Move’s afoot to get O’Ree into Hockey Hall of Fame
FREDERICTON — There’s growing momentum in a push by friends and fans of Willie O’Ree to have the groundbreaking hockey player inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.
In January, ceremonies were held to mark the 60th anniversary of when O’Ree stepped onto the ice as a member of the Boston Bruins, becoming the first black player in the National Hockey League.
Brenda Sansom, a friend in O’Ree’s hometown of Fredericton, said the anniversary sparked the effort to see O’Ree inducted into the Hall of Fame as a builder.
“I think the idea originated with all the celebrations taking place in Boston. There was a lot of press coverage,” she said.
O’Ree’s first game with Boston was in a 3-0 win over the Canadiens in Montreal, but he didn’t know the significance until reading a newspaper the next day that said he had broken the NHL’s colour barrier.
“It was a nice feeling. I just happened to be playing and just happened to be black,” he said during a recent interview with The Canadian Press.
He would play just one more game with the Bruins that season.
O’Ree would return to the Bruins for the 1960-61 season, playing a total of 45 games in the NHL — scoring four goals and 10 assists — all while keeping a secret that would have kept him out of the league. He was blind in one eye.
O’Ree left Fredericton at the age of 17 to play junior hockey with the Quebec Frontenacs, and the next year he moved to Kitchener. It was during that second year in junior that he had an unfortunate accident.
“There was a slapshot, and I’m on the ice in front of the net. A ricochet came up and the puck struck me in the eye. I lost 97 per cent vision in my right eye. I was out of action for about six weeks,” he said.
Following his stint within the Bruins, O’Ree played in other leagues for teams in Ottawa, Los Angeles and San Diego — where he continues to live.
Now, at the age of 82, O’Ree serves as the NHL’s diversity ambassador, and for the last 20 years he has been going to schools and elsewhere to speak to young people as part of the Hockey is for Everyone initiative.
“There are so many reasons why Willie O’Ree deserves to be in the Hockey Hall of Fame. The reach that Willie has had in the world of hockey is beyond measure. He has reached not only black hockey players and players of colour, but he has reached so many young people through the diversity program and the Hockey is for Everyone program. He has literally reached thousands of children through hockey,” said Sansom.
Reached at his home, O’Ree told The Canadian Press that he would be thrilled if he makes it into the Hall of Fame.
Sansom said she’s getting a flood of letters in support of the nomination, including one from Karl Subban, whose five kids include sons P.K. (Nashville Predators), Malcolm (Las Vegas Golden Knights) and Jordan (AHL Utica Comets).
Sansom said it’s only the start of a detailed selection process.
It will be June before it’s known if it passes the selection process.
“I just have to wait and see. If it happens it happens,” O’Ree said.