Has Anyone Ever Died In An NHL Game?

We take a look at whether anyone has ever died in an NHL game, and explore the circumstances around some of the league’s most tragic accidents.

NHL History

Hockey is a dangerous sport. Players are constantly skating at high speeds and shooting a hard rubber puck at each other. It’s not surprising that there have been a few fatalities in NHL games over the years. In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the NHL players who have tragically lost their lives while playing the sport they love.

Early years

The National Hockey League (NHL) was founded in 1917, following the demise of its predecessor, the National Hockey Association (NHA). The NHL’s first quarter-century saw little in the way of competition for the Stanley Cup, as it was awarded to whichever team finished at the top of the standings each season. The Montreal Canadiens dominated the league during this time period, winning the Stanley Cup ten times between 1915 and 1931. In 1926, the NHL expanded from six to twelve teams, adding franchises in Chicago and Detroit. New York and Boston were also added as part of a second expansion in 1934.

The original six teams were:
Boston Bruins
Chicago Blackhawks
Detroit Red Wings
Montreal Canadiens
New York Rangers
Toronto Maple Leafs

The Original Six

The Original Six is the term used for the NHL hockey teams that made up the National Hockey League from 1942 to 1967. The teams are the Boston Bruins, Chicago Blackhawks, Detroit Red Wings, Montreal Canadiens, New York Rangers, and Toronto Maple Leafs. These six teams were also the only ones in the league from 1926 until 1967 when the league doubled in size to twelve teams.

NHL Expansion

The National Hockey League (NHL) is North America’s top professional ice hockey league. It was founded in 1917 with seven teams and has since expanded to 31 teams (24 in the U.S. and seven in Canada).

The “Dead Wings”

The Detroit Red Wings were an NHL expansion team that began play in the 1926-27 season. The team was nicknamed the “Dead Wings” because they finished last in their first eight seasons. In their ninth season, they finally made the playoffs, but lost in the first round.

The “Gretzky Era”

The “Gretzky Era” is generally considered to be the time period between 1979 and 1999. During this time, the NHL saw a dramatic increase in both popularity and expansion. The league added ten new teams, including the Winnipeg Jets, Tampa Bay Lightning, Ottawa Senators, San Jose Sharks, and Nashville Predators. The game itself became faster and more exciting, with more scoring and fewer fights.

Unfortunately, the increased speed of the game also led to an increase in injuries. In 1993, Stu Grimson of the Chicago Blackhawks became the first player to be suspended for fighting after he knocked out Bob Probert of the Detroit Red Wings. That same year, Todd Ewen of the St. Louis Blues was also suspended for fighting.

Perhaps the most famous on-ice death in NHL history occurred during a game between the New York Rangers and Vancouver Canucks in 1970. Rangers forward Bill Masterton was checked by two Canucks players and fell backwards, hitting his head on the ice. He never regained consciousness and died two days later.

Injuries and Deaths in the NHL

On-ice deaths

Three on-ice deaths have occurred in NHL games. Bill Masterton, of the Minnesota North Stars, died on January 15, 1968 after sustaining massive head injuries during a collision with two opposing players. Despite being rushed to the hospital and placed on life support, Masterton died two days later.

During a game between the Boston Bruins and New York Rangers on December 12, 1979, Ranger player Pat Stapleton fell unintentionally backwards and hit his head on the ice. He was able to finish the game but later died in hospital due to a cerebral hemorrhage.

Cl int Malarchuk of the Buffalo Sabres was accidentally slashed across the jugular vein by Steve Tuttle’s skate during a game against St. Louis Blues on March 22, 1989. Malarchuk survived but required over 300 stitches to close the wound.

injuries

Injuries and deaths in the NHL are not common, but they do happen. Most injuries are minor, but there have been some serious ones over the years. There have also been a few deaths, though most of those were caused by pre-existing medical conditions.

In recent years, the NHL has made an effort to reduce the number of injuries by instituting rules changes and increasing player safety. This has helped to make the sport safer, but accidents can still happen.

NHL Safety

Safety is always a primary concern in any sport, but it is especially important in a contact sport like hockey. Despite the fact that players are well-protected with padding and helmets, there is still a risk of serious injury or death. In the history of the NHL, there have been a handful of players who have died as a result of on-ice injuries.

Rule changes

Since the 1950s, the NHL has made a number of rule changes to improve player safety. One of the most important changes was the introduction of the helmets in 1979. before that, only goaltenders were required to wear them.

Other rule changes have included the banning of certain types of hits, like blind-side hits to the head, and the introduction of penalties for fighting. In recent years, there has been a greater focus on concussion awareness and management, with new protocols in place for players who suffer a head injury.

Despite these efforts, there have still been a handful of on-ice deaths in NHL history. In 1961, Bill Masterton became the first player to die as a result of an injury sustained during an NHL game. Masterton was checked from behind and hit his head on the ice, suffering fatal brain injuries.

In 1971, Curt Flood died after being hit in the head by a puck during a game between the Minnesota North Stars and Montreal Canadiens. He fell into a coma and died two days later.

In 1998, Rich Sommerfeld was hit in the throat by a puck during a game between the Anaheim Mighty Ducks and Detroit Red Wings. He underwent surgery but died three days later from complications related to his injuries.

And in 2013, Steve Montador died at the age of 35 from what was later revealed to be chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative brain condition caused by repeated head trauma. Montador had played over 500 NHL games during his career – one of many players who would ultimately be diagnosed with CTE after their death.

Player safety

Player safety has always been a concern in the NHL, but it has come to the forefront in recent years with the increase in cases of concussion and head injury. The NHL has implemented a number of rule changes aimed at protecting players, including penalizing hits to the head and increasing the size of goalie equipment.

Despite these efforts, player safety is still an issue in the NHL. In 2013, Boston Bruins player Marc Savard was forced to retire after suffering multiple concussions. In 2014, New York Rangers player Derek Stepan broke his leg during a playoff game, and in 2016, Montreal Canadiens player Lars Eller was taken off the ice on a stretcher after taking a hit to the head.

It is clear that more needs to be done to protect players from injury, but the question remains: how can the NHL strike a balance between protecting players and preserving the physicality that makes hockey such an exciting sport?

Conclusion

In short, yes. Several players have died as a result of on-ice injuries, and a handful of others have passed away due to health complications or other factors related to their NHL careers. However, it’s important to note that no one has died as a direct result of an NHL game in nearly 100 years.