Willie O'Ree
Willie O'Ree CM ONB | |||
---|---|---|---|
Hockey Hall of Fame, 2018 (Builder) | |||
Born |
Fredericton, New Brunswick | October 15, 1935||
Height | 5 ft 11 in (180 cm) | ||
Weight | 180 lb (82 kg; 12 st 12 lb) | ||
Position | Winger | ||
Shot | Left | ||
Played for | Boston Bruins | ||
Playing career | 1958–1979 |
William Eldon O'Ree
Early life and career
William Eldon O'Ree was born on October 15, 1935, in
O'Ree developed an early interest in hockey at the age of three, when he began skating and playing the game. As a five-year-old, he organized the game and joined a hockey league.[4][3] 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.[1]
When O'Ree was 14 years old, he was taught how to
Playing career
O'Ree played junior hockey for several teams in Quebec and Ontario before being signed by the
O'Ree faced racial taunts throughout his hockey career, including in the NHL, especially in the United States. [12] 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."[13]
In the minor leagues, O'Ree won two scoring titles in the
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,[14] and racially based verbal abuse is punished through suspensions and fines.[15] O'Ree is sometimes referred to as the "Jackie Robinson of hockey" for breaking the color barrier in hockey.[16][17][18]
Since 1998, O'Ree has been the NHL's Diversity Ambassador,[19] 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.[20][21]
Honours
O'Ree was inducted into the
On the afternoon of January 19, 2008, the Bruins and NHL deputy commissioner
The same year, O'Ree received the
As the
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.[37]
A more personal honour for O'Ree was arranged by John Grzelcyk, father of current 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.[38] 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.[39]
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.[40][41][42]
Almost ten months after receiving his original Bruins sweater from the Grzelcyks, on November 1, 2018, O'Ree attended the ceremonial dedication of a
By early May 2019, following O'Ree's builder honour with the Hockey Hall of Fame the previous year, a bill in the
O'Ree was named to Canada's Sports Hall of Fame on May 27, 2020, in the Builder category.[45] The formal induction ceremony was postponed to October 3, 2021, due to concerns over COVID-19.[46]
On January 12, 2021, the Boston Bruins announced that they would retire O'Ree's number 22 on February 18.[47] However, the jersey retirement ceremony was moved to January 18, 2022, by the NHL.[48][49]
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.[50]
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.[51]
Canada Post released a commemorative postage stamp on October 30, 2023 honouring Willie O'Ree.[52]
Awards and honours
- WHL Second All-Star Team (1969)[53]
- New Brunswick Sports Hall of Fame (1984)[31]
- Lester Patrick Trophy (2003)[31]
- Order of New Brunswick (2005)[31]
- Willie O'Ree Place (Fredericton arena, dedicated 2008)[54]
- Order of Canada (2008)[55]
- Breitbard Hall of Fame (2008)[31]
- Hockey Hall of Fame (2018)[56]
- Congressional Gold Medal (2019)[57]
- Canada's Sports Hall of Fame (2020–21)[58]
- His #22 Jersey was retired by the Boston Bruins on January 18, 2022.[59]
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:[53]
See also
References
- ^ a b "Willie O'Ree | Biography & Facts | Britannica". www.britannica.com.
- ^ a b c "Willie O'Ree". www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca.
- ^ a b McGourty, John (January 8, 2007). "O'Ree a hockey pioneer". nhl.com. Retrieved March 19, 2023.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
Canadian encyclopedia
was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Steve Murphy, interviewer with CTV News in Halifax, NS (2007). Willie O'Ree – First Black NHL Player (YouTube). heathernocs. Event occurs at 4:31. Retrieved March 8, 2013.
- ^ Russo, Eric (January 17, 2018). "O'Ree A Vital Part of Hockey History". NHL.com. Retrieved July 15, 2023.
- ^ 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
- ^ Boston Globe. Retrieved January 17, 2019.
- ^ a b Stubbs, Dave (January 18, 2017). "Willie O'Ree made history in 1958 debut with Bruins". NHL.com. Retrieved January 17, 2019.
- ^ a b c d e "Hockey waiting for its Jackie Robinson". The Varsity. December 1, 1986. Retrieved November 22, 2021.
- ^ a b "Willie O'Ree hockey statistics and profile at hockeydb.com". www.hockeydb.com. Retrieved January 31, 2017.
- ^ Builder Inductees: Willie O'Ree, Hockey Hall of Fame
- ^ McGourty, John (January 15, 2007). "O'Ree a hockey pioneer". NHL.com. Retrieved June 9, 2015.
- ^ Thompson, Harry (2013). "Equal Ice: Diversity in Hockey". USA Hockey Magazine. USA Hockey. Retrieved January 31, 2017.
- ProQuest 252493527.
- ^ Dupont, Kevin Paul (December 11, 2011). "Playing days at end, Grier looks for new goals". The Boston Globe. Archived from the original on January 17, 2012. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
- ^ Warja, Bob. "Willie O'Ree, the Jackie Robinson of Hockey, Deserves to Be Celebrated". Bleacher Report.
- ^ Staff, Kevin Cullen Globe; January 17, Updated. "The Jackie Robinson of hockey - The Boston Globe". BostonGlobe.com.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "Hockey is for Everyone Ambassadors".
- ^ "NHL Records". records.nhl.com.
- ^ Schram, Carol. "NHL Expands Scope Of Its Willie O'Ree Community Hero Award For 2023". Forbes.
- ^ Sports Illustrated, July 14–21, purple, p. 78, vol 109, No. 2, Time Inc.
- ProQuest 851206293.
- ^ "O'Ree a leading man in more ways than one – NHL.com – News". NHL.com. Retrieved May 7, 2022.
- ^ "Wysh List: Your hockey week for a week when there's no hockey". March 19, 2020.
- ^ "New England sports museum unveils O'Ree exhibit". ESPN. Associated Press. January 19, 2008. Retrieved February 17, 2008.
- ^ Smith, Roger (January 19, 2008). "Hockey pioneer honoured in the U.S. and Canada". CTV. Archived from the original on January 29, 2008. Retrieved February 15, 2008.
- ^ Russo, Eric (January 17, 2018). "O'Ree A Vital Part of Hockey History". nhl.com/bruins. National Hockey League. Retrieved February 2, 2018.
On Wednesday, [January 17th] during a press conference dedicating a new street hockey rink in his honor, Boston Mayor Marty Walsh said O'Ree deserves to be in the same historical category as Robinson and President Barack Obama..."Willie means a great deal to our city," said Walsh. "This is history in the living right here…it's an incredible message to our young people. When I talked to the young people in the front row [of the press conference] – everyone knows Jackie Robinson, everyone knows Barack Obama, everyone in Boston knows Willie O'Ree, but I think his story needs to be told around the country... "It's a great honor to be here, an honor to hear him speak about what he's done."
- ^ Rosen, Dan (January 19, 2008). "NHL pioneer O'Ree honored by Bruins". NHL.com. Retrieved January 30, 2008. [dead link]
- ^ "Pioneering NHL Player Visits SDSU", SDSUniverse, October 20, 2008
- ^ a b c d e "Willie O'Ree bio page". NHL.com. Retrieved January 31, 2017.
- ^ "O'Ree receives Order of Canada", NHL.com, April 7, 2010.
- ^ Auerbach, Nicole (June 28, 2011). "O'Ree scores in NHL's effort to diversify hockey". The Boston Globe. Retrieved July 7, 2015.
- ^ Harper, Davis (February 16, 2012). "Sabres to host Willie O'Ree Skills Weekend". nhl.com. Retrieved February 20, 2018.
- ^ Kenney, Kirk (September 17, 2015). "San Diego Gulls honoring Willie O'Ree". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved February 20, 2018.
- ^ Douglas, William (May 30, 2016). "Joel Ward thinks the NHL should honor Willie O'Ree by retiring his number". colorofhockey.com. The Color of Hockey. Retrieved May 31, 2016.
Joel Ward has an idea for the National Hockey League to honor the history and growing impact of black players in the sport: Retire the number 22 Willie O'Ree wore with the Boston Bruins when he became the league's first black player in 1958."I definitely think Willie should be recognized for sure," Ward told ESPN Sunday, the media day before his San Jose Sharks face the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final. "It's a no-brainer. Without Willie, it would be tough for me to be sitting here today. I definitely think Willie should be a big part of this."
- ^ "Springfield Thunderbirds to honor hockey legend Willie O'Ree at "Hockey Is For Everyone" Night on Nov. 3". masslive.com. Retrieved April 21, 2018.
- ^ Benjamin, Amalie (January 25, 2018). "O'Ree warmed by gift of old sweater from Bruins' Grzelcyk". nhl.com. National Hockey League. Retrieved February 6, 2018.
The sweater had been hanging in the Grzelcyk house for years, just another jersey from the Boston Bruins, a castoff. It had been found abandoned by a trainer, John Grzelcyk believed, perhaps 35 years ago, long after its useful life, and given to him...At some point, Matt Grzelcyk, John's son and a Boston Bruins defenseman, had started to suspect the history of the small-ish black jersey from the early 1960s, No. 22, that hung in the back of a closet...On Jan. 17 [2018], the sweater finally made its way back to its rightful owner, 60 years after Willie O'Ree made his barrier-shattering debut in the National Hockey League, as the first black player to play in the League.
- ^ Dougherty, Jesse (January 18, 2018). "Capitals rookie Madison Bowey honors NHL pioneer Willie O'Ree by wearing No. 22". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 10, 2018.
Madison Bowey always wore No. 22 on the baseball field growing up, but it was taken whenever he joined a hockey team...That was the case as the defenseman turned himself into an NHL prospect and joined the Capitals' system as a second-round pick in 2013. The number was taken again as he proved himself in the American Hockey League. But No. 22 was available when he was called up to the Capitals at the start of this season..."It's pretty special to be in the NHL and playing my first NHL year on the 60th anniversary of Willie O'Ree," Bowey said Thursday. "There's a lot of significance behind that, and obviously he's a very special person."
- ^ "Bruins Legend Willie O'Ree To Be Inducted into Hockey Hall of Fame". nhl.com/bruins. Boston Bruins. June 26, 2018. Retrieved June 26, 2018.
The Hockey Hall of Fame announced today, June 26, that they will induct Bruins legend Willie O'Ree into the Hockey Hall of Fame Class of 2018. O'Ree was selected as part of the "Builder" category, which is defined by "coaching, managerial or executive ability, or ability in another significant off-ice role, sportsmanship, character and contributions to his or her organization or organizations and to the game of hockey in general." He is the seventh member of the Boston Bruins to be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame as part of the "builder" category.
- ^ Whyno, Stephen (June 26, 2018). "Willie O'Ree, Martin Brodeur, Gary Bettman top Hockey Hall of Fame class | The Star". thestar.com. Toronto Star. Retrieved June 26, 2018.
- ^ "Willie O'Ree, NHL's 1st black player, gets Hall of Fame call | CBC Sports". CBC. Retrieved June 28, 2018.
- ^ Russo, Eric (November 1, 2018). "Willie O'Ree Community Rink Dedicated in Allston". nhl.com/bruins. BostonBruins.com. Retrieved November 2, 2018.
While snow banks and trash barrels can make for some fun props, the children of Allston won't have to worry anymore about building a makeshift street hockey rink or clearing the road for passing cars...That's because on Thursday the Bruins helped to unveil the brand new Willie O'Ree Community Street Hockey Rink at Smith Playground. O'Ree was joined by Chara, Bergeron, Bruins president Cam Neely, Boston Bruins Foundation Executive Director Bob Sweeney, and NHL Director of Social Impact, Growth, and Fan Development and former Bruin Andrew Ference for the dedication.
- ^ "H.R.2504 – Willie O'Ree Congressional Gold Medal Act". congress.gov. United States Congress. May 2, 2019. Retrieved August 19, 2019.
This bill directs the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate to arrange for the award of a Congressional Gold Medal to Willie O'Ree, in recognition of his contributions and commitment to hockey, inclusion, and recreational opportunity.
- ^ Spencer, Donna (May 27, 2020). "Impact beyond hockey ushers Willie O'Ree, Sheldon Kennedy into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame". The Star. The Canadian Press.
- ^ NHL.com (May 27, 2020). "O'Ree named to Canada Sports Hall of Fame: First black player in NHL says he's 'excited, overwhelmed' by honor". NHL.com. Retrieved May 28, 2020.
- ^ Russo, Eric (January 12, 2021). "O'Ree Taking His Rightful Place in Garden Rafters". NHL.com. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
- ^ "NHL Announces Postponement of O'Ree's Number Retirement Ceremony". NHL.com. February 11, 2021. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
- ^ Douglas, William (February 11, 2021). "O'Ree number retirement by Bruins rescheduled to next year". NHL.com. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
- ^ Sadler, Emily (January 11, 2021). "NHL introduces helmet decals to honour Willie O'Ree". Sportsnet.ca. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
- ^ AlBaroudi, Wajih (February 1, 2022). "Willie O'Ree, the NHL's first Black player, to receive Congressional Gold Medal". cbssports.com. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
- ^ Post, Canada. "New stamp celebrates hockey pioneer Willie O'Ree". origin-www.canadapost.ca. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
- ^ a b "Willie Eldon O'Ree". Legends of Hockey. Hockey Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 16, 2018.
- ^ Stevens, Neil (January 17, 2008). "Groundbreaking NHL debut still vivid for O'Ree". Niagara Falls Review. Niagara Falls, Ontario. Archived from the original on June 20, 2015. Retrieved January 17, 2015.
- ^ "First black NHL player honoured with Order of Canada". CTV News. Archived from the original on December 31, 2008. Retrieved December 30, 2008.
- ^ "Hockey Hall of Fame - 2018 Induction Celebration - Willie O'Ree". www.hhof.com. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
- ^ "H.R.2504 - Willie O'Ree Congressional Gold Medal Act". congress.gov. February 9, 2024. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
- ^ "O'Ree named to Canada Sports Hall of Fame | NHL.com". www.nhl.com. May 27, 2020. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
- ^ "O'Ree 'overwhelmed' as Bruins retire his jersey". ESPN.com. January 19, 2022. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
External links
- Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or Hockey-Reference.com, or The Internet Hockey Database
- Congressional gold medal to Willie O'Ree 2022.
- Soul on Ice: The Willie O'Ree Story
- Black Players in the NHL
- 2007 CTV interview with Willie O'Ree on YouTube
- Boston Bruins' Behind the B Episode 508 – Willie O'Ree Receives His #22 Jersey LegendsMember.jsp?mem=b201802&type=Builder&page=bio&list=ByName Willie O'Ree's "Builder" biography page at the Hockey Hall of Fame