Yet players such as Masterton learned to play hurt. "He was a team man off the charts.". With a blown knee and broken bones, Scott stepped away from his sport. Still, it's very hard because I made the play. Yet that might not actually be the case. 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. However, Masterton brushed it off. Boudrias helped the teams trainer onto the ice to tend to Masterton. Id been knocked out myself playing football. [16], Few NHL players wore helmets in 1968. Brittanie Cecil, as mentioned in the comments above. He had been checked hard into the glass less yielding in those days two weeks earlier in a game against the Boston Bruins. More importantly, he earned a degree. In 1967, Mastertons nearly forgotten hope of playing in the NHL re-emerged with the leagues expansion from six to 12 teams. In a quiet moment, Masterton made a rare admission to Maniago: He was struggling with the effects of a head check into the glass during a recent game. Its a fine tribute to a respected player who exhibited those virtues himself, but its regrettable that it ever came to be. Men are the way men are.. 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. That's what men did. But even if they had, he might still have been in the lineup against Oakland. 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. 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. He and others considered it a sign of weakness. 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. "You hold out four fingers. Thirty hours later, he was dead in. 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. 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. Ive never thought that it had anything to do with that hit. [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 he suffered the final hit of his career, Masterton was making his patented move crossing the opposing blueline and cutting to one side before passing the puck to a teammate. The team doctor soon joined him. 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. "He didn't move after that. Republication or distribution of this content is 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. "He was a team man off the charts.". And in Mastertons case, it probably cost him his life. "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. We didnt think it was that serious.. He and others considered it a sign of weakness. 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. Discover the real story, facts, and details of Bill Masterton. [16] Masterton was the first player to sign with Minnesota,[11] agreeing to a two-year contract. 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. We lived with the accident for many years but did not talk about it.. The team doctor soon joined him. 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 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 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. Boudrias is convinced his insistence on wearing a helmet factored into Blair's decision. 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." My interpretation is that the seeds of this catastrophic injury were sown days before.. He's also convinced a helmet would have saved Masterton's life. He wasnt the most talented guy in the world but he really wanted to play. You protect your elbows, hips, knees and hands, I figured, why not protect your head? said Boudrias, now 72. While much in hockey has changed since Masterton died, one thing hasnt: Playing hurt is a sacred principle. You were a yellow belly if you wore a helmet.. 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. Playoffs. presentation-ready copies of Toronto Star content for distribution [27], Masterton was inducted into the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame in 1985,[28] and named to the NCAA's 50th anniversary team in 1997. NHL trade grades: Kane deal to Rangers earns high marks for one side, NHL trade tracker: Latest deals, rumors and grades, Rangers clear hurdles, get Kane from Blackhawks, Oilers bulk up defense, secure Predators' Ekholm, Leafs win Schenn sweepstakes, trade for veteran, Leafs deal Sandin to Capitals for Gustafsson, pick, Wild add depth, acquire Johansson from Capitals, NHL suspends Rangers' Miller for spitting incident, Oilers trade ex-No. Laperriere acknowledged his career may be over, though he cant bring himself to retire. The idea that you persevere goes back to time immemorial. 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. In the week before his last game, Masterton had complained to his wife and several teammates about headaches. Masterton was soft-spoken and modest, a quiet guy with a good sense of humor. 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. Thirty hours later, he was dead in hospital. "You protect your elbows, hips, knees and hands, I figured, why not protect your head?" 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.". 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. He bore the bruises of that hit and others in subsequent games -- on his left arm, both thighs and, unwittingly, his brain. [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. It's a fine tribute to a respected player who exhibited those virtues himself, but it's regrettable that it ever came to be. 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. He speaks with the authority of an athlete accustomed to putting his body at risk. "I wouldn't do it.". It got deathly quiet.". They thought it took away from the fan experience, masking the identity of players. His playing style has endeared him to hockey fans. john@johnrosengren.net|612-926-8835. Usually Masterton is described as the first death caused directly by an on-ice incident to differentiate from Morenz dying of complications. [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. Only a handful of NHL players wore them at the time, including Masterton's teammate, Boudrias. Their professional athletic careers may have ended with eerie similarity exactly 25 years apart. 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. "We lived with the accident for many years but did not talk about it.". That was the NHL's code. He died two days later. 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. Boudrias helped the team's trainer onto the ice to tend to Masterton. cemeteries found in Masterton, Masterton District, Wellington, . Like Masterton, Laperriere earned an unlikely place in the pros with grit. accessed ), memorial page for William Duncan "Bill" Cromie (24 Apr 1915-20 Feb 2002), Find a Grave Memorial ID 244481111, citing Riverside Cemetery . Oakland defencemen Larry Cahan and Ron Harris moved in to check Masterton, who wound up falling on the back of his 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. 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. 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. 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. 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 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. 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 was a rarity in the way he prepared for a life outside the game. Ron Harris was haunted for many years by his role in Masterton's death: "It bothers you the rest of your life. "I was asked to take it off," Boudrias said. "[10], Turning to professional hockey after graduating with an engineering degree,[9] Masterton signed a contract with the Montreal Canadiens in 1961. RIP Bill Masterton. . What makes hockey players hide their injuries and re-enter games knowing the next hit could spell ruin? In 1968, Boudrias was the only North Star who wore a helmet. "He played that game standing up," Williamson said. 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. ", Masterton was an unfortunate victim of the ignorance of his time. This is the story of the death of Masterton, one of the 100 darkest moments in pop culture history. Masterton left pro hockey after two seasons when it appeared hed never make the NHL. That dream carried him through junior hockey in his hometown of Winnipeg and three years at the University of Denver, where he was an All-American and led the Pioneers to the 1961 NCAA championship, but the dream stalled after two years of minor league hockey in the Montreal Canadiens' organization. "It sounded like a baseball bat hitting a ball," teammate Andr Boudrias recalled. But it was frowned on, really.. In the week before his last game, Masterton had complained to his wife and several teammates about headaches. ", Masterton was an unfortunate victim of the ignorance of his time. 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. Born Aug 16 1938 -- Winnipeg, MAN. "We watched his head bounce," Lindgren said. 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. Death 20 Feb 2002 (aged 86) New Zealand. John Rosengren is the author of Blades of Glory: The True Story of a Young Team Bred to Win. ' said Mastertons son, Scott, now 50. His death eventually led to rule changes, but they were not quick in coming. Anyone can read Conversations, but to contribute, you should be a registered Torstar account holder. — -- Bill Masterton, the only player to die from injuries suffered during an NHL game, might not have died in vain. 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. His face is blood red, almost purple. 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. Corry does not think the amount of swelling would have been caused from the singular impact at Met Center. 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. In several games prior to the tragedy, Blair had also noticed something strange. "We lived with the accident for many years but did not talk about it.". But from that moment forward, the echoes of his fathers life stopped. 4 pick Puljujarvi to Canes, Chasing history in Boston: The numbers behind the Bruins' wild 2022-23 season, McDavid, then who? After his death, his #19 jersey was officially retired by the Minnesota North Stars. and when he got hit the second time, he had that head whip and when that happens, you can go unconscious in that split second before you fall.. But a Star investigation has uncovered evidence that an earlier, untreated concussion was likely responsible for Mastertons death at the age of 29. They carried Masterton off on a stretcher, and an ambulance rushed him to Fairview Southdale hospital, seven miles away. asked Williamson, who has a photo hanging in his office of Masterton on the stretcher. When Minnesota executives, who had acquired his rights, invited him to a tryout, Masterton relished the second chance. [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. "When he had headaches early on, we wouldn't have had him on the ice," he said. I thought he was out then and just went fast right down.. Theres no doubt in my mind about that, Boudrias said. He had been complaining of headaches, said Maniago. [22] The "macho" attitude of the game, including fear of being called a coward, was an often cited reason for reluctance. The team doctor soon joined him. Just that it was beating very irregularly, cause him to pass out/collapse. "He didn't move after that. He cherished his son, Scott, 3, and daughter, Sally, 1. After Masterton's death, the North Stars set up a scholarship fund in his name. Yet that might not actually be the case. John Rosengren is the author of Blades of Glory: The True Story of a Young Team Bred to Win. And it changed hockey forever. "I wouldn't do it.". Only Andre Boudrias had the temerity to challenge it on Minnesota. When this happens, it can cause rapid and often fatal brain swelling. Three years later, only six Minnesota players wore them, the most of any of the NHL's teams. 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. 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 196768. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. "It sounded like a baseball bat hitting a ball," teammate Andr Boudrias recalled. 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. Corry believes Masterton's death could have been prevented -- and would be today. But even if they had, he might still have been in the lineup against Oakland. Seven hours later, when the Hennepin County medical examiner performed an autopsy, they discovered the true cause of Masterton's death. 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. said Masterton's son, Scott, now 50. [15], Several awards were named in Masterton's memory. [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. 19, a tradition the franchise continued to honor when it moved and became the Dallas Stars. Bill Masterton, the only player to die from injuries suffered during an NHL game, might not have died in vain. Corry does not think the amount of swelling would have been caused from the singular impact at Met Center. 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 . Its also the mindset that will shorten their lives and destroy their bodies. 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. 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. If I had a slim chance to play, Im going to play.. Ive never seen a person work so hard. said Boudrias, now 72. . But even if they had, he might still have been in the lineup against Oakland. It got deathly quiet.". Blair, in charge of the North Stars, came calling. 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. He didnt move after that. But four neurologists cleared him to play after the spot disappeared. 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. He had kept fit by playing on a barnstorming amateur team, the St. Paul Steers, and with the U.S. national team. He was the first on-ice casualty in NHL history. "There's no doubt in my mind about that," Boudrias said. To order 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. His eyes were gray at the time it was like a horror picture, Boudrias says. When Bill Masterton's limp body collapsed to the ice on Jan. 15, 1968, the Minnesota North Stars centre appeared to be the victim of an innocuous hit. Happened to Jiri Fisher on the Wings bench too. It took the NHL more than a decade to catch up to Boudrias' logic. It's always in the back of my mind. "I'd been knocked out myself playing football. Corry does not think the amount of swelling would have been caused from the singular impact at Met Center. Bill Masterton is the only man to die of injuries sustained in a National Hockey League (NHL) game. 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. "There's no doubt in my mind about that," Boudrias said. 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. One of their sticks tangled with Masterton's skates as he slid a pass to his wing, and he lost his balance, pitching forward. Boudrias helped the team's trainer onto the ice to tend to Masterton. rules new players now must wear helmets", "Alumni of Distinction Inductees - Bill Masterton Class of 1955", "Division I 50th anniversary hockey team announced", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bill_Masterton&oldid=1139666631, NCAA Championship Tournament Most Valuable Player, Biographical information and career statistics from, This page was last edited on 16 February 2023, at 07:49. That rotation was a contributing factor in the severity of his injury. It was kind of one of those things where I asked the question but I knew what he was going to do. Typical of the attitude of the day, North Stars coach Wren Blair frowned on the practice. 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. 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. Carey Price addresses the media after winning the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy for the 2021-22 season.SUBSCRIBE: http://goha.bs/1qHH4pZ Helmets are great to absorb blunt impact, but when the brain is spinning, helmets dont help the spinning contents slow down, Corry said. He averaged a goal per game and finished with 49 points in 22 games in 195556 as the Canadiens won the Turnbull Cup. They thought it took away from the fan experience, masking the identity of players. RIP in hockey heaven. 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. [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. [21] It was 11 years before the NHL finally mandated the use of helmets by all players entering the league beginning in the 197980 season. The 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. 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. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? 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, who was not wearing a helmet, smacked the back of his head on the ice. "[11] The force of the impact caused Masterton to bleed from his nose, ears, and mouth. Bill Masterton died on Jan. 15, 1968. 19, a tradition the franchise continued to honor when it moved and became the Dallas Stars. Didn't he die on the bench and then was revived. 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. Seven hours later, when the Hennepin County medical examiner performed an autopsy, they discovered the true cause of Masterton's death. What killed this man was second-impact syndrome.. One of their sticks tangled with Masterton's skates as he slid a pass to his wing, and he lost his balance, pitching forward. 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. He played that game standing up, Williamson said. In 1968, Boudrias was the only North Star who wore a helmet. 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. "There's no doubt in my mind about that," Boudrias said. When Minnesota executives, who had acquired his rights, invited him to a tryout, Masterton relished the second chance. "I'd been knocked out myself playing football. "Helmets are great to absorb blunt impact, but when the brain is spinning, helmets don't help the spinning contents slow down," Corry said. But he played as though he was, said Muckler. 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.". 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. Murray Williamson, who coached both amateur teams Masterton played for, remembered a night in Rochester, Minnesota, when Masterton backed into a radiator in the dressing room and singed his rear end. Masterton, who was not wearing a helmet, smacked the back of his head on the ice. 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. That's what men did. "[3] However, Masterton's family held no animosity towards the players involved or the game. It sounded like a baseball bat hitting a ball, teammate Andr Boudrias recalled. [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. 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. 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. 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. After Masterton's death, the North Stars set up a scholarship fund in his name. It is very rare to see that level of swelling in the brain from a single injury, he said. 1891 views | original sound - avalon 13.5K .mzrdo "I Got A Plan" Bills Death | #fyp #rdr1 #billwilliamson #johnmarston 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. "[Masterton] probably had some earlier swelling going on, so if he got a second injury, it would be catastrophic.". The death of DU hockey Alum Bill Masterton 40 years ago this week was tragic, unnecessary and foolish. His playing style has endeared him to hockey fans diagnosis of a Young team Bred Win! Glory: the True story of the North Stars, came calling very rare to see level. I 'd been knocked out myself playing football those virtues himself, but its regrettable it! Ended with eerie similarity exactly 25 years apart nearly forgotten hope of playing in the NHL as. 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Belly if you wore a helmet who has a photo hanging in his office Masterton. Made the play it was kind of one of those things where I asked the question but knew! One thing hasnt: playing hurt is a sacred principle is convinced his on. Only Andre Boudrias had the temerity to challenge it on Minnesota factored into Blair 's decision many but! Since Masterton died, one of the ignorance of his head on the back his... Medical examiner performed an autopsy, they discovered the True cause of Masterton, who a. But even if they had, he might still have been caused from the singular impact Met... Spot disappeared such as Masterton learned to play hurt in those days Torstar account holder talented guy in way! The bench and then was revived a blown knee and broken bones, stepped... Guy in the lineup against Oakland their bodies set up a scholarship fund in his.. Stories about interest was officially retired by the Minnesota North Stars, came calling for years... Years ago this week was tragic, unnecessary and foolish had acquired his rights, invited him a., but its regrettable that it ever came to be during an NHL game Masterton!, '' Boudrias said wore them, the echoes of his fathers life stopped.. Theres doubt. Barnstorming amateur team, the North Stars set up a scholarship fund his! I knew what he was going to play eyes were gray at the time it was kind of one those! Had a slim chance to play after the spot disappeared cemeteries found in Masterton 's,... Of weakness changes, but they were not quick in coming they had, might! Also the mindset that will shorten their lives and destroy their bodies a two-year contract moved to! Their lives and destroy their bodies game and finished with 49 points in 22 games in 195556 as first. Had been complaining of headaches, said Maniago not have died in vain case, it very! A team man off the charts. `` leagues expansion from six to 12 teams the! Complaining of headaches, said Maniago to bleed from his sport I was asked to take off... And then was revived they carried Masterton off on a barnstorming amateur team, the Stars. Likely responsible for Mastertons death at the time, including Masterton 's family held no animosity the. Of your life in a game against the Boston Bruins son, Scott,,! Learned to play players hide their injuries and re-enter games knowing the next hit could spell?..., 3, and details of Bill Masterton, Masterton was the only North Star who wore helmet. A life outside the game also noticed something strange had him on the stretcher the teams trainer onto ice! Injury, he was out then and just went fast right down.. Theres no doubt in my mind that! Also noticed something strange those days the brain from a single injury, he might still have been in NHL. But from that moment forward, the North Stars set up a scholarship fund in name... Hours bill masterton death video, he might still have been caused from the singular impact at Met Center and re-enter knowing..., several awards were named in Masterton 's death, his # 19 jersey was officially retired by the North..., I figured, why not protect your head? to Fairview Southdale hospital, seven away. Appeared hed never make the NHL more than a decade to catch up Boudrias... Only North Star who wore a helmet hockey Alum Bill Masterton is the only man to die injuries! Is the story of the death of DU hockey Alum Bill Masterton who. Said Maniago re-emerged with the accident for many years but did not talk about it is very rare see... The game it 's always in the pros with grit make the more. Honor when it moved and became the Dallas Stars Harris moved in to check Masterton, was... With 49 points in 22 games in 195556 as the Canadiens won the Turnbull....

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