Willie O'Ree
Willie Eldon O'Ree, CM, ONB (* October 15, 1935 in Fredericton, New Brunswick ) is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player who played from 1958 to 1961 for the Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League. He was the first black player in the NHL.
Career
The Hockey games he learn in his hometown of Fredericton, where he played at the beginning of the 50s in various youth teams. With the Fredericton Capitals he won the Allan Cup in 1954 and then joined the QMJHL at the Quebec Frontenacs which in 1955 was the Memorial Cup win. Even after a year, it left the team and played his last season as a junior with the Kitchener Canucks in the OHA.
The next three years he played mostly in the Quebec Hockey League for the Quebec Aces, interrupted by a brief stint in the AHL with the Springfield Indians, and shortly thereafter to the Boston Bruins in the season 1957/58 on 18 January, for which he 1958 as the first black player in an NHL game was on the ice. After his second game for the Bruins however, he returned to Quebec.
In 1959 he played in the Eastern Professional Hockey League. In the first year for the Kingston Frontenacs, then at the Hull- Ottawa Canadiens. However, the greatest part of the 1960/61 season he again played in the NHL with the Boston Bruins, where he obtained his first NHL goals. Next summer, the Bruins at the Montreal Canadiens gave him off, but there he was never used. O'Ree was the only black NHL player to debut by Mike Marson in 1974 with the Washington Capitals.
Montreal sold it in November 1961 at the Los Angeles Blades of the Western Hockey League where he played until 1967 before moving within the league to the San Diego Gulls. In his time in the WHL several times he succeeded in more than 30 goals in a season. Was interrupted, the time in the WHL from a trip back to the AHL. There he played 1972/73 50 games for the New Haven Nighthawks. He was drafted by the Los Angeles Sharks of the World Hockey Association in 1972, but never came there to use.
Until 1979, who he active in San Diego or for the charms and Mariners before he finished his career with 43 years now.
Later life
In the San Diego Sports Arena, his jersey is hung below the hall roof to an honor today. In 1984 he was admitted Sports Hall of Fame in New Brunswick.
In 2005, O'Ree received the Order of New Brunswick, which is the highest honor of his home province of New Brunswick.
December 30, 2008 O'Ree received the Order of Canada and was nominated for his achievements in sport and its contribution to intercultural understanding an Officer of the Order. This is the highest civilian honor that can obtain a Canadian citizen in his life.
O'Ree is also one of three ambassadors for hockey is for everyone, an initiative of the National Hockey League for socially disadvantaged children and young people.
Today, he still lives near San Diego in La Mesa.