'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. 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.. Hed never show when he got hurt. Oakland defencemen Larry Cahan and Ron Harris moved in to check Masterton, who wound up falling on the back of his head. Theres something wrong.. That was the NHL's code. "This is an urgent matter," UMC CEO Bill Masterton said. It got deathly quiet.". I knew he was done.. Stay on current site or go to US version. Death 20 Feb 2002 (aged 86) New Zealand. Bill Masterton is stretchered off the ice after being hit in a game against the Oakland Seals in 1968. Hes also convinced a helmet would have saved Mastertons life. We lived with the accident for many years but did not talk about it.. RIP in hockey heaven. Masterton wasnt big. Only a handful of NHL players wore them at the time, including Mastertons teammate, Boudrias. Anyone can read Conversations, but to contribute, you should be a registered Torstar account holder. Talk centered on the divisive topic of helmets. But four neurologists cleared him to play after the spot disappeared. https://www.hockey-reference.com/awards/masterton.html 11 [deleted] 5 yr. ago This reminded me of Rich Beverly or Peverly for the Stars. The team doctor soon joined him. He didnt just work on the ice. He didnt see the other defender, who caught him with a clean check that knocked him backward. He and others considered it a sign of weakness. that is out of proportion to the blow that he got. Boudrias helped the team's trainer onto the ice to tend to Masterton. 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." Yeah was going to say maybe the only death by a player, not in general. He made the North Stars and scored the first goal in franchise history. [1][2] He added eight points in six games during the Memorial Cup playdowns, however St. Boniface failed to reach the national championship final. [16] In that game, a 22 tie, Masterton scored the first goal in Minnesota franchise history. Ive never thought that it had anything to do with that hit. [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. 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. Had to do cpr on him right next to the bench in the tunnel. 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. They and many others claim the league could be doing more to protect its players from returning to action too soon. He was the first on-ice casualty in NHL history. Corry does not think the amount of swelling would have been caused from the singular impact at Met Center. He's also convinced a helmet would have saved Masterton's life. [11], The NHL expanded in 1967, doubling from 6 teams to 12. 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 He finished with a masters 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. 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. 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!. [12], Faced with little opportunity to make the Montreal roster,[3] Masterton left the professional game to complete his master's degree at the University of Denver. 19, a tradition the franchise continued to honor when it moved and became the Dallas Stars. Ron Harris was haunted for many years by his role in Masterton's death: "It bothers you the rest of your life. 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. 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. 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. "[10], Turning to professional hockey after graduating with an engineering degree,[9] Masterton signed a contract with the Montreal Canadiens in 1961. Discuss the NHL, AHL, PHF, IIHF, KHL, and every other hockey league you can think of! The specter of Mastertons death hung over the NHL All-Star Game, which was played in Toronto the next day, Jan. 16, 1968. 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. Typical of the attitude of the day, North Stars coach Wren Blair frowned on the practice. Only Andre Boudrias had the temerity to challenge it on Minnesota. 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. 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.". They thought it took away from the fan experience, masking the identity of players. 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. It's always in the back of my mind. "We watched his head bounce," Lindgren said. "I'd been knocked out myself playing football. Ken Lindgren, a fan watching the play about 10 rows up in the stands just above the blue line, can still visualize the impact. Awareness about brain injuries and how to treat them has come a long way since then. 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. Bill Masterton died from head injuries he suffered in a National Hockey League game in 1968, sparking a long-running debate over helmets, which were finally made mandatory 11 seasons later. 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.. They didnt. And he got hit a few games very hard at the NHL level. It sounded like a baseball bat hitting a ball, teammate Andr Boudrias recalled. 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 made the North Stars and scored the first goal in franchise history. 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 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". 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. 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. All Rights Reserved. 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. 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. 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. [17] Masterton became a naturalized American citizen, allowing him to join the United States National Team in 196667. He was a team man off the charts.. Minnesota goalie Cesare Maniagos wife, Mavis, had a clear view of Mastertons fall from her seat in the stands. We were not allowed to wear helmets, said J.P. Parise. There's also the girl that was killed in the stands by a puck. He and others considered it a sign of weakness. In 1968, Boudrias was the only North Star who wore a helmet. 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 told his friend that he had been having migraines. John Rosengren is the author of Blades of Glory: The True Story of a Young Team Bred to Win. He served as captain on that team and was considered its most valuable player. We watched his head bounce, Lindgren said. [16] He played two seasons with the St. Paul Steers between 1964 and 1966. He and others considered it a sign of weakness. 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. Usually Masterton is described as the first death caused directly by an on-ice incident to differentiate from Morenz dying of complications. 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!". 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. 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. He didn't see the other defender, who caught him with a clean check that knocked him backward. While much in hockey has changed since Masterton died, one thing hasnt: Playing hurt is a sacred principle. [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. 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. They thought it took away from the fan experience, masking the identity of players. 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. "Helmets are great to absorb blunt impact, but when the brain is spinning, helmets don't help the spinning contents slow down," Corry said. asked Williamson, who has a photo hanging in his office of Masterton on the stretcher. [16] The Minnesota North Stars pulled his jersey number 19 out of circulation following his death and formally retired it in 1987. 2023 John Rosengren. They didn't. The team also retired his No. "You protect your elbows, hips, knees and hands, I figured, why not protect your head?" 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. Deadline decisions: What will Avs, Kraken and others do? After Masterton's death, the North Stars set up a scholarship fund in his name. When Mastertons 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. 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. In the week before his last game, Masterton had complained to his wife and several teammates about headaches. My mother, before she died, talked about it. 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. 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 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. If I had a slim chance to play, Im going to play.. Seven hours later, when the Hennepin County medical examiner performed an autopsy, they discovered the true cause of Mastertons death. This copy is for your personal non-commercial use only. He didn't see the other defender, who caught him with a clean check that knocked him backward. He sees both nobility and short-sightedness in the demands placed on hockeys most devoted players. [Masterton] probably had some earlier swelling going on, so if he got a second injury, it would be catastrophic.. "It sounded like a baseball bat hitting a ball," teammate Andr Boudrias recalled. He had been checked hard into the glass -- less yielding in those days -- two weeks earlier in a game against the Boston Bruins. You took a stick to the face? Seven hours later, when the Hennepin County medical examiner performed an autopsy, they discovered the true cause of Masterton's death. In 1968, Boudrias was the only North Star who wore a helmet. [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. "We didn't really know concussions in those days," said Bush, now 86. [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. You would get traded if you did. But he played as though he was, said Muckler. Yet players such as Masterton learned to play hurt. A native of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Masterton played two seasons of junior hockey with the St. Boniface Canadiens in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League (MJHL). [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. ", Masterton was an unfortunate victim of the ignorance of his time. "[Masterton] probably had some earlier swelling going on, so if he got a second injury, it would be catastrophic.". He had been complaining of headaches, said Maniago. Talk centered on the divisive topic of helmets. That's what men did. "You know the diagnosis of a concussion back in those days?" "When he had headaches early on, we wouldn't have had him on the ice," he said. [16] He is the only player in NHL history to die as a direct result of an injury suffered on the ice. "You protect your elbows, hips, knees and hands, I figured, why not protect your head?" It was a no-no in no uncertain terms. 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. 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. Happened to Jiri Fisher on the Wings bench too. "We didn't really know concussions in those days," said Bush, now 86. Throughout his college career, right through to his training camp in Memphis, Masterton wore a helmet, a rarity in an age when head protection was dismissed by players and management alike. [ 11 ], the North Stars and scored the first goal in franchise history him with a clean that... Knocked out myself playing football retired it in 1987 Hennepin County medical examiner performed an autopsy, discovered. 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