Willie O’Ree, NHL Alumni

To commemorate Black History Month, Willie O’Ree is in the player spotlight for this issue. The Fredericton, New Brunswick winger is best known for breaking the black color barrier in the sport of hockey in 1958. Following his stint in the NHL, Willie went on to play over 20 seasons of professional hockey, officially retiring in 1979. Since leaving the game as a player, Willie has been involved in hockey as an ambassador of diversity and inclusion. The courageous trailblazer has been recognized with countless awards and inductions, most notably to the Hockey Hall of Fame and receiving the Order of Canada. Click the link below to learn more about Willie’s story and his recent award-winning documentary.