Willie O'Ree

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Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:Use Canadian English Template:Infobox ice hockey player William Eldon O'Ree Template:Post-nominals (born October 15, 1935) is a former Canadian professional ice hockey player from Fredericton, New Brunswick. He is widely recognized for being the first black player in the National Hockey League (NHL), playing as a winger for the Boston Bruins. His accomplishment of breaking the colour barrier in the NHL has led him to sometimes be referred to as the "Jackie Robinson of hockey," whom he had the chance to meet when he was younger. In 2018, O'Ree was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame, and starting that year the NHL has introduced the annual Willie O'Ree Community Hero Award in his honor.

Early life and career

William Eldon O'Ree<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> was born on October 15, 1935, in Fredericton, New Brunswick,<ref name="Britannica">Template:Cite web</ref> to Harry,<ref name="The New York Times">Template:Cite news</ref> a civil engineer and road maintenance worker,<ref name="Britannica"/> and Rosebud O'Ree.<ref name="The New York Times"/> He was the youngest of nine siblings.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> His grandparents were escapees of slavery in the United States, moving to Canada through the Underground Railroad. Fredericton had a small black population during O'Ree's early years, with only two families living in the city at the time.<ref name="Britannica"/><ref name="canadianencyclopedia">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="nhl">Template:Cite web</ref>

O'Ree began skating at the age of three and started playing organized hockey at the age of five.<ref name="canadianencyclopedia"/><ref name="nhl"/> O'Ree regularly used the family's backyard rink to play the game, and when the weather allowed, he would skate to school. In the early rinks, skin colour was never a problem, as O'Ree wrote in his autobiography, The Willie O’Ree Story: Hockey’s Black Pioneer.<ref name="Britannica"/>

When O'Ree was 14 years old, he was taught how to bodycheck by his older brother Richard, with whom he played organized hockey.<ref name="canadianencyclopedia"/> O'Ree also played baseball during this time for Fredericton's West Enders team, where in October 1950 he received an outstanding player trophy. O'Ree was predicted by The Daily Gleaner sportswriter Jack Riley to have the potential to become "another Don Newcombe, Sam Jethroe, or Jackie Robinson" in the future.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> At this age, O'Ree also met Robinson.<ref>Template:Cite AV media</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> At the age of 15, O'Ree participated in the New Brunswick Amateur Hockey Association playoffs as a part of the Fredericton Falcons.<ref name="canadianencyclopedia"/> He later played for the Fredericton Capitals and attended Fredericton High School, but was deemed potentially ineligible to play hockey for the school because of a New Brunswick Interscholastic Athletic Association (NBIAA) rule forbidding players who already have a history playing intermediate or senior sports from playing on the interscholastic level.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Playing career

O'Ree first began playing hockey out-of-province after being signed to the Quebec Frontenacs of the Quebec Junior Hockey League in September 1954.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> O'Ree played junior hockey for several teams in Quebec and Ontario before being signed by the Quebec Aces of the Quebec Hockey League (QHL) in 1955. Midway through his second minor-league season with the Quebec Aces, O'Ree was called up to the Boston Bruins of the NHL to replace Leo Labine, who was unable to play due to an illness.<ref>Labine was reportedly "bed-ridden with a heavy cold", "First Negro Player In Hockey Loop", AP report in Tampa (FL) Times, January 18, 1958, p. 18</ref> Two years earlier, O'Ree had been blinded when he was hit in his right eye by an errant puck;<ref name=":1">Template:Cite news</ref> which would have precluded him from playing in the NHL if the Bruins had known. However, O'Ree managed to keep it secret, and made his NHL debut with the Bruins on January 18, 1958,<ref name=":1" /><ref name="stubbs">Template:Cite web</ref> against the Montreal Canadiens, becoming the first black player in league history. He played two games that year, with centre man Don McKenney and right wing Jerry Toppazzini as his linemates.<ref name="stubbs" /> O'Ree played 43 games for the Bruins during the 1960–61 NHL season. An incident occurred during a game from that season against the Chicago Blackhawks in Chicago Stadium. According to O'Ree, he was called racist names by several of the Blackhawks players.<ref name="Varsity">Template:Cite news</ref> During the game, Eric Nesterenko butt-ended O'Ree, knocking out his two front teeth and breaking his nose.<ref name="Varsity"/> O'Ree responded by hitting Nesterenko over the head with his stick, which O'Ree said "almost created a riot."<ref name="Varsity"/> O'Ree remembered that fans called him racist names and that the Blackhawks players were threatening to kill him, and he stated that he was "lucky to get out of the arena alive."<ref name="Varsity"/> After the 1960–61 season, O'Ree was traded to the Montreal Canadiens. O'Ree described that the Canadiens were run by racists and that he wasn't invited to try out for the team, but was sent to a minor league team in Hull, Quebec.<ref name="Varsity"/> O'Ree scored 4 goals and 10 assists in his NHL career, all in 1961.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref>

O'Ree faced racial taunts throughout his hockey career, including in the NHL, especially in the United States. <ref>Builder Inductees: Willie O'Ree, Hockey Hall of Fame</ref> He noted that racist remarks were much worse in the U.S. cities than in Toronto and Montreal, the two Canadian cities hosting NHL teams at the time, and that "Fans would yell, 'Go back to the South' and 'How come you're not picking cotton?' Things like that. It didn't bother me. I just wanted to be a hockey player, and if they couldn't accept that fact, then that was their problem, not mine."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In the minor leagues, O'Ree won two scoring titles in the Western Hockey League (WHL) between 1961 and 1974, scoring 30 or more goals 4 times, with a high of 38 in 1964–65 and 1968–69. O'Ree played 50 games for the American Hockey League's New Haven Nighthawks in 1972–73. Most of O'Ree's playing time was with the WHL's Los Angeles Blades and San Diego Gulls. The latter team retired his number, which now hangs from the rafters at Pechanga Arena, formerly known as the San Diego Sports Arena. O'Ree continued to play in the minors until the age of 43.<ref name=":0" />

File:Willie O'ReeBostonRed Wingstrainer LenJohnyFletcher1961.jpg
Willie O'Ree of the Boston Bruins and Detroit Red Wings trainer Len "Johny" Fletcher, 1961

Impact on hockey

After O'Ree's stint in the NHL, there were no other black players in the NHL until another Canadian player, Mike Marson, was drafted by the Washington Capitals in 1974. There were 23 black players in the NHL as of the mid-2010s. Art Dorrington was the first black player to sign an NHL contract, in 1950 with the New York Rangers organisation, but never played beyond the minor league level. NHL players are now required to enroll in a preseason diversity training seminar,<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> and racially based verbal abuse is punished through suspensions and fines.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> O'Ree is sometimes referred to as the "Jackie Robinson of hockey" for breaking the color barrier in hockey.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Since 1998, O'Ree has been the NHL's Diversity Ambassador,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> traveling across North America to schools and hockey programs to promote messages of inclusion, dedication, and confidence.

Starting in the 2017–18 season, the NHL has instituted the annual Willie O'Ree Community Hero Award to recognize "an individual who - through the game of hockey - has positively impacted his or her community, culture or society". It is awarded through public voting.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Accomplishments

O'Ree was inducted into the New Brunswick Sports Hall of Fame in March 1984.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 1998, O'Ree was working at the Hotel del Coronado near San Diego, California, when the National Hockey League approached him to be the director of youth development for its diversity task force.<ref>Sports Illustrated, July 14–21, purple, p. 78, vol 109, No. 2, Time Inc.</ref> The NHL/USA Hockey Diversity Task Force is a non-profit program for minority youth that encourages them to learn and play hockey. As of the mid-2000s, O'Ree lives in Berkeley, California.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> O'Ree and Kevin Weekes appeared in the Everybody Hates Chris episode "Everybody Hates Gretzky" in 2008.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

On the afternoon of January 19, 2008, the Bruins and NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly honoured O'Ree at TD Garden in Boston to mark the 50th anniversary of his NHL debut. In addition, The Sports Museum of New England located in the TD Garden, established a special exhibit on O'Ree's career, comprising many items on loan from his collection.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Those in attendance included a busload of friends from O'Ree's hometown of Fredericton. Two days earlier, the City of Fredericton honoured him by naming a new sports complex on the North side after him.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Around the time of the 60th anniversary of O'Ree's contribution to ice hockey in early 2008, he was once again honoured by the Bruins and the NHL, with a new street hockey rink in Boston named in his honour, one of many accolades with which the Bruins and NHL legend are involved.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On January 27, 2008, the NHL also honoured O'Ree during the 56th National Hockey League All-Star Game in Atlanta, Georgia. On February 5, 2008, ESPN did a special on him in honour of Black History Month.<ref>Template:Cite news Template:Dead link</ref> On October 29, 2008, San Diego State University presented O'Ree with an Award for Outstanding Commitment to Diversity and Cross Cultural Understanding.<ref>"Pioneering NHL Player Visits SDSU", SDSUniverse, October 20, 2008</ref> In 2008, O'Ree was also inducted by the San Diego Hall of Champions into the Breitbard Hall of Fame honouring San Diego's finest athletes both on and off the playing surface.<ref name=":2" />

The same year, O'Ree received the Order of Canada, the highest civilian award for a Canadian citizen. He was honoured as a pioneer of hockey and a dedicated youth mentor in Canada along with the U.S.<ref>"O'Ree receives Order of Canada", NHL.com, April 7, 2010.</ref> On June 28, 2011, The Sports Museum at TD Garden in Boston honoured O'Ree with the Hockey Legacy Award at the 10th Annual "The Tradition." Other honourees that evening included Larry Bird, Mike Lowell, and Ty Law.<ref name="boston museum">Template:Cite news</ref> The Buffalo Sabres hosted a Willie O'Ree skills weekend in March 2012.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> His jersey was retired by the San Diego Gulls on October 16, 2015.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

As the 2016 Stanley Cup Finals were about to start, the San Jose Sharks' Barbadian Canadian star right winger Joel Ward was preparing to play against the Pittsburgh Penguins, and told ESPN that O'Ree was one of his inspirations to play pro hockey, and should have his player number 22 retired by the NHL league-wide, just as Jackie Robinson, the first player of color in Major League Baseball has been honoured. Ward himself honoured Robinson's legacy through his last season in NHL play by wearing jersey number 42 in NHL play; Robinson's player number 42 has been retired league-wide in pro baseball.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

On November 3, 2017, O'Ree was honoured with a banner by the Springfield Thunderbirds during a pregame ceremony to commemorate his time with the Springfield Indians.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

A more personal honour for O'Ree was arranged by John Grzelcyk, father of former Bruins defenseman Matt Grzelcyk. A long-time member of the Boston Garden and TD Garden "bull-gang" team of arena personnel that assists with "changeovers" for different events at each facility, the senior Grzelcyk had saved an original number 22 Bruins uniform jersey worn by O'Ree from the 1960–61 Boston Bruins season, when O'Ree last played in the NHL as a Bruin. Both Grzelcyks personally presented the jersey to O'Ree, to honour him for his time with the Bruins and the NHL.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> At about the same time as O'Ree received his vintage Bruins game-sweater, it became known that Madison Bowey, a then-Washington Capitals rookie of bi-racial ethnicity, had been taught by his Black Canadian father about O'Ree's importance in NHL history, and selected 22 as his number with the Capitals to honour O'Ree's achievement.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

On June 26, 2018, it was announced that O'Ree would be inducted as a builder into the Hockey Hall of Fame later that year.<ref name=Bruins22>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="HHOF">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Almost ten months after receiving his original Bruins sweater from the Grzelcyks, on November 1, 2018, O'Ree attended the ceremonial dedication of a street hockey rink named in his honour in the Boston neighbourhood of Allston, as part of the continuing legacy of O'Ree's time with the Bruins.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

By early May 2019, following O'Ree's builder honour with the Hockey Hall of Fame the previous year, a bill in the 116th U.S. Congress is authorising the award of the United States Congressional Gold Medal for O'Ree's achievements "in recognition of his contributions and commitment to hockey, inclusion, and recreational opportunity."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

O'Ree was named to Canada's Sports Hall of Fame on May 27, 2020, in the Builder category.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The formal induction ceremony was postponed to October 3, 2021, due to concerns over COVID-19.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

On January 12, 2021, the Boston Bruins announced that they would retire O'Ree's number 22 on February 18.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> However, the jersey retirement ceremony was moved to January 18, 2022, by the NHL.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 2021, as a celebration of Black History Month, all NHL players wore a commemorative helmet decal honouring O'Ree from January 16 to February 28.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 2022, US President Joe Biden signed the Willie O'Ree Congressional Gold Medal Act. The bill awarded O'Ree a Congressional Gold Medal, the U.S. Congress' highest honour, for his contributions to "hockey, inclusion and recreational opportunity." O'Ree is the first player in NHL history to receive the honour.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Canada Post released a commemorative postage stamp on October 30, 2023, honouring Willie O'Ree.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Awards and honours

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1950–51 Fredericton Falcons NBAHA — — — — — 2 0 0 0 4
1951–52 Fredericton Merchants YCHL 6 10 4 14 2 8 10 5 15 18
1951–52 Fredericton Jr. Capitals NBJHL 3 2 0 2 0 — — — — —
1952–53 Fredericton Jr. Capitals NBJHL 12 15 3 18 6 4 5 0 5 2
1952–53 Fredericton Capitals NBSHL 2 2 0 2 0 — — — — —
1953–54 NBSHL 23 7 11 18 15 25 15 10 25 10
1954–55 Quebec Frontenacs QJHL 43 27 17 44 41 17 7 6 13 10
1955–56 Kitchener Canucks OHA 41 30 28 58 38 8 4 3 7 6
1956–57 Quebec Aces QHL 68 22 12 34 80 15 3 3 6 10
1957–58 Boston Bruins NHL 2 0 0 0 0 — — — — —
1957–58 Springfield Indians AHL 6 0 0 0 0 — — — — —
1957–58 Quebec Aces QHL 57 13 19 32 43 9 4 2 6 8
1958–59 Quebec Aces QHL 56 9 21 30 74 — — — — —
1959–60 Kingston Frontenacs EPHL 50 21 25 46 41 — — — — —
1960–61 Boston Bruins NHL 43 4 10 14 26 — — — — —
1960–61 Hull-Ottawa Canadiens EPHL 16 10 9 19 21 — — — — —
1961–62 Hull-Ottawa Canadiens EPHL 12 1 2 3 18 — — — — —
1961–62 Los Angeles Blades WHL 54 28 26 54 57 — — — — —
1962–63 Los Angeles Blades WHL 64 25 26 51 41 3 2 3 5 2
1963–64 Los Angeles Blades WHL 60 17 18 35 45 12 4 8 12 10
1964–65 Los Angeles Blades WHL 70 38 21 59 75 — — — — —
1965–66 Los Angeles Blades WHL 62 33 33 66 30 — — — — —
1966–67 Los Angeles Blades WHL 68 34 26 60 58 — — — — —
1967–68 San Diego Gulls WHL 66 21 33 54 54 7 2 2 4 6
1968–69 San Diego Gulls WHL 70 38 41 79 63 7 3 3 6 12
1969–70 San Diego Gulls WHL 66 0 0 69 50 6 6 3 9 4
1970–71 San Diego Gulls WHL 66 18 15 33 47 6 4 1 5 14
1971–72 San Diego Gulls WHL 48 16 17 33 42 4 0 1 1 2
1972–73 New Haven Nighthawks AHL 50 21 24 45 41 — — — — —
1972–73 San Diego Gulls WHL 18 6 5 11 18 6 1 4 5 2
1973–74 San Diego Gulls WHL 73 30 28 58 89 4 3 3 6 0
1974–75 San Diego Charms SoCal-Sr. — — — — — — — — — —
1975–76 San Diego Charms SoCal-Sr. — — — — — — — — — —
1978–79 San Diego Hawks PHL 53 21 25 46 37 — — — — —
WHL totals 785 328 311 639 669 55 25 28 53 52
NHL totals 45 4 10 14 26 — — — — —

Source:<ref name="legends" />

See also

References

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