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 season started with promise: Masterton scored the first goal in North Stars history. Helmets are great to absorb blunt impact, but when the brain is spinning, helmets dont help the spinning contents slow down, Corry 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. He had been checked hard into the glass less yielding in those days two weeks earlier in a game against the Boston Bruins. He bore the bruises of that hit and others in subsequent games -- on his left arm, both thighs and, unwittingly, his brain. And hopefully the lasthard to believe with how fast, heavy hitting, and dangerous this game is, it hasn't happened since. He made the North Stars and scored the first goal in franchise history. It's a fine tribute to a respected player who exhibited those virtues himself, but it's regrettable that it ever came to be. 19, a tradition the franchise continued to honor when it moved and became the Dallas Stars. 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. Latest News Theres no doubt in my mind about that, Boudrias said. Typical of the attitude of the day, North Stars coach Wren Blair frowned on the practice. Seven hours later, when the Hennepin County medical examiner performed an autopsy, they discovered the true cause of Masterton's death. "He was a team man off the charts.". 2023 John Rosengren. Yeah was going to say maybe the only death by a player, not in general. We spent a lot of time dreaming, said Bob. "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. In his memory, the NHL created the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy which it has awarded since 1968 to a player who demonstrates perseverance and dedication to hockey. One of their sticks tangled with Masterton's skates as he slid a pass to his wing, and he lost his balance, pitching forward. But he played as though he was, said Muckler. Didn't he break his leg then die from complications as a result of it. 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. Masterton was soft-spoken and modest, a quiet guy with a good sense of humor. But it was frowned on, really.. 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. 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. You took a stick to the face? . and when he got hit the second time, he had that head whip and when that happens, you can go unconscious in that split second before you fall.. 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. 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. Among the new entries was the Minnesota North Stars. [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. 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. . Hed never show when he got hurt. Like many Canadian boys growing up in the '50s, Masterton listened to Saturday . Masterton is credited with the scoring the first goal by a Minnesota franchise in the NHL. 1891 views | original sound - avalon 13.5K .mzrdo "I Got A Plan" Bills Death | #fyp #rdr1 #billwilliamson #johnmarston If the guy only sees two, you send him back out there because it doesn't matter anyway. Laperriere acknowledged his career may be over, though he cant bring himself to retire. 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. expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Toronto The team doctor soon joined him. RIP in hockey heaven. I wouldnt do it.. [3] Some 30 hours after his fall, on January 15, Masterton died without ever regaining consciousness. By "at" an NHL game I'm guessing you just meant players? 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. 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. Yet that might not actually be the case. 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.. When he had headaches early on, we wouldnt have had him on the ice, he said. We were not allowed to wear helmets, said J.P. Parise. 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. "It is very rare to see that level of swelling in the brain from a single injury," he said. 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. Theres something wrong.. Seven hours later, when the Hennepin County medical examiner performed an autopsy, they discovered the true cause of Masterton's death. 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. "When he had headaches early on, we wouldn't have had him on the ice," he said. When Minnesota executives, who had acquired his rights, invited him to a tryout, Masterton relished the second chance. Those closest to Masterton concur he was suffering from a brain injury before he stepped on to the ice that night, as does a medical expert who reviewed an autopsy report obtained by the Star. Ron Harris was haunted for many years by his role in Masterton's death: "It bothers you the rest of your life. Like most players of his era, he was not wearing a helmet. Masterton, who was always quick to dismiss concerns, was never sent to a doctor. "[Masterton] probably had some earlier swelling going on, so if he got a second injury, it would be catastrophic.". We know the second hit can be fatal. Republication or distribution of this content is That's what men did. Masterton, who was not wearing a helmet, smacked the back of his head on the ice. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. Carey Price addresses the media after winning the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy for the 2021-22 season.SUBSCRIBE: http://goha.bs/1qHH4pZ 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. He didnt just work on the ice. [15], Several awards were named in Masterton's memory. [14] He and his wife Carol adopted two children, Scott and Sally. In the week before his last game, Masterton had complained to his wife and several teammates about headaches. He was traded the following season to Chicago. . "I knew he was done.". When this happens, it can cause rapid and often fatal brain swelling. . 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. 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. He didnt move after that. He played that game standing up, Williamson said. It was kind of one of those things where I asked the question but I knew what he was going to do. Boudrias helped the team's trainer onto the ice to tend to Masterton. The team doctor soon joined him. Men are the way men are.. 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. You stopped elbowing guys in the head, Matt?". The irony is that perseverance probably killed Bill Masterton. That was the NHL's code. The night before the Oakland game, Masterton's family gathered at the house of their neighbor, North Star goaltender Cesare Maniago, to celebrate Maniago's 29th birthday. A college standout with the Denver Pioneers, Masterton was a member of National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) championship teams in 1960 and 1961, was twice an NCAA All-Star and was the most valuable player of the 1961 NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament. It took the NHL more than a decade to catch up to Boudrias' logic. 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. Press J to jump to the feed. Deadline decisions: What will Avs, Kraken and others do? [13] He joined the Honeywell Corporation where he worked on the Apollo program. You were a yellow belly if you wore a helmet.. 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. Masterton died on Jan. 15, 1968, after head injuries suffered during a game. Yet that might not actually be the case. "[3] However, Masterton's family held no animosity towards the players involved or the game. They thought it took away from the fan experience, masking the identity of players. John Rosengren is the author of Blades of Glory: The True Story of a Young Team Bred to Win. [16] He was attended to by two neurosurgeons and three other doctors. He and others considered it a sign of weakness. 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. The idea that you persevere goes back to time immemorial. Toronto Star articles, please go to: www.TorontoStarReprints.com, Conversations are opinions of our readers and are subject to the. Carol referred to the incident as a fluke, saying that it could have happened to anyone. [16] Masterton was the first player to sign with Minnesota,[11] agreeing to a two-year contract. 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. 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. 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. Happened to Jiri Fisher on the Wings bench too. [15], After taking a year off from hockey in 1964, Masterton regained his amateur status so that he could play senior hockey in the United States Hockey League. His face is blood red, almost purple. Ive never seen a person work so hard. Players, coaches, execs vote for NHL's top centers, NHL Power Rankings: Checking in on each team's 25-and-under core, McAvoy scores in OT, Bruins beat Flames for 8th win a row, Gaudreau scores in shootout, Wild beat Islanders 2-1, Geekie ends drought with 2 goals, Kraken beat Blues 5-3, Robinson scores 3 goals in Blue Jackets' 5-3 win over Sabres. "You hold out four fingers. Boudrias is convinced his insistence on wearing a helmet factored into Blair's decision. [26] High schools in Bloomington, where the North Stars played their games, also award scholarships in Masterton's name. They carried Masterton off on a stretcher, and an ambulance rushed him to Fairview Southdale hospital, seven miles away. He cherished his son, Scott, 3, and daughter, Sally, 1. All Rights Reserved. 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. "I was asked to take it off," Boudrias said. original sound. [3], Masterton played three seasons in Denver between 1958 and 1961, appearing in a total of 89 games, scoring 66 goals and 196 points in that time. You hold out four fingers. The Montreal Canadiens, which owned his rights, traded them to Minnesota. But a Star investigation has uncovered evidence that an earlier, untreated concussion was likely responsible for Mastertons death at the age of 29. It was always in the back of his mind.. Yet players such as Masterton learned to play hurt. asked Williamson, who has a photo hanging in his office of Masterton on the stretcher. The night before the fatal game against Oakland, Masterton was at Maniagos house with his family Scott was 3 and Sally, 1 helping the genial goaltender celebrate his 29th birthday with teammates. 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 . He didnt see the other defender, who caught him with a clean check that knocked him backward. 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. 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. The night before the Oakland game, Masterton's family gathered at the house of their neighbor, North Star goaltender Cesare Maniago, to celebrate Maniago's 29th birthday. They carried Masterton off on a stretcher, and an ambulance rushed him to Fairview Southdale hospital, seven miles away. All [9] The Pioneers finished the season with a 30-1-1 record and were hailed as "the greatest hockey team to ever represent an American college or university. 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. And in Masterton's case, it probably cost him his life. Carl Johnson, assistant general manager of Minnesotas farm team in Memphis, said he was told Masterton had blacked out while on line rushes during practice. Awareness about brain injuries and how to treat them has come a long way since then. 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. His playing style has endeared him to hockey fans. [15] However, Masterton's death sparked an immediate debate on whether their use should be compulsory. 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. [9] He settled in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where he took a job in contracts administration. Such is the legacy of the only man who died because of injuries caused in an NHL game. The NHL's expansion from six to 12 teams in 1967-68 rekindled his mothballed dream. 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 not a marquee player, but he was a skilled playmaker who was willing to work in the corners and be a team player. Masterton was knocked backward in the resulting collision and landed on 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. Didn't he die on the bench and then was revived. We didn't think it was that serious.". 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. "You protect your elbows, hips, knees and hands, I figured, why not protect your head?" 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. "It sounded like a baseball bat hitting a ball," teammate Andr Boudrias recalled. 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. "What killed this man was second-impact syndrome.". to colleagues, clients or customers, or inquire about Masterton told his friend that he had been having migraines. "He played that game standing up," Williamson said. 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. "There's no doubt in my mind about that," Boudrias said. He had been checked hard into the glass -- less yielding in those days -- two weeks earlier in a game against the Boston Bruins. They and many others claim the league could be doing more to protect its players from returning to action too soon. 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. Players, coaches, execs vote for NHL's top centers, NHL Power Rankings: Checking in on each team's 25-and-under core, McAvoy scores in OT, Bruins beat Flames for 8th win a row, Gaudreau scores in shootout, Wild beat Islanders 2-1, Geekie ends drought with 2 goals, Kraken beat Blues 5-3, Robinson scores 3 goals in Blue Jackets' 5-3 win over Sabres. He cherished his son, Scott, 3, and daughter, Sally, 1. He had kept fit by playing on a barnstorming amateur team, the St. Paul Steers, and with the U.S. national team. What about Howie morenz? [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. That rotation was a contributing factor in the severity of his injury. They thought it took away from the fan experience, masking the identity of players. said Boudrias, now 72. [21] It was 11 years before the NHL finally mandated the use of helmets by all players entering the league beginning in the 197980 season. The general public doesnt understand the adrenaline, the passion, the dedication the players have to get out there and perform.. "There's no doubt in my mind about that," Boudrias said. More importantly, he earned a degree. They had total control.. You protect your elbows, hips, knees and hands, I figured, why not protect your head? said Boudrias, now 72. Ive never thought that it had anything to do with that hit. Anyone can read Conversations, but to contribute, you should be a registered Torstar account holder. cemeteries found in Masterton, Masterton District, Wellington, . Masterton wasnt big. . Corry does not think the amount of swelling would have been caused from the singular impact at Met Center. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? He speaks with the authority of an athlete accustomed to putting his body at risk. What happened in the days leading up to that fatal moment in Minneapolis, when Masterton played his 38th and final NHL game, has been largely a mystery. A native of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Masterton played two seasons of junior hockey with the St. Boniface Canadiens in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League (MJHL). Well I DIEEEED, "Oh really? [19] They soon concluded that the injury was too severe for surgery to be a viable option. It got deathly quiet.". 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. As dramatic music replaced a play-by-play call of the incident, the video moved backwards in slow motion until just before Laperrieres face absorbed the slapshot. He bore the bruises of that hit and others in subsequent games on his left arm, both thighs and, unwittingly, his brain. "You protect your elbows, hips, knees and hands, I figured, why not protect your head?" 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. If the guy only sees two, you send him back out there because it doesn't matter anyway. ", 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. The team also retired his No. The team also retired his No. Like Masterton, Laperriere earned an unlikely place in the pros with grit. John Rosengren is the author of Blades of Glory: The True Story of a Young Team Bred to Win. 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. Ive never said this to anyone before, said Wren Blair, Mastertons coach and general manager, now 85. Professional Hockey Player. "I'd been knocked out myself playing football. 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. [21], Some players began to wear helmets following Masterton's death,[16] but adoption was slow. In 1968, Boudrias was the only North Star who wore a helmet. Bill Masterton, the only player to die from injuries suffered during an NHL game, might not have died in vain. [17] Masterton became a naturalized American citizen, allowing him to join the United States National Team in 196667. The NHL's expansion from six to 12 teams in 1967-68 rekindled his mothballed dream. "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. Discover the real story, facts, and details of Bill Masterton. 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". Playoffs. "He played that game standing up," Williamson said. Usually Masterton is described as the first death caused directly by an on-ice incident to differentiate from Morenz dying of complications. Carol, who was watching the game from the stands, and Masterton's parents, who were listening to the game from their home in Winnipeg, rushed to his bedside at the hospital. Yet players such as Masterton learned to play hurt. [3], At the age of 29, Masterton made his NHL debut in the North Stars' inaugural game, played October 11, 1967, against the St. Louis Blues. We watched his head bounce, Lindgren said. "He didn't move after that. Masterton told his friend that he had been having migraines. The NHL's expansion from six to 12 teams in 1967-68 rekindled his mothballed dream. [3] He had 31 goals and 65 points for Hull-Ottawa,[1] placing him in the top ten in both categories. The North Stars retired his jersey number 19, an honour that followed the franchise when it later relocated to Dallas, Texas. Today his story is nearly forgotten, but for an annual NHL award that bears his name. [29], Last edited on 16 February 2023, at 07:49, 1961 NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament, List of ice hockey players who died during their playing career, "Denver icers favored to whip CC in playoffs", "Denver centre Bill Masterton signs pro contract with Habs", "Doug Robinson voted A.H.L. Two neurosurgeons and three other doctors against the Boston Bruins I 'm guessing just. Of it of humor up to Boudrias ' logic annual NHL award that bears his.. Later relocated to Dallas, Texas miles away ] agreeing to a doctor please go to:,... 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