When the NHL announced plans to expand to 12 teams for the 1967 season, a young corporate executive in Minneapolis didn't really see how it could affect him. Bill Masterton, after all, was already 29 years old and had given up on his professional hockey career a few years earlier in order to climb his way up the ladder of the Honeywell Corporation.

Masterton had played several seasons in the early 1960s with Cleveland of the American Hockey League, but never attracted much attention from NHL teams. That changed when the league doubled in size and new franchises began searching for talent wherever they could find it.

Someone in the front office of the Minnesota North Stars, the league's new local franchise, knew about Masterton, and suggested the team contact him for a tryout. The former player was still fairly young and had kept himself in shape by playing men's league games on a regular basis.

Still eager for a shot at the big time, Masterton agreed to a tryout, and ended up quitting Honeywell when he made the roster of the first team the North Stars ever sent out on the ice.

Although he was not a spectacular talent, the Winnipeg-native was an effective role player for the North Stars, scoring four goals and adding 12 assists in the 38 games he played. But he will always be remembered not for what he did on the ice, but for what happened to him there.

On January 13, 1968, Masterton was carrying the puck against the Oakland Seals when he was sandwiched by a check from defenseman Ron Harris and Larry Cahan. Off-balance when he was hit, Masterton fell and struck his head, knocking him unconscious.

The helmet-less player was rushed to the hospital where he died two days later of massive brain damage.

Later that season, the league created a new award named in his memory, presenting it to the player who best exemplifies perserverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey. It is a lasting tribute to an athlete who became the NHL's only on-ice fatality in history during the week of Jan. 10-16.

January 10

Mark Messier is currently sixth on the all-time goals chart.(AP)

He is considered one of the greatest team leaders to ever lace up skates and he is headed for the Hall of Fame as soon as he retires. In the meantime, Mark Messier continues to produce in the NHL and climb up the all-time lists of scoring charts. On this date in 1998, he added another milestone to his illustrious career when he set up Canucks teammate Alexander Mogilny for a goal, and became the sixth player to reach the 1,000-assist mark. Wayne Gretzky, Paul Coffey, Gordie Howe, Marcel Dionne and Ray Bourque are the others.

January 11

Joe Nieuwendyk remains Calgary's second all-time leading goal scorer. (Allsport)

Joe Nieuwendyk proved he was a great goal-scorer when he hit the back of the net 51 times during his rookie season in 1987-88. He reached the same total again during his second season, but one of his most memorable efforts during that campaign took place on this date in 1989 when Nieuwendyk scored five goals to lead the Flames past Winnipeg 8-3. Four of those goals came in the second 20 minutes of play, tying the NHL record for most goals during one period.

January 12

Mario Lemieux overcame the biggest challenge of his life off the ice.(Allsport)

One of the most disheartening days in recent hockey memory took place on this date in 1993 when Pittsburgh Penguins superstar Mario Lemieux revealed he had been diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease. Lemieux was forced to miss 23 games while undergoing treatment, but through it all, refused to give in to the cancer. In an incredible display of determination and inner strength, Lemieux returned to action later that season and won the scoring title by 12 points, despite playing 24 fewer games than runner-up Pat Lafontaine.

January 13
Gary Bettman faced labor problems soon after taking office.(Allsport)	The most serious labor disruption in NHL history ended on this date in 1995 when league commissioner Gary Bettman and Players Association Executive Director Bob Goodenow announced they had agreed on a new collective bargaining agreement. The lockout had cost the league a total of 468 regular-season games and resulted in an abridged three-month campaign of 48 contests for each team.

January 14

Sprague Cleghorn played for four teams in 10 seasons.

It is probably just a coincidence, or maybe it has something to do with the uniform, but this date in history has special meaning for both the Montreal Canadiens and the NHL. On January 14, 1922, Sprague and Oldie Cleghorn of the Habs became the first teammates (and brothers) to each score four goals in a game as Montreal whipped the Hamilton Tigers 10-4. Exactly 21 years later, Montreal rookie Alex Smart scored a hat trick in a 5-1 win over Chicago to set a new record for goals by a player in his first game.

January 15

Terry Sawchuk still holds the record for career wins.

Terry Sawchuk is considered by many to be the greatest goalie that ever played the game. His career spanned 20 seasons with Detroit, Boston, Toronto, Los Angeles and the Rangers, and during that time he won five Stanley Cups and the Vezina Trophy four times. Of all his achievements, the 103 shutouts he posted in just 971 games seems least likely to be broken. The road to that career mark began on this date in 1950 when Sawchuk blanked the Rangers for his first career shutout.

January 16

Frank McGee was among the 12 original Hall of Fame inductees.

Frank McGee's incredible career pre-dated the formation of the NHL, but he will forever be honored for turning in the greatest single performance in Stanley Cup play. Early in the century when amateur teams competed for Lord Stanley's trophy and hockey supremacy, McGee's Ottawa Silver Seven squad was challenged by the Dawson City Nuggets, a team from the Yukon Territories. McGee, who a few years earlier had lost an eye, scored 14 goals as the Silver Seven routed the Nuggets 23-2 on this date in 1905 and held on to the Stanley Cup.