O’Ree honoured with retired jersey

BOSTON Willie O’Ree has experienced many honours during his lifetime, from breaking the NHL’s colour barrier in 1958 with the Boston Bruins to being inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2018.

But the 86-year-old says having his No. 22 jersey retired in Boston on Tuesday will rank near the top.

“It was something that I’ve never dreamed of,” O’Ree said Monday. “I was very fortunate to be called up to the Bruins in 1958 and played with them ’60 and ’61. And then all of a sudden, to find out that my jersey is going to be retired and to hang in the rafters there with the local icons and legends that are up there at the present time — it’s just simply amazing.”

O’Ree became the NHL’s first Black player on Jan. 18, 1958, when he suited up against the Montreal Canadiens. He’ll be the 12th player in Bruins history to have his number raised.

He had planned to be in attendance for Boston’s game against Carolina on Tuesday, but persisting concerns about the pandemic changed those plans. He will now participate virtually from his home in San Diego.

O’Ree, who is originally from Fredericton, played two games for the Bruins during the 1957-58 season, spent the next two seasons in the minors, and came back to Boston for 43 more during the 1960-61 season. He had four goals and 10 assists over his 45 games. He was traded to the Canadiens in 1961, but never made it back to the NHL level.

O’Ree has worked for the NHL as a diversity ambassador since 1998, working to foster more inclusion and combat racism.