Hockey player.
Born at Winnipeg on 13 August 1938 to William Hutchison Masterton (1910-1973) and Gudrun Rooney Stephanson (1916-1991), he played his minor hockey in Winnipeg. In 1955-1957, he played in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League with the St. Boniface Canadiens. He then played hockey in Denver, Colorado. He was originally signed in 1961 by the Montreal Canadiens.
With the expansion of the National Hockey League in 1967, he became a member of the Minnesota North Stars. He had the distinction of scoring the first goal in the team's history. Tragically, in a league game on 13 January 1967, he took a hard check and crashed to the ice. In those days, few hockey players wore helmets. He incurred massive head trauma and died two days later.
He is the only player in NHL history to die as a result of injuries suffered during a game. In his memory, in 1968 the NHL created the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy which is awarded annually to a player who demonstrates perseverance and dedication to hockey.
He died on 15 January 1968 and was buried in the Green Acres Cemetery. He was inducted posthumously into the Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame (1985).
“Winnipeg’s Billy Masterton signs with Minnesota entry,” Winnipeg Free Press, 26 August 1967, page 50.
“Ice mishap claims life of player,” Winnipeg Free Press, 15 January 1968, page 1.
“Place in NHL fulfilled Billy’s boyhood dreams,” Winnipeg Free Press, 16 January 1968, page 17.
Obituary, Winnipeg Free Press, 19 January 1968, page 27.
Bill Masterton, Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame, 1985.
This page was prepared by Rick Mutton.
Page revised: 22 March 2025
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