Contents
Willie O'Ree
Breaking the NHL’s colour barrier in 1958.
NHL debut · Hockey Hall of Fame
- Born
- 15 October 1935
- Birthplace
- Fredericton, Canada
More people
Willie O'Ree
Willie O’Ree is a Canadian hockey player and youth mentor who became the first Black player to appear in the National Hockey League.
Early life
New Brunswick
Learned to skate at three and played on the family’s backyard rink.
Youth sport
Played hockey and baseball in Fredericton.
Career
- 1950s
Junior and minor leagues
Developed in Quebec before joining the Quebec Aces.
- 1958–1961
Boston Bruins
Played 45 NHL games across two seasons.
- 1960s–1970s
Western leagues
Built a long minor-league career, especially in Los Angeles and San Diego.
Achievements
NHL debut
Played against Montreal on 18 January, breaking the league’s colour barrier.
Hockey Hall of Fame
Was inducted in the builder category.
Congressional Gold Medal
Received the honour for hockey, inclusion and recreational opportunity.
Beyond hockey
Youth outreach
Became an NHL diversity ambassador in 1998.
Vision
Played professionally after a puck injury left him blind in one eye.
Sources & photo credit
Life, career and references ↗Birth date — NHLPA ↗Photo: U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Canada. Public domain · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.
.jpg){kind=link}