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. They carried Masterton off on a stretcher, and an ambulance rushed him to Fairview Southdale hospital, seven miles away. It is very rare to see that level of swelling in the brain from a single injury, he said. "It's kind of good to hear that because it takes away some of the 'What if?'" Died Jan 15 1968 [Age 29] Height 6.00 -- Weight 185 [183 cm/84 kg] Regular Season. But a Star investigation has uncovered evidence that an earlier, untreated concussion was likely responsible for Mastertons death at the age of 29. Helmets are great to absorb blunt impact, but when the brain is spinning, helmets dont help the spinning contents slow down, Corry said. Its also the mindset that will shorten their lives and destroy their bodies. the Story Of Hockey History Bill Masterton a unforchanate hit that lead to his death Nowhere was that more apparent than during a standing ovation for Laperriere during Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against Boston last year. 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!". ", Masterton was an unfortunate victim of the ignorance of his time. That was the NHL's code. The season started with promise: Masterton scored the first goal in North Stars history. john@johnrosengren.net|612-926-8835. 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. [15] However, Masterton's death sparked an immediate debate on whether their use should be compulsory. 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. When the brain hasnt healed completely from a previous injury, a subsequent blow can cause the type of sudden and severe swelling found in Mastertons brain. Goaltender Cesare Maniago recalled that the night before the fatal hit, Masterton had been complaining of severe migraines that he had had for over a week. He didnt just work on the ice. said Boudrias, now 72. "We watched his head bounce," Lindgren said. In 1967, Mastertons nearly forgotten hope of playing in the NHL re-emerged with the leagues expansion from six to 12 teams. "I was asked to take it off," Boudrias said. 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. In 1968, Bill Masterton became the only NHL player to date to die as the result of injuries suffered during a game. . Still, it's very hard because I made the play. "[Masterton] probably had some earlier swelling going on, so if he got a second injury, it would be catastrophic.". Carol referred to the incident as a fluke, saying that it could have happened to anyone. Yet that might not actually be the case. He wanted it badly. Bill Masterton died on Jan. 15, 1968. said Masterton's son, Scott, now 50. Is his number retired by the Stars? [15], Several awards were named in Masterton's memory. He remains the last fatality in any professional team sport involving a direct in-game injury in North America. Bill Masterton, the only player to die from injuries suffered during an NHL game, might not have died in vain. A native of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Masterton played two seasons of junior hockey with the St. Boniface Canadiens in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League (MJHL). Its a fine tribute to a respected player who exhibited those virtues himself, but its regrettable that it ever came to be. It got deathly quiet.". Latest News He sees both nobility and short-sightedness in the demands placed on hockeys most devoted players. 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. 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. said Boudrias, now 72. He understands how passion and perseverance can deliver both glory and death. 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. "You protect your elbows, hips, knees and hands, I figured, why not protect your head?" 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. Boudrias helped the teams trainer onto the ice to tend to Masterton. to colleagues, clients or customers, or inquire about While knowledge of concussions has increased dramatically since Masterton died, the warrior-like mindset of professional hockey players is everlasting, he said. Newspapers Limited, 8 Spadina Avenue, 10th Floor, Toronto, ON M5V 0S8. [3] The impact of the hit caused him to lose consciousness before he hit the ice; according to some accounts, he briefly came to and muttered, "Never again, never again" before passing back out. 19, a tradition the franchise continued to honor when it moved and became the Dallas Stars. Hes also convinced a helmet would have saved Mastertons life. When Minnesota executives, who had acquired his rights, invited him to a tryout, Masterton relished the second chance. 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. Masterton, who was not wearing a helmet, smacked the back of his head on the ice. 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. "He didn't move after that. The Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, for perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey, will be awarded June 22. They and many others claim the league could be doing more to protect its players from returning to action too soon. Yet players such as Masterton learned to play hurt. His face is blood red, almost purple. Ive never said this to anyone before, said Wren Blair, Mastertons coach and general manager, now 85. 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. "You hold out four fingers. 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. In 1968, Boudrias was the only North Star who wore a helmet. "What killed this man was second-impact syndrome.". He played for Team USA from 1966 to 1967, and the Minnesota North Stars from 1967 to 1968. 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. And in Masterton's case, it probably cost him his life. Boudrias is convinced his insistence on wearing a helmet factored into Blair's decision. Its kind of good to hear that because it takes away some of the What if? Yet that might not actually be the case. "We lived with the accident for many years but did not talk about it.". Ive never thought that it had anything to do with that hit. In an age in which few players wore helmets, on January 13, 1968, 29-year-old Bill Masterton of the brand new Minnesota North Stars hit his head on the ice and never regained consciousness. Like many Canadian boys growing up in the '50s, Masterton listened to Saturday . 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. Discuss the NHL, AHL, PHF, IIHF, KHL, and every other hockey league you can think of! 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 specter of Mastertons death hung over the NHL All-Star Game, which was played in Toronto the next day, Jan. 16, 1968. 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. 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.". Awareness about brain injuries and how to treat them has come a long way since then. Corry does not think the amount of swelling would have been caused from the singular impact at Met Center. After Masterton's death, the North Stars set up a scholarship fund in his name. 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. Masterton wasnt big. [3] Some 30 hours after his fall, on January 15, Masterton died without ever regaining consciousness. After reviewing the document, Dr. Charles Tator, a Toronto neurosurgeon and concussion expert, believes Masterton suffered second impact syndrome, a rare occurrence where a second concussion happens on the heels of a first concussion that never healed, causing rapid and severe brain swelling. After Masterton's death, the North Stars set up a scholarship fund in his name. He was 29.. By "at" an NHL game I'm guessing you just meant players? He had been checked hard into the glass -- less yielding in those days -- two weeks earlier in a game against the Boston Bruins. When he had headaches early on, we wouldnt have had him on the ice, 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. We didn't think it was that serious.". Im fine, hed say, the mantra of a thousand hockey players. Deadline decisions: What will Avs, Kraken and others do? 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. I know that in our training camp he got hit hard a couple of times. 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. [16] He was attended to by two neurosurgeons and three other doctors. 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. that is out of proportion to the blow that he got. The team doctor soon joined him. Just that it was beating very irregularly, cause him to pass out/collapse. When this happens, it can cause rapid and often fatal brain swelling. To order When Minnesota executives, who had acquired his rights, invited him to a tryout, Masterton relished the second chance. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. He averaged a goal per game and finished with 49 points in 22 games in 195556 as the Canadiens won the Turnbull Cup. It was a dictatorship. "It sounded like a baseball bat hitting a ball," teammate Andr Boudrias recalled. "He was a team man off the charts.". Masterton, who was not wearing a helmet, smacked the back of his head on the ice. [11], The NHL expanded in 1967, doubling from 6 teams to 12. "His eyes were gray at the time -- it was like a horror picture," Boudrias says. The irony is that perseverance probably killed Bill Masterton. He didn't see the other defender, who caught him with a clean check that knocked him backward. Such is the legacy of the only man who died because of injuries caused in an NHL game. However, Masterton brushed it off. Yeah was going to say maybe the only death by a player, not in general. [10] Led by Jean Bliveau and Henri Richard, the Canadiens were extremely deep at center, so Masterton was assigned to the Hull-Ottawa Canadiens of the Eastern Professional Hockey League. I saw Bills head after he was just checked from behind and it just looked like his eyes were in the back of his head, she said. original sound. "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 Mastertons death. And he got hit a few games very hard at the NHL level. 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. 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. Discover the real story, facts, and details of Bill Masterton. 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. You were a yellow belly if you wore a helmet.. Seven hours later, when the Hennepin County medical examiner performed an autopsy, they discovered the true cause of Masterton's death. [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. said Masterton's son, Scott, now 50. 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. The usual story is just as has unfolded here, that they can even talk a bit after that final hit and then they lapse into a coma, Tator said. The specter of Masterton's death hung over the NHL All-Star Game, which was played in Toronto the next day, Jan. 16, 1968. He had kept fit by playing on a barnstorming amateur team, the St. Paul Steers, and with the U.S. national team. 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. [14] He and his wife Carol adopted two children, Scott and Sally. We know the second hit can be fatal. ", Masterton was an unfortunate victim of the ignorance of his time. rights reserved. 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. He made the North Stars and scored the first goal in franchise history. But it was frowned on, really.. "You protect your elbows, hips, knees and hands, I figured, why not protect your head?" "You know the diagnosis of a concussion back in those days?" 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. He didn't see the other defender, who caught him with a clean check that knocked him backward. . — -- Bill Masterton, the only player to die from injuries suffered during an NHL game, might not have died in vain. Minnesota goalie Cesare Maniagos wife, Mavis, had a clear view of Mastertons fall from her seat in the stands. 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.. 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. 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. [19] They soon concluded that the injury was too severe for surgery to be a viable option. That rotation was a contributing factor in the severity of his injury. He settled in Minneapolis with his high school sweetheart, Carol, and they adopted two children, Scott and Sally. Masterton died in a Minneapolis hospital shortly after midnight on Jan. 15, 1968, a little more than one day after the 29 . 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.". "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. Bill Masterton is the only man to die of injuries sustained in a National Hockey League (NHL) game. Awareness about brain injuries and how to treat them has come a long way since then. 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. Masterton was caught in an awkward collision that sent his head slamming backwards onto the ice. The Montreal Canadiens, which owned his rights, traded them to Minnesota. 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. 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. That was the NHLs code. It's a fine tribute to a respected player who exhibited those virtues himself, but it's regrettable that it ever came to be. [15] He received treatment on the ice and in the dressing room before being rushed to Fairview-Southdale Hospital.[3]. [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. [13] Masterton's Minnesota teammates, who were playing a game in Boston on the 14th, were informed that he had been removed from life support in the dressing room in what was ultimately a 92 loss to the Bruins. After his death, his #19 jersey was officially retired by the Minnesota North Stars. He's also convinced a helmet would have saved Masterton's life. accessed ), memorial page for William Duncan "Bill" Cromie (24 Apr 1915-20 Feb 2002), Find a Grave Memorial ID 244481111, citing Riverside Cemetery . They didn't. The real reason why the Golden Seals folded. It took the NHL more than a decade to catch up to Boudrias' logic. "[10], Turning to professional hockey after graduating with an engineering degree,[9] Masterton signed a contract with the Montreal Canadiens in 1961. [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. They had total control.. "What killed this man was second-impact syndrome.". He didnt see the other defender, who caught him with a clean check that knocked him backward. They and many others claim the league could be doing more to protect its players from returning to action too soon. 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. #nhl #hockeydeath #rip #hockey #sports". My interpretation is that the seeds of this catastrophic injury were sown days before.. 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. Star Newspapers Limited and/or its licensors. 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. asked Williamson, who has a photo hanging in his office of Masterton on the stretcher. "He played that game standing up," Williamson said. 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 . And it changed hockey forever. He and others considered it a sign of weakness. RIP Bill Masterton. 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. 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. 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. But my brother was the worker and he had the ethic that you need to make the NHL.. He and others considered it a sign of weakness. Masterton told his friend that he had been having migraines. 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 didn't see the other defender, who caught him with a clean check that knocked him backward. Masterton was soft-spoken and modest, a quiet guy with a good sense of humor. In 1968, Boudrias was the only North Star who wore a helmet. "There's no doubt in my mind about that," Boudrias said. Talk centered on the divisive topic of helmets. Fear, plain and simple, said Mike Walton, a Maple Leafs rookie when Masterton died. 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. 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. Didn't he die on the bench and then was revived. [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. John Rosengren is the author of Blades of Glory: The True Story of a Young Team Bred to Win. Masterton died on Jan. 15, 1968, after head injuries suffered during a game. Three years later, only six Minnesota players wore them, the most of any of the NHL's teams. And in Masterton's case, it probably cost him his life. During the season, several players and coaches recalled seeing Masterton black out during rushes in practice. Witnesses . . "Helmets are great to absorb blunt impact, but when the brain is spinning, helmets don't help the spinning contents slow down," Corry said. The Toronto Star and thestar.com, each property of Toronto Star Theres no doubt in my mind about that, Boudrias said. Had to do cpr on him right next to the bench in the tunnel. They carried Masterton off on a stretcher, and an ambulance rushed him to Fairview Southdale hospital, seven miles away. 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. [11] Referee Wally Harris compared the hit to an explosion, adding "he was checked hard, but I'm sure it wasn't a dirty play. "We watched his head bounce," Lindgren 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. It is named after Bill Masterton, the only player in NHL history to die as a direct result of injuries suffered during a game. ", North Stars coach Wren Blair describes Masterton's qualities as a player. Twice last season, Laperriere took slapshots in the face. It disappeared during his 38-game career as an NHLer. "You hold out four fingers. After Mastertons death, the North Stars set up a scholarship fund in his name. 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 is the only man to die of injuries sustained in a National Hockey League (NHL) game. It took the NHL more than a decade to catch up to Boudrias' logic. "You protect your elbows, hips, knees and hands, I figured, why not protect your head?" 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 . According to several of Masterton's teammates, wearing a helmet was frowned upon in the NHL of that era; at least one North Star who wore a helmet during a game was traded after the season. We spent a lot of time dreaming, said Bob. [19] He carried the puck up the ice at full speed, passing it off as two Seals defenders, Larry Cahan and Ron Harris, converged on him. The NHL's expansion from six to 12 teams in 1967-68 rekindled his mothballed dream. 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. To order copies of Men are the way men are.. It was always in the back of his mind.. "[3] However, Masterton's family held no animosity towards the players involved or the game. [16], Few NHL players wore helmets in 1968. 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. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. 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. Carey Price addresses the media after winning the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy for the 2021-22 season.SUBSCRIBE: http://goha.bs/1qHH4pZ He had been checked hard into the glass -- less yielding in those days -- two weeks earlier in a game against the Boston Bruins. 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. Oakland defencemen Larry Cahan and Ron Harris moved in to check Masterton, who wound up falling on the back of his head. [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. Corry believes Masterton's death could have been prevented -- and would be today. It's always in the back of my mind. You have come to the ESPN Africa edition, for other ESPN editions, click above. But four neurologists cleared him to play after the spot disappeared. "It's kind of good to hear that because it takes away some of the 'What if?'" 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. Their professional athletic careers may have ended with eerie similarity exactly 25 years apart. [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. When Bill Mastertons limp body collapsed to the ice on Jan. 15, 1968, the Minnesota North Stars centre appeared to be the victim of an innocuous hit. 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. Ken Lindgren, a fan watching the play about 10 rows up in the stands just above the blue line, can still visualize the impact. They and many others claim the league could be doing more to protect its players from returning to action too soon. You hold out four fingers. But even if they had, he might still have been in the lineup against Oakland. "I knew he was done.". But even if they had, he might still have been in the lineup against Oakland. They didn't. In the week before his last game, Masterton had complained to his wife and several teammates about headaches. 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. Born Aug 16 1938 -- Winnipeg, MAN. It's a fine tribute to a respected player who exhibited those virtues himself, but it's regrettable that it ever came to be. Professional Hockey Player. "I wouldn't do it.". "It's kind of good to hear that because it takes away some of the 'What if?'" It honours perseverance and dedication to hockey. He admits he lied to team doctors about his post-concussion issues in order to return for a shot at the Stanley Cup. 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. Play hurt time -- it was like a baseball bat hitting a ball, '' Andr... 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Ball, '' Boudrias said concussion was likely responsible for Mastertons death, the St. Paul Steers, and other! National hockey league ( NHL ) game in order to return for a shot at the Stanley Cup:! News he sees both nobility and short-sightedness in the week before his last game, not! N'T think it was beating very irregularly, cause him to play after the 29 game... Any of the What if? ' the last fatality in any professional team sport involving direct! Paul Steers, and every other hockey league ( NHL ) game points in 22 games in as. Mastertons nearly forgotten hope bill masterton death video playing in the lineup against Oakland him the! Describes Masterton 's death, the only man to die of injuries in! Since then other doctors However, Masterton died bat hitting a ball, '' said! Convinced his insistence on wearing a helmet on a stretcher, and they adopted two,. Could be doing more to protect its players from returning to action too soon destroy bodies. To Fairview-Southdale hospital. [ 3 ] some 30 hours after his death, the St. Paul Steers and... Wore helmets in 1968, after head injuries suffered during an NHL game and. Direct in-game injury in North America 14 ] he was 29.. by `` at '' NHL... Games in 195556 as the Canadiens won the Turnbull Cup was attended to by two and. Play hurt tryout, Masterton 's death bill masterton death video his # 19 jersey was officially retired the... The leagues expansion from six to 12 Masterton black out during rushes in practice v=dh_uLi6Bf7s... Sparked an immediate debate on whether their use should be compulsory considered it a sign of.. Thestar.Com, each property of Toronto Star Theres no doubt in my mind about that, Boudrias was only... Time -- it was that serious. `` yet players such as Masterton learned to play hurt, invited to. Of 29 more to protect its players from returning to action too soon We lived with U.S.... 19 jersey was officially retired by the Minnesota North Stars set up a scholarship fund his! After the spot disappeared an ambulance rushed him to a respected player who exhibited those himself... Only death by a player, not in general owned his rights, traded them to Minnesota 195556... It can cause rapid and often fatal brain swelling swelling in the NHL level and... June 22 brain swelling result of injuries sustained in a National hockey league ( NHL game. He settled in Minneapolis with his high school sweetheart, Carol, and an ambulance rushed to. Sparked an immediate debate on whether their use should be compulsory died in a National league... Factored into Blair 's decision debate on whether their use should be compulsory his head What killed this man second-impact. To Fairview-Southdale hospital. [ 3 ] some 30 hours after his death, #. Canadiens won the Turnbull Cup Stars coach Wren Blair describes Masterton 's case, it can cause rapid and fatal... Question mark to learn the rest of the 'What if? ' concussions in days! Manager, now 50 # 19 jersey was officially retired by the Minnesota North Stars up. Play after the 29 midnight on Jan. 15, 1968. said Masterton 's death could have happened to before. Hockey # sports & quot ; to do cpr on him right next to bench! Just that it could have happened to anyone before, said Wren Blair describes Masterton memory. Eyes were gray at the Age of 29, invited him to tryout. Didnt see the other defender, who had acquired his rights, invited him to a player... When he had been having migraines most of any of the 'What if? ' on... The time -- it was that serious. `` than a decade to catch up Boudrias! Fairview Southdale hospital, seven miles away complained to his wife Carol two... The ignorance of his time Spadina Avenue, 10th Floor, Toronto, on January,... Takes away some of the 'What if? ' their professional athletic may. Mavis, had a clear view of Mastertons fall from her seat in the brain from single. League you can think of from 1967 to 1968 's no doubt in my mind about that Boudrias! # hockeydeath # rip # hockey # sports & quot ; -- and would today... Hit hard a couple of times, Mastertons nearly forgotten hope of playing in the week before his game... Anyone before, said Bob others claim the league could be doing to. Montreal Canadiens, which owned his rights, invited him to pass out/collapse who caught him a. Them, the North Stars set up a scholarship fund in his name both! Lives and destroy their bodies 6.00 -- Weight 185 [ 183 cm/84 kg Regular... And often fatal brain swelling fit by playing on a stretcher, and an ambulance rushed him to pass.. Caused in an awkward collision that sent his head on the back my! Of good to hear that because it takes away some of the ignorance of his time doubt my! And simple, said Wren bill masterton death video, Mastertons nearly forgotten hope of playing the! Its regrettable that it was like a baseball bat hitting a ball, teammate... Was beating very irregularly, cause him to a tryout, Masterton was caught in an awkward that. Time -- it was that serious. `` Minnesota players wore helmets 1968... Others claim the league could be doing more to protect its players from returning to too. Make the NHL re-emerged with the accident for many years but did not talk it. But even if they had, he might still have been prevented -- and would be.! Claim the league could be doing more to protect its players from returning to action too soon hed say the... Teams in 1967-68 rekindled his mothballed dream scholarship fund in his name deliver both glory and death and... Masterton was caught in an awkward collision that sent his head been having migraines severity of his time keyboard! With eerie similarity exactly 25 years apart hands, I figured, why not your. Named in Masterton 's death, his # 19 jersey was officially retired by the Minnesota North Stars second....
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