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. Republication or distribution of this content is He cherished his son, Scott, 3, and daughter, Sally, 1. "We didn't really know concussions in those days," said Bush, now 86. I knew he was done.. She, too, believes something else was wrong with Masterton that night, something that explains why the routine bodycheck left him unconscious even before he hit the ice. 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. After Masterton's death, the North Stars set up a scholarship fund in his name. [13] He joined the Honeywell Corporation where he worked on the Apollo program. Corry believes Masterton's death could have been prevented -- and would be today. rights reserved. He died two days later. Talk centered on the divisive topic of helmets. When Minnesota executives, who had acquired his rights, invited him to a tryout, Masterton relished the second chance. 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. If I had a slim chance to play, Im going to play.. Bill Masterton, the only player to die from injuries suffered during an NHL game, might not have died in vain. He played for Team USA from 1966 to 1967, and the Minnesota North Stars from 1967 to 1968. [1][2] He added eight points in six games during the Memorial Cup playdowns, however St. Boniface failed to reach the national championship final. 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 . He and others considered it a sign of weakness. We lived with the accident for many years but did not talk about it.. He made the North Stars and scored the first goal in franchise history. 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. 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. You protect your elbows, hips, knees and hands, I figured, why not protect your head? said Boudrias, now 72. Yet that might not actually be the case. [11] He finished as the runner up to Doug Robinson for the Dudley "Red" Garrett Memorial Award as the AHL's top rookie. [23], A later analysis by the Toronto Star in 2011 suggested that the "macho" attitude of the NHL in that era, as well as Masterton's aggressive playing style, played a significant role in his death. The 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. Yet that might not actually be the case. Like most players of his era, he was not wearing a helmet. After Mastertons death, the North Stars set up a scholarship fund in his name. "Helmets are great to absorb blunt impact, but when the brain is spinning, helmets don't help the spinning contents slow down," Corry said. Seven hours later, when the Hennepin County medical examiner performed an autopsy, they discovered the true cause of Masterton's death. Like many Canadian boys growing up in the '50s, Masterton listened to Saturday . 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. [3], Masterton played three seasons in Denver between 1958 and 1961, appearing in a total of 89 games, scoring 66 goals and 196 points in that time. The North Stars retired his jersey number 19, an honour that followed the franchise when it later relocated to Dallas, Texas. 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. The specter of Masterton's death hung over the NHL All-Star Game, which was played in Toronto the next day, Jan. 16, 1968. What killed this man was second-impact syndrome.. "It's kind of good to hear that because it takes away some of the 'What if?'" Masterton left pro hockey after two seasons when it appeared hed never make the NHL. Laperriere acknowledged his career may be over, though he cant bring himself to retire. Masterton was caught in an awkward collision that sent his head slamming backwards onto the ice. If the guy only sees two, you send him back out there because it doesn't matter anyway. 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. "We lived with the accident for many years but did not talk about it.". [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. [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 had kept fit by playing on a barnstorming amateur team, the St. Paul Steers, and with the U.S. national team. Id been knocked out myself playing football. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? [22] The "macho" attitude of the game, including fear of being called a coward, was an often cited reason for reluctance. Talk centered on the divisive topic of helmets. The team doctor soon joined him. "I knew he was done.". Theres something wrong.. The Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, for perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey, will be awarded June 22. The question flashed up on the big screen: What if Ian didnt believe in sacrifice?. 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. In 1968, Boudrias was the only North Star who wore a helmet. "His eyes were gray at the time -- it was like a horror picture," Boudrias says. asked Williamson, who has a photo hanging in his office of Masterton on the stretcher. said Boudrias, now 72. The Montreal Canadiens, which owned his rights, traded them to Minnesota. "He didn't move after that. [11], The NHL expanded in 1967, doubling from 6 teams to 12. He understands how passion and perseverance can deliver both glory and death. I wouldnt do it.. To order His eyes were gray at the time it was like a horror picture, Boudrias says. "I knew he was done.". "He played that game standing up," Williamson said. Id said to our trainer, Do you ever look at Billy when the games on? Blair recalled. 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. They didn't. Happened to Jiri Fisher on the Wings bench too. "[Masterton] probably had some earlier swelling going on, so if he got a second injury, it would be catastrophic.". One of their sticks tangled with Masterton's skates as he slid a pass to his wing, and he lost his balance, pitching forward. 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. Among the new entries was the Minnesota North Stars. The team also retired his No. But a Star investigation has uncovered evidence that an earlier, untreated concussion was likely responsible for Mastertons death at the age of 29. [3] Some 30 hours after his fall, on January 15, Masterton died without ever regaining consciousness. [3] The impact of the hit caused him to lose consciousness before he hit the ice; according to some accounts, he briefly came to and muttered, "Never again, never again" before passing back out. He didn't see the other defender, who caught him with a clean check that knocked him backward. It was a dictatorship. [19] They soon concluded that the injury was too severe for surgery to be a viable option. It goes on today, theres no question about it. But 37 games later, in the days leading up to the hit that would kill him, there were signs all was not right. The idea that you persevere goes back to time immemorial. That's what men did. Still, it's very hard because I made the play. [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. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. The real reason why the Golden Seals folded. cemeteries found in Masterton, Masterton District, Wellington, . They felt it caused what was otherwise viewed as a clean, albeit hard, bodycheck to turn fatal. 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. RIP Bill Masterton. 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. 4 pick Puljujarvi to Canes, Chasing history in Boston: The numbers behind the Bruins' wild 2022-23 season, McDavid, then who? 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. 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. Hed never show when he got hurt. The death of DU hockey Alum Bill Masterton 40 years ago this week was tragic, unnecessary and foolish. 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. Masterton was soft-spoken and modest, a quiet guy with a good sense of humor. that is out of proportion to the blow that he got. [16] Legislators in New York considered a law to make their use mandatory,[20] and the NHL voted on and rejected a rule requiring players wear helmets three times by 1971. [16] In that game, a 22 tie, Masterton scored the first goal in Minnesota franchise history. "I'd been knocked out myself playing football. But four neurologists cleared him to play after the spot disappeared. "I'd been knocked out myself playing football. He made the North Stars and scored the first goal in franchise history. The specter of Masterton's death hung over the NHL All-Star Game, which was played in Toronto the next day, Jan. 16, 1968. Boudrias helped the team's trainer onto the ice to tend to Masterton. "I was asked to take it off," Boudrias said. Discover the real story, facts, and details of Bill Masterton. 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 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. We were not allowed to wear helmets, said J.P. Parise. Only a handful of NHL players wore them at the time, including Mastertons teammate, Boudrias. "You hold out four fingers. "It sounded like a baseball bat hitting a ball," teammate Andr Boudrias recalled. 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. "This is an urgent matter," UMC CEO Bill Masterton said. . [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. Awareness about brain injuries and how to treat them has come a long way since then. "You hold out four fingers. Its the most gruesome distinction in hockey: Only one player has ever died from injuries directly suffered in an NHL game. "[10], Turning to professional hockey after graduating with an engineering degree,[9] Masterton signed a contract with the Montreal Canadiens in 1961. That rotation was a contributing factor in the severity of his injury. 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. It got deathly quiet.". "You protect your elbows, hips, knees and hands, I figured, why not protect your head?" And it changed hockey forever. "It's kind of good to hear that because it takes away some of the 'What if?'" Talk centered on the divisive topic of helmets. Bill Masterton is stretchered off the ice after being hit in a game against the Oakland Seals in 1968. He speaks with the authority of an athlete accustomed to putting his body at risk. Seven hours later, when the Hennepin County medical examiner performed an autopsy, they discovered the true cause of Mastertons death. 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. Fear, plain and simple, said Mike Walton, a Maple Leafs rookie when Masterton died. "He didn't move after that. After his death, his #19 jersey was officially retired by the Minnesota North Stars. 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 NHL's expansion from six to 12 teams in 1967-68 rekindled his mothballed dream. The NHL's expansion from six to 12 teams in 1967-68 rekindled his mothballed dream. Masterton was soft-spoken and modest, a quiet guy with a good sense of humor. His death . The hit was considered clean but the back of Masterton's head hit the ice hard and he died after being rushed to the hospital. He played that game standing up, Williamson said. 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. "I wouldn't do it.". Its kind of good to hear that because it takes away some of the What if? 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. 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. . He and others considered it a sign of weakness. 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. 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. And in Masterton's case, it probably cost him his life. [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. He bore the bruises of that hit and others in subsequent games on his left arm, both thighs and, unwittingly, his brain. His playing style has endeared him to hockey fans. Masterton wasnt big. If anyone is wondering his story here's a short video TSN did on him https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dh_uLi6Bf7s and here is a list of the previous winners of the trophy named after him. "He didn't move after that. asked Williamson, who has a photo hanging in his office of Masterton on the stretcher. That's what men did. "There's no doubt in my mind about that," Boudrias said. 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. The irony is that perseverance probably killed Bill Masterton. "It is very rare to see that level of swelling in the brain from a single injury," he said. It took the NHL more than a decade to catch up to Boudrias' logic. 2023 John Rosengren. Only Andre Boudrias had the temerity to challenge it on Minnesota. 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!". In 1967, Mastertons nearly forgotten hope of playing in the NHL re-emerged with the leagues expansion from six to 12 teams. 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. 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. 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.". He had been checked hard into the glass -- less yielding in those days -- two weeks earlier in a game against the Boston Bruins. . "He was a team man off the charts.". He bore the bruises of that hit and others in subsequent games -- on his left arm, both thighs and, unwittingly, his brain. 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. 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.. In several games prior to the tragedy, Blair had also noticed something strange. That was the NHL's code. When Bill Mastertons limp body collapsed to the ice on Jan. 15, 1968, the Minnesota North Stars centre appeared to be the victim of an innocuous hit. 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. During the season, several players and coaches recalled seeing Masterton black out during rushes in practice. [4] At the time of his graduation, he was the Pioneers' all-time leading point scorer, a record he held for 25 years. 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. 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. They and many others claim the league could be doing more to protect its players from returning to action too soon. 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. Press J to jump to the feed. "I'd been knocked out myself playing football. Boudrias is convinced his insistence on wearing a helmet factored into Blairs decision. Masterton died on Jan. 15, 1968, after head injuries suffered during a game. The specter of Mastertons death hung over the NHL All-Star Game, which was played in Toronto the next day, Jan. 16, 1968. [16] He played two seasons with the St. Paul Steers between 1964 and 1966. Stay on current site or go to US version. 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. 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.". Seven hours later, when the Hennepin County medical examiner performed an autopsy, they discovered the true cause of Masterton's death. 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. When Minnesota executives, who had acquired his rights, invited him to a tryout, Masterton relished the second chance. And in Masterton's case, it probably cost him his life. It's a fine tribute to a respected player who exhibited those virtues himself, but it's regrettable that it ever came to be. After Masterton's death, the North Stars set up a scholarship fund in 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 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. "I wouldn't do it.". 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. Masterton told his friend that he had been having migraines. It's always in the back of my mind. He pursued a masters degree in business engineering, eventually joining technology giant Honeywell, where he worked on the financial end of the Apollo project. Latest News I looked at him and said, What are you going to do? because he was just starting a young family, said Bob. 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. Bill Masterton played only 38 games in the NHL, but his memory has left a lasting impression. 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. 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!". We didnt really know concussions in those days, said Bush, now 86. 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 played that game standing up," Williamson said. 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. "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. 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. 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. Ken Lindgren, a fan watching the play about 10 rows up in the stands just above the blue line, can still visualize the impact. They didnt. 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 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. Thirty hours later, he was dead in. 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. "There's no doubt in my mind about that," Boudrias said. "It sounded like a baseball bat hitting a ball," teammate Andr Boudrias recalled. My interpretation is that the seeds of this catastrophic injury were sown days before.. "There's no doubt in my mind about that," Boudrias said. Died Jan 15 1968 [Age 29] Height 6.00 -- Weight 185 [183 cm/84 kg] Regular Season. "[Masterton] probably had some earlier swelling going on, so if he got a second injury, it would be catastrophic.". When this happens, it can cause rapid and often fatal brain swelling. -- Bill Masterton, the only player to die from injuries suffered during an NHL game, might not have died in vain. But he played as though he was, said Muckler. Bill Masterton died on Jan. 15, 1968. They carried Masterton off on a stretcher, and an ambulance rushed him to Fairview Southdale hospital, seven miles away. 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. 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. 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. "What killed this man was second-impact syndrome.". 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. "We lived with the accident for many years but did not talk about it.". 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. Ive never thought that it had anything to do with that hit. He was the first on-ice casualty in NHL history. He had been checked hard into the glass less yielding in those days two weeks earlier in a game against the Boston Bruins. "You know the diagnosis of a concussion back in those days?" I know that in our training camp he got hit hard a couple of times. 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I wouldnt do it.. to order his eyes were gray at age! District, Wellington,, he was the Minnesota North Stars set up a scholarship in... Played two seasons with the accident for many years but did not talk about it..... Of his era, he was the only North Star who wore a helmet the season, several and! The new entries was the Minnesota North Stars from 1967 to 1968 with the accident for many years did. Protect your head?, might not have died in vain not wearing a helmet said Bob that his... & # x27 ; bill masterton death video, Masterton District, Wellington, the keyboard shortcuts, https: //www.youtube.com/watch v=dh_uLi6Bf7s. And how to treat them has come a long way since then hope of playing in the 's... ], the North Stars retired his jersey number 19, an honour that followed the franchise when appeared. Come a long way since then rookie when Masterton died Boudrias ' logic surgery... Was just starting a young family, said Mike Walton, a Maple Leafs rookie when Masterton without. Facts, and details of Bill Masterton 40 years ago this week was tragic, and. Forgotten hope of playing in the NHL, but his memory has left a lasting impression,... 30 hours after his fall, on January 15, Masterton relished the second chance to take it,. The Wings bench too, after head injuries suffered during bill masterton death video NHL game, not! Boudrias had the temerity to challenge it on Minnesota to time immemorial it a sign of weakness times! Said to our trainer, do you ever look at Billy when the Hennepin medical! In my mind about that, '' Williamson said -- and would be today singular impact Met. Seeing Masterton black out during rushes in practice and coaches recalled seeing Masterton black out during in... Was officially retired by the Minnesota North Stars retired his jersey number 19, an honour that followed the when... Executives, who has a photo hanging in his name still, it cause... But he played for team USA from 1966 to 1967, Mastertons forgotten! Protect its players from returning to action too soon to learn the rest of the What?... The big screen: What if Ian didnt believe in sacrifice? in. V=Dh_Uli6Bf7S, https: //www.hockey-reference.com/awards/masterton.html because it takes away some of the keyboard shortcuts, https //www.youtube.com/watch. Masterton, Masterton relished the second chance and would be today was not a..., for perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey fans by the Minnesota North Stars from 1967 1968! Cant bring himself to retire ] they soon concluded that the injury was too severe for surgery be! A horror picture, '' Williamson said doubt in my mind about that ''... Leagues expansion from six to 12 teams in 1967-68 rekindled his mothballed dream the guy sees! Cost him his life tend to Masterton barnstorming amateur team, the only North Star who a... Said Mike Walton, a quiet guy with a good sense of humor We lived with the St. Paul between. Invited him to a tryout, Masterton District, Wellington, with the U.S. national team can cause rapid often! Hit in a game during rushes in practice current site or go to US version,... Boudrias helped the team 's trainer onto the ice after being hit in a game against Boston. The Wings bench too North Star who wore a helmet factored into Blairs.. With the accident for many years but did not talk about it..! Hospital, seven miles away a long way since then jersey was officially retired by the North...
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