Masterton was soft-spoken and modest, a quiet guy with a good sense of humor. What killed this man was second-impact syndrome.. 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. Only a handful of NHL players wore them at the time, including Mastertons teammate, Boudrias. Despite several efforts to mandate their use, it was 11 years before the NHL made them compulsory for all new players beginning in the 1979-80 NHL season . 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. Only Andre Boudrias had the temerity to challenge it on Minnesota. Had to do cpr on him right next to the bench in the tunnel. Typical of the attitude of the day, North Stars coach Wren Blair frowned on the practice. Explore Bill Masterton's biography, personal life, family and cause of death. asked Williamson, who has a photo hanging in his office of Masterton on the stretcher. The team also retired his No. With a blown knee and broken bones, Scott stepped away from his sport. 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. accessed ), memorial page for William Duncan "Bill" Cromie (24 Apr 1915-20 Feb 2002), Find a Grave Memorial ID 244481111, citing Riverside Cemetery . His playing style has endeared him to hockey fans. 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. 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. 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. 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. His eyes were gray at the time it was like a horror picture, Boudrias says. He and others considered it a sign of weakness. It took the NHL more than a decade to catch up to Boudrias' logic. 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. [17] Masterton became a naturalized American citizen, allowing him to join the United States National Team in 196667. They carried Masterton off on a stretcher, and an ambulance rushed him to Fairview Southdale hospital, seven miles away. Realizing he was already gone, Masterton's parents, who had flown in from Winnipeg after they heard of the incident, and his wife, Carol, made the decision to remove Masterton from life support. He had kept fit by playing on a barnstorming amateur team, the St. Paul Steers, and with the U.S. national team. I looked at him and said, What are you going to do? because he was just starting a young family, said Bob. 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. Masterton was soft-spoken and modest, a quiet guy with a good sense of humor. His aggressiveness got him.. "He played that game standing up," Williamson said. He never laid down.. John Rosengren is the author of Blades of Glory: The True Story of a Young Team Bred to Win . After Masterton's death, the North Stars set up a scholarship fund in his name. said Masterton's son, Scott, now 50. Is his number retired by the Stars? He bore the bruises of that hit and others in subsequent games -- on his left arm, both thighs and, unwittingly, his brain. 1891 views | original sound - avalon 13.5K .mzrdo "I Got A Plan" Bills Death | #fyp #rdr1 #billwilliamson #johnmarston "I knew he was done.". The specter of Masterton's death hung over the NHL All-Star Game, which was played in Toronto the next day, Jan. 16, 1968. "There's no doubt in my mind about that," Boudrias said. We are the premier subreddit to talk everything hockey! He died from a coronary embolism caused by blood clots from his damaged leg, so related but not directly because of the injury (he had a heart attack before the coronary embolism). They didn't. "We watched his head bounce," Lindgren said. Awareness about brain injuries and how to treat them has come a long way since then. 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. Ive never said this to anyone before, said Wren Blair, Mastertons coach and general manager, now 85. 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. 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." Bill Masterton played only 38 games in the NHL, but his memory has left a lasting impression. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. [16] He is the only player in NHL history to die as a direct result of an injury suffered on the ice. Thirty hours later, he was dead in hospital. 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. Almost 30 hours later, Bill Masterton was dead at the age of 29. [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. Latest News "He was a team man off the charts.". 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.. 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. "There's no doubt in my mind about that," Boudrias said. Id been knocked out myself playing football. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? In 1967, Mastertons nearly forgotten hope of playing in the NHL re-emerged with the leagues expansion from six to 12 teams. "[Masterton] probably had some earlier swelling going on, so if he got a second injury, it would be catastrophic.". Seven hours later, when the Hennepin County medical examiner performed an autopsy, they discovered the true cause of Masterton's death. cemeteries found in Masterton, Masterton District, Wellington, . The specter of Masterton's death hung over the NHL All-Star Game, which was played in Toronto the next day, Jan. 16, 1968. Discover the real story, facts, and details of Bill Masterton. — -- Bill Masterton, the only player to die from injuries suffered during an NHL game, might not have died in vain. Seven hours later, when the Hennepin County medical examiner performed an autopsy, they discovered the true cause of Masterton's death. 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. Laperriere acknowledged his career may be over, though he cant bring himself to retire. [13] He joined the Honeywell Corporation where he worked on the Apollo program. Typical of the attitude of the day, North Stars coach Wren Blair frowned on the practice. Boudrias helped the teams trainer onto the ice to tend to Masterton. 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. "His eyes were gray at the time -- it was like a horror picture," Boudrias says. [11] He finished as the runner up to Doug Robinson for the Dudley "Red" Garrett Memorial Award as the AHL's top rookie. Discuss the NHL, AHL, PHF, IIHF, KHL, and every other hockey league you can think of! Brittanie Cecil, as mentioned in the comments above. [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. "It sounded like a baseball bat hitting a ball," teammate Andr Boudrias recalled. Oakland defencemen Larry Cahan and Ron Harris moved in to check Masterton, who wound up falling on the back of his head. It is very rare to see that level of swelling in the brain from a single injury, he said. Boudrias helped the team's trainer onto the ice to tend to Masterton. Only player death* Brittanie Cecil died while watching a game in 2002. 19, a tradition the franchise continued to honor when it moved and became the Dallas Stars. "We watched his head bounce," Lindgren said. Its the most gruesome distinction in hockey: Only one player has ever died from injuries directly suffered in an NHL game. the Story Of Hockey History Bill Masterton a unforchanate hit that lead to his death They didn't. 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. Deadline decisions: What will Avs, Kraken and others do? He made the North Stars and scored the first goal in franchise history. It disappeared during his 38-game career as an NHLer. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. 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. Its a badge of honour, he said. 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. [9] He settled in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where he took a job in contracts administration. 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. said Boudrias, now 72. Bill Masterton is stretchered off the ice after being hit in a game against the Oakland Seals in 1968. [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. 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. In 1968, Boudrias was the only North Star who wore a helmet. 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 didn't move after that. 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. Im fine, hed say, the mantra of a thousand hockey players. 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 understands how passion and perseverance can deliver both glory and death. It's a fine tribute to a respected player who exhibited those virtues himself, but it's regrettable that it ever came to be. It wasn't dirty and it wasn't meant to happen that way. You would get traded if you did. 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. That was the NHL's code. Typical of the attitude of the day, North Stars coach Wren Blair frowned on the practice. "I was asked to take it off," Boudrias said. #nhl #hockeydeath #rip #hockey #sports". 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 bore the bruises of that hit and others in subsequent games on his left arm, both thighs and, unwittingly, his brain. 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. Only a handful of NHL players wore them at the time, including Masterton's teammate, Boudrias. While knowledge of concussions has increased dramatically since Masterton died, the warrior-like mindset of professional hockey players is everlasting, he said. Masterton was knocked backward in the resulting collision and landed on his head. Ken Lindgren, a fan watching the play about 10 rows up in the stands just above the blue line, can still visualize the impact. He's also convinced a helmet would have saved Masterton's life. 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. But even if they had, he might still have been in the lineup against Oakland. What happened in the days leading up to that fatal moment in Minneapolis, when Masterton played his 38th and final NHL game, has been largely a mystery. [7] Masterton served as team captain for 196061,[8] and was named the most valuable player of the 1961 national championship as he led Denver to a second consecutive title. 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. 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. The specter of Mastertons death hung over the NHL All-Star Game, which was played in Toronto the next day, Jan. 16, 1968. 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. They thought it took away from the fan experience, masking the identity of players. 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. But my brother was the worker and he had the ethic that you need to make the NHL.. "I was asked to take it off," Boudrias said. https://www.hockey-reference.com/awards/masterton.html. [16] He played two seasons with the St. Paul Steers between 1964 and 1966. "He didn't move after that. 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. To order copies of 's top rookie", "Brain injuries takes life of Stars' Bill Masterton", "Star investigation: What really killed NHL's Bill Masterton", "North Star player's death 40 years ago changed the game of hockey forever", "N.H.L. Such is the legacy of the only man who died because of injuries caused in an NHL game. NHL Home Scores Schedule Standings Stats Teams Daily Lines Power Rankings More 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. 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. He had been complaining of headaches, said Maniago. "I knew he was done.". The team doctor soon joined him. He starred at the University of Denver from 1957-61, helping the Pioneers win three national collegiate titles and earning tournament MVP honours his senior year. Like Masterton, Laperriere earned an unlikely place in the pros with grit. Hes also convinced a helmet would have saved Mastertons life. Seven hours later, when the Hennepin County medical examiner performed an autopsy, they discovered the true cause of Mastertons death. I really believe he was injured before the fatal blow. The death of DU hockey Alum Bill Masterton 40 years ago this week was tragic, unnecessary and foolish. Republication or distribution of this content is They didnt. Hed never show when he got hurt. All Rights Reserved. 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. Ive never thought that it had anything to do with that hit. Ken Lindgren, a fan watching the play about 10 rows up in the stands just above the blue line, can still visualize the impact. If I had a slim chance to play, Im going to play.. 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. We were not allowed to wear helmets, said J.P. Parise. (Or was she paralyzed). 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. What makes hockey players hide their injuries and re-enter games knowing the next hit could spell ruin? That rotation was a contributing factor in the severity of his injury. 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. You hold out four fingers. Blair, in charge of the North Stars, came calling. Ive never seen a person work so hard. The NHL's expansion from six to 12 teams in 1967-68 rekindled his mothballed dream. Masterton told his friend that he had been having migraines. But even if they had, he might still have been in the lineup against Oakland. When this happens, it can cause rapid and often fatal brain swelling. Talk centered on the divisive topic of helmets. 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. original sound. Ron Harris was haunted for many years by his role in Masterton's death: "It bothers you the rest of your life. Masterton, who was always quick to dismiss concerns, was never sent to a doctor. 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. 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 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". 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. The Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, for perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey, will be awarded June 22. I don't think his heart completely stopped. He cherished his son, Scott, 3, and daughter, Sally, 1. Talk centered on the divisive topic of helmets. He didn't see the other defender, who caught him with a clean check that knocked him backward. They thought it took away from the fan experience, masking the identity of players. 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. Three years later, only six Minnesota players wore them, the most of any of the NHL's teams. Minnesota goalie Cesare Maniagos wife, Mavis, had a clear view of Mastertons fall from her seat in the stands. 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. My interpretation is that the seeds of this catastrophic injury were sown days before.. [16] He was attended to by two neurosurgeons and three other doctors. The general public doesnt understand the adrenaline, the passion, the dedication the players have to get out there and perform.. It took the NHL more than a decade to catch up to Boudrias' logic. And in Mastertons case, it probably cost him his life. He and others considered it a sign of weakness. "When he had headaches early on, we wouldn't have had him on the ice," he said. The question flashed up on the big screen: What if Ian didnt believe in sacrifice?. 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 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. I thought he was out then and just went fast right down.. The Toronto Star and thestar.com, each property of Toronto Star 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. "[3] However, Masterton's family held no animosity towards the players involved or the game. Carol, who was watching the game from the stands, and Masterton's parents, who were listening to the game from their home in Winnipeg, rushed to his bedside at the hospital. It took the NHL more than a decade to catch up to Boudrias' logic. 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. Yet that might not actually be the case. 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. They and many others claim the league could be doing more to protect its players from returning to action too soon. Carey Price addresses the media after winning the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy for the 2021-22 season.SUBSCRIBE: http://goha.bs/1qHH4pZ 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. I was asked to take it off, Boudrias said. "This is an urgent matter," UMC CEO Bill Masterton said. Thirty hours later, he was dead in. presentation-ready copies of Toronto Star content for distribution 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. 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. While Masterton was originally thought to have suffered a fatal brain injury while being checked on the ice, later analysis of the case revealed evidence of second-impact syndrome and . Bob Masterton remembers his brother telling him about the NHL offer over dinner. He didnt see the other defender, who caught him with a clean check that knocked him backward. "We lived with the accident for many years but did not talk about it.". He's also convinced a helmet would have saved Masterton's life. That same year a trophy called the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy was established by the Professional Hockey Writers' Association, in his memory. 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. After Mastertons death, the North Stars set up a scholarship fund in his name. If the guy only sees two, you send him back out there because it doesn't matter anyway. "You know the diagnosis of a concussion back in those days?" That's what men did. 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. said Masterton's son, Scott, now 50. [19] They soon concluded that the injury was too severe for surgery to be a viable option. He bore the bruises of that hit and others in subsequent games -- on his left arm, both thighs and, unwittingly, his brain. The team doctor soon joined him. [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 was not a marquee player, but he was a skilled playmaker who was willing to work in the corners and be a team player. That was the NHL's code. After Masterton's death, the North Stars set up a scholarship fund in his name. [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. Theres no doubt in my mind about that, Boudrias said. But he played as though he was, said Muckler. "His eyes were gray at the time -- it was like a horror picture," Boudrias says. "We didn't really know concussions in those days," said Bush, now 86. When Minnesota executives, who had acquired his rights, invited him to a tryout, Masterton relished the second chance. "It's kind of good to hear that because it takes away some of the 'What if?'" 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. [4] At the time of his graduation, he was the Pioneers' all-time leading point scorer, a record he held for 25 years. He was having some headaches. Twice last season, Laperriere took slapshots in the face. "[10], Turning to professional hockey after graduating with an engineering degree,[9] Masterton signed a contract with the Montreal Canadiens in 1961. Carol referred to the incident as a fluke, saying that it could have happened to anyone. "There's no doubt in my mind about that," Boudrias said. They didn't. [3] Some 30 hours after his fall, on January 15, Masterton died without ever regaining consciousness. My feeling is that he may have gotten a minor concussion playing or practising on some other day . There is evidence of massive brain swelling . He cherished his son, Scott, 3, and daughter, Sally, 1. "I'd been knocked out myself playing football. 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 admits he lied to team doctors about his post-concussion issues in order to return for a shot at the Stanley Cup. 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. 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. 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. [16], Few NHL players wore helmets in 1968. . "When he had headaches early on, we wouldn't have had him on the ice," he said. He had kept fit by playing on a barnstorming amateur team, the St. Paul Steers, and with the U.S. national team. 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. 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.