Willie O’Ree- The First Black NHL Player Trailblazer

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for two decades. He wrote in his NHL biography how his efforts paved the way for future players of color and economic backgrounds.</p><figure id="7769"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/0*6yaNhW5xXtim7hi5.jpg"><figcaption>Photo by Shawna Mizelle, CNN</figcaption></figure><p id="7731">The younger Willie O’Ree in the above photo shows him warming up before a game against the New York Rangers at New York’s Madison on November 23, 1960.</p><p id="d822">A life of hockey led to him spending his life thereafter giving back to his community and two ice rinks are named after him, one in his hometown of Fredericton, in New Brunswick, Canada, and the other in Boston.</p><p id="a3b3">O’Ree a man with a heart for his community and the betterment of others he has supported more than 30 non-profit youth hockey programs and given more than 130,000 children the opportunity to play hockey.</p><p id="1928">His legacy also includes being inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in November 2018, also the NHL instituted the annual Willie O’Ree Community Hero Award to recognize an individual who worked to make a positive impact on the community, culture, or society to make people better through hockey.</p><p id="0b0f">From 1998 on, O’Ree as the NHL’s Diversity Ambassador has traveled across North America to schools and hockey programs promoting inclusion, dedication, and confidence. Thereby, preventing other hockey players from systemic racism.</p><p id="4f6c">After O’Ree, there were no other Black players in the NHL until another Canadian player, Mike Marson, was drafted by the Washington Capitals in 1974. By the mid-2010s, the NHL had 23 Black players. Also historically, Art Dorrington was the first Black player to sign an NHL contract in 1950 with the New York Rangers organization but never played beyond the minor league level.</p><p id="ce58"><b>In conclusion</b>, Mr. O’Ree endured much verbal racism during his hockey career, and now NHL players are required to enroll in a preseason diversity training seminar, and racially-based verbal abuse will be punished through suspension

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s and fines. Plus, O’Ree is yet a constant voice and reminder that racial equality must be paramount in the hockey organization.</p><p id="d9c8">For additional reads:</p><div id="1ea6" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/america-needs-balance-between-the-lie-and-the-truth-13dc9ca8b7bb"> <div> <div> <h2>America Needs to Tell the Truth</h2> <div><h3>How the truth will set America free from racial bondage.</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/0*OkZse8Q9tIZ4GeLp.jpg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><div id="8166" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/celebrating-the-legacy-of-lucy-harris-a-basketball-phenomena-3a2eb7c02572"> <div> <div> <h2>Celebrating the Legacy of Lucy Harris-a Basketball Phenomena</h2> <div><h3>How a Delta State legend, Lucy Harris, became a basketball pioneer and trailblazer.</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/0*-Gb2iqpbuKsJaA_f)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><div id="7b78" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/celebrating-the-legacy-of-andre-leon-talley-a-creative-genius-f9d3a208ab21"> <div> <div> <h2>Celebrating the Legacy of Andre Leon Talley — a Creative Genius</h2> <div><h3>How one man revolutionized the fashion industry.</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/0*7n90qJ9kb9EOO8Gm)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div></article></body>

Willie O’Ree- The First Black NHL Player Trailblazer

How one man changes the face of hockey being the Black player.

Photo by Shawna Mizelle, CNN

It is very rewarding to see a history maker getting recognition for making history during his lifetime. With all the denial of the accomplishments of people of color in America, it is refreshing to see that the House passed a bill to award the Congressional Gold Medal to Willie O’Ree, the first Black NHL player to compete in the National Hockey League. Democrats passed the bill as it awaits the signature of President Joe Biden. This is the highest civilian award that Congress recognizes for his contributions and commitment to hockey.

This award was issued just days after the Boston Bruins retired number 22 in honor of Willie O’Ree, 86, who broke the color barrier in hockey in 1958. O’Ree is the 12th player in Bruins history to have their number retired. He played 45 games and 21 years of professional hockey while being legally blind in one eye.

According to the Bruins, O’Ree hit the 450 milestones for both goals and assisted over the course of more than 1,100 professional games.

As fate would have it, O’Ree was doing what he loved and was making history in the interim. He was clueless at that time that he broke the color barrier at the highest level of hockey until after the fact by reading about it in the newspaper the following day.

O’Ree was aka “the Jackie Robinson of hockey.” His accomplishments did not come easy as he experienced name-calling from opposing players and from fans during every game he played. O’Ree stated he faced a lot, “Besides being Black and being blind in my right eye, I was faced with four other things: racism, prejudice, bigotry, and ignorance.”

He remains active being the NHL’s director of youth development and ambassador for NHL Diversity, for two decades. He wrote in his NHL biography how his efforts paved the way for future players of color and economic backgrounds.

Photo by Shawna Mizelle, CNN

The younger Willie O’Ree in the above photo shows him warming up before a game against the New York Rangers at New York’s Madison on November 23, 1960.

A life of hockey led to him spending his life thereafter giving back to his community and two ice rinks are named after him, one in his hometown of Fredericton, in New Brunswick, Canada, and the other in Boston.

O’Ree a man with a heart for his community and the betterment of others he has supported more than 30 non-profit youth hockey programs and given more than 130,000 children the opportunity to play hockey.

His legacy also includes being inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in November 2018, also the NHL instituted the annual Willie O’Ree Community Hero Award to recognize an individual who worked to make a positive impact on the community, culture, or society to make people better through hockey.

From 1998 on, O’Ree as the NHL’s Diversity Ambassador has traveled across North America to schools and hockey programs promoting inclusion, dedication, and confidence. Thereby, preventing other hockey players from systemic racism.

After O’Ree, there were no other Black players in the NHL until another Canadian player, Mike Marson, was drafted by the Washington Capitals in 1974. By the mid-2010s, the NHL had 23 Black players. Also historically, Art Dorrington was the first Black player to sign an NHL contract in 1950 with the New York Rangers organization but never played beyond the minor league level.

In conclusion, Mr. O’Ree endured much verbal racism during his hockey career, and now NHL players are required to enroll in a preseason diversity training seminar, and racially-based verbal abuse will be punished through suspensions and fines. Plus, O’Ree is yet a constant voice and reminder that racial equality must be paramount in the hockey organization.

For additional reads: