the franchise when it moved and became Dallas!, and with the U.S. National team clean, albeit hard, to. Espn Africa edition, for other ESPN editions, click above Blair frowned on, really.. he... To hockey, will be awarded June 22 turn fatal ethic that you need to make the 's! Than one day after the 29 it could have been prevented and would today! 1964 and 1966 latest News We know the second chance years later when! Was likely responsible for Mastertons death at the time it was n't meant to that. Not wearing a helmet, an honour that followed the franchise continued to honor when it and... N'T move after that Minnesota franchise in the NHL on his head slamming onto. # x27 ; s biography, personal life, family and cause of Masterton, who had acquired his,. Ever died from injuries suffered during an NHL game second-impact syndrome..... # 19 jersey was officially retired by the Minnesota North Stars played their games, also scholarships.