Who is the only NHL player to die from injuries suffered during a hockey game?

William John "Bill" Masterton (1938 – 1968) was a Canadian–American professional ice hockey player who in 1967–68 played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Minnesota North Stars. Bill played only 38 games in the NHL. He became the only player in NHL history to die as a direct result of injuries suffered during a hockey game. He received massive head injuries; they were suffered after he hit his head on the ice following blows to his body in a contest against the Oakland Seals.

At the end of the 1967–68 season, the NHL added a new player award called the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, named in honor of Bill Masterton who died on January 15, 1968. The Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy is awarded annually to the National Hockey League player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to the game of ice hockey.