Typical of the attitude of the day, North Stars coach Wren Blair frowned on the practice. Masterton was soft-spoken and modest, a quiet guy with a good sense of humor. Typical of the attitude of the day, North Stars coach Wren Blair frowned on the practice. 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. He made the North Stars and scored the first goal in franchise history. 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 had been checked hard into the glass -- less yielding in those days -- two weeks earlier in a game against the Boston Bruins. "He played that game standing up," Williamson said. John Rosengren is the author of Blades of Glory: The True Story of a Young Team Bred to Win . "He didn't move after that. 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. He wanted it badly. Masterton was soft-spoken and modest, a quiet guy with a good sense of humor. 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. 19, a tradition the franchise continued to honor when it moved and became the Dallas Stars. 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. We are the premier subreddit to talk everything hockey! Id said to our trainer, Do you ever look at Billy when the games on? Blair recalled. However, Masterton brushed it off. Thirty hours later, he was dead in. The team also retired his No. 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. Ive never said this to anyone before, said Wren Blair, Mastertons coach and general manager, now 85. [14] His wife Carol later recalled that it was a "dream come true" for her husband: "He always wanted a shot at the NHL, and expansion was a wonderful thing for him and guys like him. said Masterton's son, Scott, now 50. (Or was she paralyzed). "I wouldn't do it.". But four neurologists cleared him to play after the spot disappeared. 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. Almost 30 hours later, Bill Masterton was dead at the age of 29. That rotation was a contributing factor in the severity of his injury. (The trainer) said, Yeah, I notice that too. I said, I wonder if we could have him checked. Discover the real story, facts, and details of Bill Masterton. 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. When this happens, it can cause rapid and often fatal brain swelling. He had kept fit by playing on a barnstorming amateur team, the St. Paul Steers, and with the U.S. national team. 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. [19] They soon concluded that the injury was too severe for surgery to be a viable option. "We didn't really know concussions in those days," said Bush, now 86. "He was a team man off the charts.". And in Masterton's case, it probably cost him his life. Toronto neurosurgeon and concussion expert Charles Tator reviewed Masterton's autopsy and opined that Masterton had suffered second-impact syndrome, which occurs when a person suffers a second concussion on top of an earlier, untreated concussion. 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. To order Ive always thought of this after, that when he complained (of headaches) at least he could have put on a helmet for a couple of days, said teammate Wayne Connolly. Bill Masterton, the only player to die from injuries suffered during an NHL game, might not have died in vain. When Minnesota executives, who had acquired his rights, invited him to a tryout, Masterton relished the second chance. But even if they had, he might still have been in the lineup against Oakland. One of their sticks tangled with Masterton's skates as he slid a pass to his wing, and he lost his balance, pitching forward. It was kind of one of those things where I asked the question but I knew what he was going to do. The Toronto Star and thestar.com, each property of Toronto Star Fifty years ago on Jan. 15, 1968 Minnesota North Stars rookie center Bill Masterton died from a head injury suffered 30 hours earlier in a home game against the Oakland Seals. They thought it took away from the fan experience, masking the identity of players. "What killed this man was second-impact syndrome.". Theres something wrong.. Boudrias is convinced his insistence on wearing a helmet factored into Blairs decision. Nowhere was that more apparent than during a standing ovation for Laperriere during Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against Boston last year. 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. That was the NHL's code. 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 bore the bruises of that hit and others in subsequent games -- on his left arm, both thighs and, unwittingly, his 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. [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. In the week before his last game, Masterton had complained to his wife and several teammates about headaches. You would get traded if you did. He admits he lied to team doctors about his post-concussion issues in order to return for a shot at the Stanley Cup. [26] High schools in Bloomington, where the North Stars played their games, also award scholarships in Masterton's name. His eyes were gray at the time it was like a horror picture, Boudrias says. 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. This reminded me of Rich Beverly or Peverly for the Stars. He made the North Stars and scored the first goal in franchise history. asked Williamson, who has a photo hanging in his office of Masterton on the stretcher. 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 . 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. That same year a trophy called the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy was established by the Professional Hockey Writers' Association, in his memory. It was always in the back of his mind.. In several games prior to the tragedy, Blair had also noticed something strange. 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. 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. 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. 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. Minnesota goalie Cesare Maniagos wife, Mavis, had a clear view of Mastertons fall from her seat in the stands. The team also retired his No. Yet players such as Masterton learned to play hurt. "It's kind of good to hear that because it takes away some of the 'What if?'" [11] The new team's coach and general manager, Wren Blair, had scouted Masterton while he played with the US Nationals and purchased his NHL playing rights from the Canadiens. It wasn't dirty and it wasn't meant to happen that way. original sound. Only player death* Brittanie Cecil died while watching a game in 2002. Masterton died in a Minneapolis hospital shortly after midnight on Jan. 15, 1968, a little more than one day after the 29 . 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. Typical of the attitude of the day, North Stars coach Wren Blair frowned on the practice. "His eyes were gray at the time -- it was like a horror picture," Boudrias says. John Rosengren is the author of Blades of Glory: The True Story of a Young Team Bred to Win. Bill Masterton played only 38 games in the NHL, but his memory has left a lasting impression. "You know the diagnosis of a concussion back in those days?" Press J to jump to the feed. Star Newspapers Limited and/or its licensors. And he got hit a few games very hard at the NHL level. "You protect your elbows, hips, knees and hands, I figured, why not protect your head?" 4 pick Puljujarvi to Canes, Chasing history in Boston: The numbers behind the Bruins' wild 2022-23 season, McDavid, then who? 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. He cherished his son, Scott, 3, and daughter, Sally, 1. 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. said Boudrias, now 72. You hold out four fingers. "We watched his head bounce," Lindgren said. Hed never show when he got hurt. 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. "You hold out four fingers. Carey Price addresses the media after winning the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy for the 2021-22 season.SUBSCRIBE: http://goha.bs/1qHH4pZ He never laid down.. After Masterton's death, the North Stars set up a scholarship fund in his name. Only a handful of NHL players wore them at the time, including Masterton's teammate, Boudrias. 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. Yet players such as Masterton learned to play hurt. 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. Thats what men did. He didnt just work on the ice. [24] The University of Denver Pioneers hockey team named its most valuable player award after him,[25] and his Winnipeg high school, Miles Macdonell Collegiate, presents a scholarship in his name. He played that game standing up, Williamson said. Masterton was soft-spoken and modest, a quiet guy with a good sense of humor. It got deathly quiet.". I really believe he was injured before the fatal blow. 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 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. [16], Few NHL players wore helmets in 1968. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. Talk centered on the divisive topic of helmets. Bill Masterton is the only man to die of injuries sustained in a National Hockey League (NHL) game. Masterton, who was not wearing a helmet, smacked the back of his head on the ice. It disappeared during his 38-game career as an NHLer. It was a dictatorship. "It sounded like a baseball bat hitting a ball," teammate Andr Boudrias recalled. If the guy only sees two, you send him back out there because it doesn't matter anyway. 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. Ive never seen a person work so hard. We know the second hit can be fatal. 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. Like most players of his era, he was not wearing a helmet. He didn't see the other defender, who caught him with a clean check that knocked him backward. Republication or distribution of this content is What killed this man was second-impact syndrome.. 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