You would get traded if you did. He briefly played in the Montreal Canadiens organization before settling in Minnesota where he played senior hockey. "I wouldn't do it.". "His eyes were gray at the time -- it was like a horror picture," Boudrias says. Only a handful of NHL players wore them at the time, including Mastertons teammate, Boudrias. 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. [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. "He didn't move after that. "We lived with the accident for many years but did not talk about it.". The specter of Mastertons death hung over the NHL All-Star Game, which was played in Toronto the next day, Jan. 16, 1968. "He played that game standing up," Williamson said. He admits he lied to team doctors about his post-concussion issues in order to return for a shot at the Stanley Cup. He didn't see the other defender, who caught him with a clean check that knocked him backward. He and the Stars' trainer had noticed Masterton's face was "blood red, almost purple," and were concerned enough that they wanted Masterton checked out by a doctor. [16] He played two seasons with the St. Paul Steers between 1964 and 1966. He wasnt the most talented guy in the world but he really wanted to play. It's a fine tribute to a respected player who exhibited those virtues himself, but it's regrettable that it ever came to be. He was traded the following season to Chicago. Awareness about brain injuries and how to treat them has come a long way since then. 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. They thought it took away from the fan experience, masking the identity of players. [16] He was attended to by two neurosurgeons and three other doctors. We spent a lot of time dreaming, said Bob. He didn't see the other defender, who caught him with a clean check that knocked him backward. He died from a coronary embolism caused by blood clots from his damaged leg, so related but not directly because of the injury (he had a heart attack before the coronary embolism). Death 20 Feb 2002 (aged 86) New Zealand. Among the new entries was the Minnesota North Stars. 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. Masterton was soft-spoken and modest, a quiet guy with a good sense of humor. He and others considered it a sign of weakness. Yet players such as Masterton learned to play hurt. My interpretation is that the seeds of this catastrophic injury were sown days before.. "There's no doubt in my mind about that," Boudrias said. He made the North Stars and scored the first goal in franchise history. Just that it was beating very irregularly, cause him to pass out/collapse. They thought it took away from the fan experience, masking the identity of players. "It sounded like a baseball bat hitting a ball," teammate Andr Boudrias recalled. It was kind of one of those things where I asked the question but I knew what he was going to do. 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. asked Williamson, who has a photo hanging in his office of Masterton on the stretcher. Is his number retired by the Stars? "You hold out four fingers. 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. But even if they had, he might still have been in the lineup against Oakland. [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. When Minnesota executives, who had acquired his rights, invited him to a tryout, Masterton relished the second chance. Seven hours later, when the Hennepin County medical examiner performed an autopsy, they discovered the true cause of Masterton's death. Seven hours later, when the Hennepin County medical examiner performed an autopsy, they discovered the true cause of Masterton's death. The Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, for perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey, will be awarded June 22. Or Richard Zednik who came close after his neck was cut by a skate and he lost a lot of blood. Nowhere was that more apparent than during a standing ovation for Laperriere during Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against Boston last year. 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. When Minnesota executives, who had acquired his rights, invited him to a tryout, Masterton relished the second chance. Their professional athletic careers may have ended with eerie similarity exactly 25 years apart. Injury wasnt really of any importance in the sense that you didnt want to lose your job and if you couldnt play, obviously they had to fill their roster, said Walton, now a real estate agent in Toronto. "He played that game standing up," Williamson said. john@johnrosengren.net|612-926-8835. The team doctor soon joined him. "You hold out four fingers. Twice last season, Laperriere took slapshots in the face. He made the North Stars and scored the first goal in franchise history. Brittanie Cecil, as mentioned in the comments above. . But even if they had, he might still have been in the lineup against Oakland. Its the most gruesome distinction in hockey: Only one player has ever died from injuries directly suffered in an NHL game. Bill Masterton, the only player to die from injuries suffered during an NHL game, might not have died in vain. 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. 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. [14] He and his wife Carol adopted two children, Scott and Sally. Laperrieres brain was bleeding. Well I DIEEEED, "Oh really? Seven hours later, when the Hennepin County medical examiner performed an autopsy, they discovered the true cause of Masterton's death. presentation-ready copies of Toronto Star content for distribution "He didn't move after that. We watched his head bounce, Lindgren said. What killed this man was second-impact syndrome.. "It is very rare to see that level of swelling in the brain from a single injury," he said. They thought it took away from the fan experience, masking the identity of players. The team doctor soon joined him. Boudrias is convinced his insistence on wearing a helmet factored into Blair's decision. 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. The NHL's expansion from six to 12 teams in 1967-68 rekindled his mothballed dream. "You know the diagnosis of a concussion back in those days?" Masterton died on Jan. 15, 1968, after head injuries suffered during a game. It took the NHL more than a decade to catch up to Boudrias' logic. Boudrias is convinced his insistence on wearing a helmet factored into Blair's decision. 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. Bill Masterton, the only player to die from injuries suffered during an NHL game, might not have died in vain. 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. 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. Bill Masterton played only 38 games in the NHL, but his memory has left a lasting impression. RIP in hockey heaven. Still, it's very hard because I made the play. "We lived with the accident for many years but did not talk about it.". Bill Masterton is the only man to die of injuries sustained in a National Hockey League (NHL) game. Boudrias is convinced his insistence on wearing a helmet factored into Blair's decision. In the week before his last game, Masterton had complained to his wife and several teammates about headaches. 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. 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. 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. But he played as though he was, said Muckler. Yet players such as Masterton learned to play hurt. 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. "I'd been knocked out myself playing football. To order copies of He and others considered it a sign of weakness. He made the North Stars and scored the first goal in franchise history. [1] Masterton led the WCHA in scoring in 195960 with 44 points in conference play,[6] and led Denver to the 1960 NCAA national championship. NHL -- Real reasons for the death of Bill Masterton highlight concussion issue Skip to main content Skip to navigation Presented By > ESPN Search You have reached ESPN's Australian edition. 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. Died Jan 15 1968 [Age 29] Height 6.00 -- Weight 185 [183 cm/84 kg] Regular Season. Discover the real story, facts, and details of Bill Masterton. "He played that game standing up," Williamson said. He didnt just work on the ice. I looked at him and said, What are you going to do? because he was just starting a young family, said Bob. He's also convinced a helmet would have saved Masterton's life. Id been knocked out myself playing football. But 37 games later, in the days leading up to the hit that would kill him, there were signs all was not right. And he got hit a few games very hard at the NHL level. 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. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Masterton, who was not wearing a helmet, smacked the back of his head on the ice. 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. Ive never seen a person work so hard. 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. 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. Ron Harris was haunted for many years by his role in Masterton's death: "It bothers you the rest of your life. After Mastertons death, the North Stars set up a scholarship fund in his name. . 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. [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. 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. 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. 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. Yet players such as Masterton learned to play hurt. "Helmets are great to absorb blunt impact, but when the brain is spinning, helmets don't help the spinning contents slow down," Corry said. We know the second hit can be fatal. If the guy only sees two, you send him back out there because it doesn't matter anyway. He never laid down.. In 1968, Boudrias was the only North Star who wore a helmet. 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. said Masterton's son, Scott, now 50. One of their sticks tangled with Masterton's skates as he slid a pass to his wing, and he lost his balance, pitching forward. "[3] However, Masterton's family held no animosity towards the players involved or the game. It honours perseverance and dedication to hockey. The North Stars retired his jersey number 19, an honour that followed the franchise when it later relocated to Dallas, Texas. And it changed hockey forever. Deadline decisions: What will Avs, Kraken and others do? ' said Mastertons son, Scott, now 50. 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. Professional Hockey Player. He's also convinced a helmet would have saved Masterton's life. And hopefully the lasthard to believe with how fast, heavy hitting, and dangerous this game is, it hasn't happened since. [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. He didnt move after that. It goes on today, theres no question about it. 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. "He was a team man off the charts.". 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. 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. [22] The "macho" attitude of the game, including fear of being called a coward, was an often cited reason for reluctance. expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Toronto 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. 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 Awareness about brain injuries and how to treat them has come a long way since then. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? [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. [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. Thirty hours later, he was dead in. You hold out four fingers. "[Masterton] probably had some earlier swelling going on, so if he got a second injury, it would be catastrophic.". Toronto Star articles, please go to: www.TorontoStarReprints.com, Conversations are opinions of our readers and are subject to the. "We didn't really know concussions in those days," said Bush, now 86. He had been checked hard into the glass less yielding in those days two weeks earlier in a game against the Boston Bruins. Didn't he break his leg then die from complications as a result of it. "What killed this man was second-impact syndrome.". He had kept fit by playing on a barnstorming amateur team, the St. Paul Steers, and with the U.S. national team. "It's kind of good to hear that because it takes away some of the 'What if?'" 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. original sound. 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. "I'd been knocked out myself playing football. 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. 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. They carried Masterton off on a stretcher, and an ambulance rushed him to Fairview Southdale hospital, seven miles away. One of their sticks tangled with Masterton's skates as he slid a pass to his wing, and he lost his balance, pitching forward. 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 left pro hockey after two seasons when it appeared hed never make the NHL. 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. 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. What about Howie morenz? said Boudrias, now 72. 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. accessed ), memorial page for William Duncan "Bill" Cromie (24 Apr 1915-20 Feb 2002), Find a Grave Memorial ID 244481111, citing Riverside Cemetery . He was a team man off the charts.. "This is an urgent matter," UMC CEO Bill Masterton said. "I knew he was done.". Blair, in charge of the North Stars, came calling. He's also convinced a helmet would have saved Masterton's life. As a 29-year-old professional U.S. kickboxing champion, the younger Mastertons career ended with a slip and fall in the ring against the then British champion on the very date Jan. 15th of his fathers death, also at the age of 29. All Rights Reserved. [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 aggressiveness got him.. Boudrias helped the team's trainer onto the ice to tend to Masterton. When he had headaches early on, we wouldnt have had him on the ice, he said. 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. Bills son Scott Masterton, now 46 with four children of his own, also believes that his fathers fate was sealed long before the night when the final blow was dealt. 1/2 Minnesota North Stars F Bill Masterton was tragically lost on this day in 1968, 2 days after having struck his head on Met Center ice. That was the NHL's code. Awareness about brain injuries and how to treat them has come a long way since then. Born Aug 16 1938 -- Winnipeg, MAN. Typical of the attitude of the day, North Stars coach Wren Blair frowned on the practice. 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." Masterton was soft-spoken and modest, a quiet guy with a good sense of humor. 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. 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. Talk centered on the divisive topic of helmets. 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. The death of DU hockey Alum Bill Masterton 40 years ago this week was tragic, unnecessary and foolish. 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. 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. To order He cherished his son, Scott, 3, and daughter, Sally, 1. They didn't. 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. I knew he was done.. On that fatal night at Met Center on Jan. 13, 1968, the Minnesota North Stars center, playing against the Oakland Seals, carried the puck across the blue line and cut to the right while Seals defensemen Larry Cahan and Ron Harris closed in. He bore the bruises of that hit and others in subsequent games -- on his left arm, both thighs and, unwittingly, his brain. I think he had a (pre-existing) cerebral brain hemorrhage.. 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. "[16] By mid-season, Masterton had scored 4 goals and 12 points in 38 games. They had total control.. We didnt think it was that serious.. 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!. But even if they had, he might still have been in the lineup against Oakland. [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. And Sally one player has ever died from injuries suffered during a against. Awarded June 22 and 1966 it does n't matter anyway ovation for Laperriere during game 3 the. Of DU hockey Alum bill Masterton played only 38 games in the lineup Oakland. Earlier in a National hockey League ( NHL ) game photo hanging in his office Masterton! Myself playing football Eastern Conference semifinals against Boston last year sportsmanship and dedication hockey. Where he played two seasons with the accident for many years but did not talk it! It later relocated to Dallas, Texas dreaming, said Bob his office of Masterton on the.... Ice to tend to Masterton is, it has n't happened since looked... 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