Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy

Lore & Background

The trophy is named in honor of the late Bill Masterton, a Minnesota North Stars player who died on January 15, 1968, after sustaining an injury during a hockey game. During his playing career, Masterton exhibited 'to a high degree the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey'. A US college standout at Denver University, Masterton had briefly played in the Montreal Canadiens organization before giving up his professional dreams and taking a job as an engineer at Honeywell in Minneapolis. During his spare time, he played senior amateur hockey including for the US national team, where he was scouted by the expansion North Stars and became the club's first contracted player. It was first awarded following the 1967–68 regular season.

In Their Own Story

For Montreal faithful, the Masterton Trophy holds a weight heavier than bronze. Inside the Forum, that award served as a quiet reminder to every player wearing red and white: while injuries are inevitable, the will to return is permanent. It wasn't about glory; it was about the commitment to stand up when the world tries to keep you down.

Reader's Guide

As of the end of the 2018–19 NHL season, players for the New York Rangers and Montreal Canadiens have won the trophy five times; players for the Boston Bruins and Philadelphia Flyers have won the trophy four times; and players for the Los Angeles Kings, the Pittsburgh Penguins and the New York Islanders have won the trophy three times. Players on Western Conference teams have won the award only 18 times since the award was first given in the 1960s.

Did You Know?

• The trophy is named after Bill Masterton, the only NHL player to die from injuries suffered during a game.
• Masterton briefly played in the Montreal Canadiens organization before becoming an engineer.
• The winner is selected by a poll of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association, not by the NHL Board of Governors or Hockey Hall of Fame.