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. In the week before his last game, Masterton had complained to his wife and several teammates about headaches. The season started with promise: Masterton scored the first goal in North Stars history. [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. 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. 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 talented career, and tragic death, of Bill Masterton JJ (Governor) Carrier 1.38K subscribers Subscribe 3 Share 287 views 2 years ago Former NCAA star finally made the NHL with the Stars,. 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 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. Corry does not think the amount of swelling would have been caused from the singular impact at Met Center. Yet that might not actually be the case. [22] The "macho" attitude of the game, including fear of being called a coward, was an often cited reason for reluctance. 19, a tradition the franchise continued to honor when it moved and became the Dallas Stars. 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. "We didn't really know concussions in those days," said Bush, now 86. Hes also convinced a helmet would have saved Mastertons life. My feeling is that he may have gotten a minor concussion playing or practising on some other day . Its kind of good to hear that because it takes away some of the What if? "You hold out four fingers. They carried Masterton off on a stretcher, and an ambulance rushed him to Fairview Southdale hospital, seven miles away. You protect your elbows, hips, knees and hands, I figured, why not protect your head? said Boudrias, now 72. [11], Masterton suffered a severe internal brain injury during the first period of Minnesota's January 13, 1968, game against the Oakland Seals at the Met Center. Still, he returned to play following lost teeth, hundreds of stitches and even the discovery of a spot on his brain visible on a CAT scan. 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. [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. If the guy only sees two, you send him back out there because it doesn't matter anyway. The real reason why the Golden Seals folded. Toronto Star articles, please go to: www.TorontoStarReprints.com, Conversations are opinions of our readers and are subject to the. 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. He's also convinced a helmet would have saved Masterton's life. Seven hours later, when the Hennepin County medical examiner performed an autopsy, they discovered the true cause of Masterton's death. Stay on current site or go to US version. [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. "[Masterton] probably had some earlier swelling going on, so if he got a second injury, it would be catastrophic.". There's also the girl that was killed in the stands by a puck. People said I was crazy, but Im like, They brought me here to show the young guys the right way, said the 37-year-old Laperriere, who had signed with Philly before the 2009-10 season. Theres no doubt in my mind about that, Boudrias said. To order copies of During the same season, just a few months later, he was flying up open ice with the puck and was sandwiched by 2 California Seals. "It sounded like a baseball bat hitting a ball," teammate Andr Boudrias recalled. Almost 30 hours later, Bill Masterton was dead at the age of 29. 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. 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. 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], The NHL expanded in 1967, doubling from 6 teams to 12. [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. Masterton, who was not wearing a helmet, smacked the back of his head on the ice. If I had a slim chance to play, Im going to play.. "He played that game standing up," Williamson said. Yep, retired by the North Stars and carried over to Dallas. said Masterton's son, Scott, now 50. But 37 games later, in the days leading up to the hit that would kill him, there were signs all was not right. After Masterton's death, the North Stars set up a scholarship fund in his name. 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. [19] They soon concluded that the injury was too severe for surgery to be a viable option. [1][2] He added eight points in six games during the Memorial Cup playdowns, however St. Boniface failed to reach the national championship final. Former Edmonton Oilers coach John Muckler, who coached the North Stars farm club in Memphis that season, said he saw signs of trouble with Masterton in training camp. 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. 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." "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. "There's no doubt in my mind about that," Boudrias said. "What killed this man was second-impact syndrome.". They thought it took away from the fan experience, masking the identity of players. Awareness about brain injuries and how to treat them has come a long way since then. Still, it's very hard because I made the play. Masterton was soft-spoken and modest, a quiet guy with a good sense of humor. ", Masterton was an unfortunate victim of the ignorance of his time. Like most players of his era, he was not wearing a helmet. #nhl #hockeydeath #rip #hockey #sports". He and others considered it a sign of weakness. 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. 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. Ive never thought that it had anything to do with that hit. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. "We lived with the accident for many years but did not talk about it.". 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. Thats what men did. "We didn't really know concussions in those days," said Bush, now 86. Bill Masterton played only 38 games in the NHL, but his memory has left a lasting impression. "It's kind of good to hear that because it takes away some of the 'What if?'" They carried Masterton off on a stretcher, and an ambulance rushed him to Fairview Southdale hospital, seven miles away. 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. He was 29.. Yet players such as Masterton learned to play hurt. Masterton wasnt big. What makes hockey players hide their injuries and re-enter games knowing the next hit could spell ruin? 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. Didn't he break his leg then die from complications as a result of it. That rotation was a contributing factor in the severity of his injury. . . One of their sticks tangled with Masterton's skates as he slid a pass to his wing, and he lost his balance, pitching forward. [Masterton] probably had some earlier swelling going on, so if he got a second injury, it would be catastrophic.. He served as captain on that team and was considered its most valuable player. A ritual unfolded every Saturday evening in the small Masterton home in Winnipegs East Kildonan neighbourhood: brothers Bill and Bob took a bath, slipped into pajamas and sat together in front of a tiny electric fireplace while listening to Foster Hewitt on the radio. During the season, several players and coaches recalled seeing Masterton black out during rushes in practice. 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. Masterton was soft-spoken and modest, a quiet guy with a good sense of humor. Today his story is nearly forgotten, but for an annual NHL award that bears his name. 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. accessed ), memorial page for William Duncan "Bill" Cromie (24 Apr 1915-20 Feb 2002), Find a Grave Memorial ID 244481111, citing Riverside Cemetery . He didnt just work on the ice. 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. He remains the last fatality in any professional team sport involving a direct in-game injury in North America. [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. "Helmets are great to absorb blunt impact, but when the brain is spinning, helmets don't help the spinning contents slow down," Corry said. Masterton told his friend that he had been having migraines. Masterton died in a Minneapolis hospital shortly after midnight on Jan. 15, 1968, a little more than one day after the 29 . The NHL's expansion from six to 12 teams in 1967-68 rekindled his mothballed dream. Yet that might not actually be the case. Talk centered on the divisive topic of helmets. 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] probably had some earlier swelling going on, so if he got a second injury, it would be catastrophic.". . 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. His parents, brother, wife and two children were at his side. Star Newspapers Limited and/or its licensors. — -- Bill Masterton, the only player to die from injuries suffered during an NHL game, might not have died in vain. I wouldnt do it.. He wasnt the most talented guy in the world but he really wanted to play. Masterton was soft-spoken and modest, a quiet guy with a good sense of humor. He speaks with the authority of an athlete accustomed to putting his body at risk. [16] In that game, a 22 tie, Masterton scored the first goal in Minnesota franchise history. 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. 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. He had kept fit by playing on a barnstorming amateur team, the St. Paul Steers, and with the U.S. national team. Masterton left pro hockey after two seasons when it appeared hed never make the NHL. 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. My interpretation is that the seeds of this catastrophic injury were sown days before.. 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. They didn't. Corry does not think the amount of swelling would have been caused from the singular impact at Met Center. It got deathly quiet.". I really believe he was injured before the fatal blow. 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. During the North Stars' first game (Oct. 11, 1967 in St. Louis), Masterton scored the team's first goal and the game ended in a 2-2 tie. They felt it caused what was otherwise viewed as a clean, albeit hard, bodycheck to turn fatal. 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. Like many Canadian boys growing up in the '50s, Masterton listened to Saturday . They and many others claim the league could be doing more to protect its players from returning to action too soon. [15], Several awards were named in Masterton's memory. To order Ken Lindgren, a fan watching the play about 10 rows up in the stands just above the blue line, can still visualize the impact. For my iTunes documentary, "The California Golden Seals Story" - I interviewed three witnesses to the tragic sequence of events that led to the death of Minn. His aggressiveness got him.. 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. I was asked to take it off, Boudrias said. Oakland defencemen Larry Cahan and Ron Harris moved in to check Masterton, who wound up falling on the back of his head. It was a no-no in no uncertain terms. But it was frowned on, really.. With a blown knee and broken bones, Scott stepped away from his sport. When Minnesota executives, who had acquired his rights, invited him to a tryout, Masterton relished the second chance. After Mastertons death, the North Stars set up a scholarship fund in his name. We didnt think it was that serious.. The team doctor soon joined him. 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 In 1968, Boudrias was the only North Star who wore a helmet. Corry believes Mastertons death could have been prevented and would be today. 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. 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 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". He understands how passion and perseverance can deliver both glory and death. We didnt really know concussions in those days, said Bush, now 86. RIP Bill Masterton. 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. Corry believes Masterton's death could have been prevented -- and would be today. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. "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. said Masterton's son, Scott, now 50. 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. [3] He had 31 goals and 65 points for Hull-Ottawa,[1] placing him in the top ten in both categories. I looked at him and said, What are you going to do? because he was just starting a young family, said Bob. He played that game standing up, Williamson said. 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. 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. 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. 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. Yet that might not actually be the case. "You know the diagnosis of a concussion back in those days?" 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. He cherished his son, Scott, 3, and daughter, Sally, 1. Deadline decisions: What will Avs, Kraken and others do? Minnesota goalie Cesare Maniagos wife, Mavis, had a clear view of Mastertons fall from her seat in the stands. Boudrias is convinced his insistence on wearing a helmet factored into Blair's decision. 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. Realizing he was already gone, Mastertons 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. Had to do cpr on him right next to the bench in the tunnel. The question flashed up on the big screen: What if Ian didnt believe in sacrifice?. 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 didn't move after that. There is evidence of massive brain swelling . This reminded me of Rich Beverly or Peverly for the Stars. [15] However, Masterton's death sparked an immediate debate on whether their use should be compulsory. 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