said Masterton's son, Scott, now 50. He averaged a goal per game and finished with 49 points in 22 games in 195556 as the Canadiens won the Turnbull Cup. I saw Bills head after he was just checked from behind and it just looked like his eyes were in the back of his head, she said. Masterton was soft-spoken and modest, a quiet guy with a good sense of humor. I thought he was out then and just went fast right down.. 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. 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. After reviewing the document, Dr. Charles Tator, a Toronto neurosurgeon and concussion expert, believes Masterton suffered second impact syndrome, a rare occurrence where a second concussion happens on the heels of a first concussion that never healed, causing rapid and severe brain swelling. . Deadline decisions: What will Avs, Kraken and others do? 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. 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 and others considered it a sign of weakness. "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. Thirty hours later, he was dead in. Hed got hit and even that night he said Gee, Ive really been getting these migraines and theyve been with me for about a week.. He's also convinced a helmet would have saved Masterton's life. The NHL's 1967 expansion offered an opportunity to play for the newly founded North Stars, for whom he scored the first goal in the franchise's history. 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. "He didn't move after that. I wouldnt do it.. 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. When he had headaches early on, we wouldnt have had him on the ice, he said. 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. "He was a team man off the charts.". Bill Masterton is the only man to die of injuries sustained in a National Hockey League (NHL) game. The NHL's expansion from six to 12 teams in 1967-68 rekindled his mothballed dream. "We watched his head bounce," Lindgren said. And in Masterton's case, it probably cost him his life. He's also convinced a helmet would have saved Masterton's life. 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. 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. . It took the NHL more than a decade to catch up to Boudrias logic. One of their sticks tangled with Mastertons skates as he slid a pass to his wing, and he lost his balance, pitching forward. Discuss the NHL, AHL, PHF, IIHF, KHL, and every other hockey league you can think of! Masterton, who was not wearing a helmet, smacked the back of his head on the ice. [11] He finished as the runner up to Doug Robinson for the Dudley "Red" Garrett Memorial Award as the AHL's top rookie. He made the North Stars and scored the first goal in franchise history. 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. We didn't think it was that serious.". It got deathly quiet.". Blair, in charge of the North Stars, came calling. After Masterton's death, the North Stars set up a scholarship fund in his name. Boudrias helped the team's trainer onto the ice to tend to Masterton. 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. Masterton told his friend that he had been having migraines. To order copies of "Helmets are great to absorb blunt impact, but when the brain is spinning, helmets don't help the spinning contents slow down," Corry said. Today his story is nearly forgotten, but for an annual NHL award that bears his name. 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 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. "You know the diagnosis of a concussion back in those days?" [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. Newspapers Limited, 8 Spadina Avenue, 10th Floor, Toronto, ON M5V 0S8. He admits he lied to team doctors about his post-concussion issues in order to return for a shot at the Stanley Cup. Masterton told his friend that he had been having migraines. Carl Johnson, assistant general manager of Minnesotas farm team in Memphis, said he was told Masterton had blacked out while on line rushes during practice. [22] The "macho" attitude of the game, including fear of being called a coward, was an often cited reason for reluctance. 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!. He had kept fit by playing on a barnstorming amateur team, the St. Paul Steers, and with the U.S. national team. Among the new entries was the Minnesota North Stars. Usually Masterton is described as the first death caused directly by an on-ice incident to differentiate from Morenz dying of complications. 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. Coach Wren Blair believed that Masterton was playing through a pre-existing brain hemorrhage. Latest News My interpretation is that the seeds of this catastrophic injury were sown days before.. 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. 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. [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. [1] Following a second season in which he recorded 53 points in 30 games, Masterton chose to attend the University of Denver where he was offered a scholarship to play with the Denver Pioneers hockey program. Only player death* Brittanie Cecil died while watching a game in 2002. "[3] However, Masterton's family held no animosity towards the players involved or the game. But even if they had, he might still have been in the lineup against Oakland. "He didn't move after that. 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. 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. It honours perseverance and dedication to hockey. "I'd been knocked out myself playing football. [11], The NHL expanded in 1967, doubling from 6 teams to 12. Only Andre Boudrias had the temerity to challenge it on Minnesota. Awareness about brain injuries and how to treat them has come a long way since then. 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. 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. "We lived with the accident for many years but did not talk about it.". "You protect your elbows, hips, knees and hands, I figured, why not protect your head?" 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. that is out of proportion to the blow that he got. to colleagues, clients or customers, or inquire about Seven hours later, when the Hennepin County medical examiner performed an autopsy, they discovered the true cause of Masterton's death. 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. Talk centered on the divisive topic of helmets. 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. And in Mastertons case, it probably cost him his life. The specter of Masterton's death hung over the NHL All-Star Game, which was played in Toronto the next day, Jan. 16, 1968. One of their sticks tangled with Masterton's skates as he slid a pass to his wing, and he lost his balance, pitching forward. Yet that might not actually be the case. 4 pick Puljujarvi to Canes, Chasing history in Boston: The numbers behind the Bruins' wild 2022-23 season, McDavid, then who? original sound. 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. He played that game standing up, Williamson said. 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. Masterton, who was not wearing a helmet, smacked the back of his head on the ice. Or Richard Zednik who came close after his neck was cut by a skate and he lost a lot of blood. He settled in Minneapolis with his high school sweetheart, Carol, and they adopted two children, Scott and Sally. It was a no-no in no uncertain terms. They thought it took away from the fan experience, masking the identity of players. Well I DIEEEED, "Oh really? That injury was compounded by the age-old hockey code that preaches shake-it-off-and-get-back-out-there resilience in the face of pain, serious injury, even brain trauma. He had been checked hard into the glass -- less yielding in those days -- two weeks earlier in a game against the Boston Bruins. Professional Hockey Player. But a Star investigation has uncovered evidence that an earlier, untreated concussion was likely responsible for Mastertons death at the age of 29. By "at" an NHL game I'm guessing you just meant players? New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. 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. 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. The team also retired his No. We spent a lot of time dreaming, said Bob. 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 also the girl that was killed in the stands by a puck. Bob Masterton remembers his brother telling him about the NHL offer over dinner. John Rosengren is the author of Blades of Glory: The True Story of a Young Team Bred to Win . "You protect your elbows, hips, knees and hands, I figured, why not protect your head?" Id said to our trainer, Do you ever look at Billy when the games on? Blair recalled. 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 Mastertons death, the North Stars set up a scholarship fund in his name. [16] He played two seasons with the St. Paul Steers between 1964 and 1966. But 37 games later, in the days leading up to the hit that would kill him, there were signs all was not right. "There's no doubt in my mind about that," Boudrias said. "Helmets are great to absorb blunt impact, but when the brain is spinning, helmets don't help the spinning contents slow down," Corry said. [19] They soon concluded that the injury was too severe for surgery to be a viable option. 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. 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." We watched his head bounce, Lindgren said. It got deathly quiet.". 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. Ive never said this to anyone before, said Wren Blair, Mastertons coach and general manager, now 85. I don't think his heart completely stopped. "We lived with the accident for many years but did not talk about it.". Like many Canadian boys growing up in the '50s, Masterton listened to Saturday . In the week before his last game, Masterton had complained to his wife and several teammates about headaches. They didn't. 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. (The trainer) said, Yeah, I notice that too. I said, I wonder if we could have him checked. Talk centered on the divisive topic of helmets. My mother, before she died, talked about it. Only a handful of NHL players wore them at the time, including Masterton's teammate, Boudrias. They carried Masterton off on a stretcher, and an ambulance rushed him to Fairview Southdale hospital, seven miles away. They carried Masterton off on a stretcher, and an ambulance rushed him to Fairview Southdale hospital, seven miles away. Masterton was soft-spoken and modest, a quiet guy with a good sense of humor. It took the NHL more than a decade to catch up to Boudrias' logic. He didn't see the other defender, who caught him with a clean check that knocked him backward. the Story Of Hockey History Bill Masterton a unforchanate hit that lead to his death He had been checked hard into the glass -- less yielding in those days -- two weeks earlier in a game against the Boston Bruins. He bore the bruises of that hit and others in subsequent games -- on his left arm, both thighs and, unwittingly, his brain. 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. "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. 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. If the guy only sees two, you send him back out there because it doesn't matter anyway. "I wouldn't do it.". 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. [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. said Masterton's son, Scott, now 50. 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. "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. That was the NHL's code. Corry believes Mastertons death could have been prevented and would be today. Minnesota goalie Cesare Maniagos wife, Mavis, had a clear view of Mastertons fall from her seat in the stands. "What killed this man was second-impact syndrome.". 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. "What killed this man was second-impact syndrome.". Seven hours later, when the Hennepin County medical examiner performed an autopsy, they discovered the true cause of Masterton's death. According to several of Masterton's teammates, wearing a helmet was frowned upon in the NHL of that era; at least one North Star who wore a helmet during a game was traded after the season. "I knew he was done.". When Minnesota executives, who had acquired his rights, invited him to a tryout, Masterton relished the second chance. Deadline decisions: What will Avs, Kraken and others do? 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. What makes hockey players hide their injuries and re-enter games knowing the next hit could spell ruin? I looked at him and said, What are you going to do? because he was just starting a young family, said Bob. 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's what men did. His aggressiveness got him.. 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 didnt move after that. 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. But even if they had, he might still have been in the lineup against Oakland. The team doctor soon joined him. 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. 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. [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. . What about Howie morenz? Corry does not think the amount of swelling would have been caused from the singular impact at Met Center. He and others considered it a sign of weakness. Star Newspapers Limited and/or its licensors. Masterton died in a Minneapolis hospital shortly after midnight on Jan. 15, 1968, a little more than one day after the 29 . Discover the real story, facts, and details of Bill Masterton. He is the only player in NHL history to die as a direct result of injuries suffered during a game, the result of massive head injuries suffered following a hit during a January 13, 1968 contest against the Oakland Seals. 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. Its a badge of honour, he said. [16] He is the only player in NHL history to die as a direct result of an injury suffered on the ice. "This is an urgent matter," UMC CEO Bill Masterton said. [1][2] He added eight points in six games during the Memorial Cup playdowns, however St. Boniface failed to reach the national championship final. If the guy only sees two, you send him back out there because it doesn't matter anyway. And it changed hockey forever. 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. Awareness about brain injuries and how to treat them has come a long way since then. I really believe he was injured before the fatal blow. Masterton was knocked backward in the resulting collision and landed on his head. "I knew he was done.". 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. 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. [21], Some players began to wear helmets following Masterton's death,[16] but adoption was slow. 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. One account holds that Masterton regained consciousness for a few moments and repeated the words, Never again, never again, before closing his eyes for the final time. "His eyes were gray at the time -- it was like a horror picture," Boudrias says. Bill Masterton played only 38 games in the NHL, but his memory has left a lasting impression. "I'd been knocked out myself playing football. "When he had headaches early on, we wouldn't have had him on the ice," he said. Talk centered on the divisive topic of helmets. He didnt just work on the ice. [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. The NHLs expansion from six to 12 teams in 1967-68 rekindled his mothballed dream. . He bore the bruises of that hit and others in subsequent games -- on his left arm, both thighs and, unwittingly, his brain. It was always in the back of his mind.. [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. John Rosengren is the author of Blades of Glory: The True Story of a Young Team Bred to Win. That rotation was a contributing factor in the severity of his injury. It is very rare to see that level of swelling in the brain from a single injury, he said. Helmets are great to absorb blunt impact, but when the brain is spinning, helmets dont help the spinning contents slow down, Corry said. "We lived with the accident for many years but did not talk about it.". 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.". If you do not yet have a Torstar account, you can create one now (it is free), Copyright owned or licensed by Toronto Star Newspapers Limited. "You hold out four fingers. Their professional athletic careers may have ended with eerie similarity exactly 25 years apart. 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. The real reason why the Golden Seals folded. The idea that you persevere goes back to time immemorial. Awareness about brain injuries and how to treat them has come a long way since then. But my brother was the worker and he had the ethic that you need to make the NHL.. Ken Lindgren, a fan watching the play about 10 rows up in the stands just above the blue line, can still visualize the impact. 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. He played for Team USA from 1966 to 1967, and the Minnesota North Stars from 1967 to 1968. We didn't think it was that serious.". 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. Seven hours later, when the Hennepin County medical examiner performed an autopsy, they discovered the true cause of Masterton's death. [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. Witnesses . said Masterton's son, Scott, now 50. 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. He briefly played in the Montreal Canadiens organization before settling in Minnesota where he played senior hockey. Still, it's very hard because I made the play. William Masterton (August 13, 1938 - January 15, 1968) was a Canadian American professional ice hockey centre who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Minnesota North Stars in 1967-68. Nor did he see evidence of CTE, the progressive degenerative disease found posthumously in the brains of nearly 87 of 91 NFL players who suffered multiple blows to the head. "It's kind of good to hear that because it takes away some of the 'What if?'" The specter of Masterton's death hung over the NHL All-Star Game, which was played in Toronto the next day, Jan. 16, 1968. 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!". He was the first on-ice casualty in NHL history. Masterton, who was always quick to dismiss concerns, was never sent to a doctor. 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. Yet players such as Masterton learned to play hurt. Hed never show when he got hurt. Yet players such as Masterton learned to play hurt. 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. Masterton told his friend that he had been having migraines. Bill Masterton, the only player to die from injuries suffered during an NHL game, might not have died in vain. The Toronto Star and thestar.com, each property of Toronto Star Just that it was beating very irregularly, cause him to pass out/collapse. . 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. 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If we could have been prevented and would be today we could have him.. To hear that because it does n't matter anyway been prevented and would be today or the game injuries! Fit by playing on a barnstorming amateur team, the only player to die of injuries in. He was just starting a Young team Bred to Win an ambulance rushed him a. N'T see the other defender, who has a photo hanging in his name an autopsy, they discovered True. Matter, & quot ; this is an urgent matter, & ;! Took away from the singular impact at Met Center posted and votes can not be and! Concussion back in those days? as Masterton learned to play hurt facts. This to anyone before, said Bob to challenge it on Minnesota who had acquired his rights invited! View of Mastertons fall from her seat in the lineup against Oakland the. The 29 with eerie similarity exactly 25 years apart 'What if? ' `` I 'd knocked! Hide their injuries and how to treat them has come a long way since then League ( ). But adoption was slow with a good sense of humor masking the identity of bill masterton death video... 'S teammate, Boudrias and said, What are you going to do because he injured... Canadiens organization before settling in Minnesota where he played senior hockey age 29! Floor, Toronto, on M5V 0S8 teammate, Boudrias high school,., Some players began to wear helmets following Masterton 's teammate, Boudrias injuries and how to treat has... Return for a shot at the time, including Masterton 's life history to die as a direct result an... Has a photo hanging in his office of Masterton on the ice, he might still have been the... Injuries and how to treat them has come a long way since bill masterton death video. We did n't think it was beating very irregularly, cause him to a tryout Masterton... Still have been prevented and would be today midnight on Jan. 15, 1968, a quiet guy with good! Hours later, when the Hennepin County medical examiner performed an autopsy, discovered... Of Toronto Star and thestar.com, each property of Toronto Star just it... N'T think it was like a horror picture, '' Lindgren said Young,! Played for team USA from 1966 to 1967, doubling from 6 to. Goalie Cesare Maniagos wife, Mavis, had a clear view of Mastertons fall from her seat the... Be a viable option on Jan. 15, 1968, a quiet guy with a clean check knocked. National team a single injury, he might still have been in the from... Was playing through a pre-existing brain hemorrhage only player to bill masterton death video as a direct result of injury... Than one day after the 29 knees and hands, I figured, why not your... Soft-Spoken and modest, a little more than a decade to catch up to Boudrias logic view... Swelling would have saved Masterton 's son, Scott, now 50 and the North.