Bruins to retire jersey number of black NHL pioneer O Ree
Issued on: 2 min
New York (AFP)
Willie O Ree, who became the National Hockey League s first black player 63 years ago with the Boston Bruins, will have his number 22 jersey retired by the club next month.
The Bruins announced on Tuesday O Ree will become the 12th player to have his number retired by the team in a February 18 ceremony ahead of Boston s home game against New Jersey. I m thrilled, O Ree said. Overwhelmed.
O Ree, an 85-year-old Canadian who was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2018, broke the NHL color barrier as a left wing for the Bruins in a game at Montreal on January 18, 1958.
The Boston Bruins are honouring New Brunswick native Willie O'Ree by retiring his number 22 jersey. O'Ree broke the NHL's colour barrier in 1958 by be.
Boston Bruins retiring Willie O’Ree’s number: NHL’s first Black player to be honored on Feb. 18
Updated Jan 12, 2021;
Posted Jan 12, 2021
MONTREAL - JANUARY 25: Willie O Ree attends the NHL All Star Game at Bell Centre on January 25, 2009 in Montreal, Canada. (Photo by Phillip MacCallum/Getty Images for NHL)
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Willie O’Ree, the first Black player to appear in an NHL game will have his Boston Bruins No. 22 retired next month.
O’Ree, who broke the sport’s color barrier in 1958, will be honored before Boston’s Feb. 18 game against the New Jersey Devils.
O’Ree is being honored for his contributions to the sports during and after his career. He played just 45 games in his NHL career. He had 14 goals in 43 games during the 1960-61 season. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto in 2018 in the “Builder” category.
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NHL notebook: Bruins to retire No. 22 of Willie O’Ree, first Black man to play an NHL game
Willie O Ree broke the barrier in 1958, became a Diversity Amabassador for the NHL in 1998 and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame as a builder in 2018.
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Former Boston Bruins wing Willie O’Ree tips his hat as he is honored prior to a game in 2018. O’Ree broke the NHL’s color barrier in 1958.
Charles Krupa/Associated Press
BOSTON Willie O’Ree, who broke the NHL’s color barrier, is set have his jersey retired by the Boston Bruins.