What were the circumstances behind Bill Mastersons death?

Question

I know he hit his head on the ice, but did he just fall or was he hit? If he was hit, was it a clean hit and who threw it?

Answer 1

Bill was the first and (as of 2007) only player to die in an NHL game. On January 13, 1968, in a game against the Oakland Seals at the Met Center, Bill was checked by Larry Cahan and Ron Harris of Oakland, and fell backwards onto the ice. The force of the back of his head hitting this ice caused much bleeding, and he quickly lost blood. He was seriously injured, sustaining damage to the pons. Doctors were prevented from doing surgery. Two days later, Bill died. He was the first player in 40 years to die from on-ice action in the NHL. His death would result in more intense lobbying for hockey players to wear helmets, which were uncommon in professional hockey at that time.

Answer 2

I agree with R.C. but not sure that Bill Masterson is the only one to die from an on ice injury. Bill Masterson died a couple of days later but Howie Morenz died from complications to a severely fractured leg 10 or 11 days after it happened (in a game vs the Blackhawks).

Answer 3

I have no idea for certain, however I might risk a wager; he holds the function that you just will have to no longer be in a position to switch your whole resources for your heirs while you die. Now, to be reasonable, the loss of life tax does have a one-time exemption and exemptions for charitable donations, however the price could be very top on what's left over. Personally, it's this kind of tax that makes me believe a fairer approach to do matters could be a VAT or country wide revenue tax, however that's simply me.

Answer 4

Look up Bill Masterton on wikipedia.com. It tells the entire story about his death. In another related article I recently read, (although I cannot remember where I saw it ) it states that Bill went into a coma and he just never woke up. Very scary stuff...

Let's Go Pens!!!

Answer 5

As far as I know, he was skating and fell into the boards and then hit his head on the ice. no one checked him.
If someone DID check him, he'd be a poster boy for all that is wrong with hockey.

Answer 6

nice work RC that pretty well covers it.