Black History Month Profile: Willie O'Ree
February 1, 2022 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins News Release
February is Black History Month, and each week the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins will be highlighting a black hockey trailblazer who has left his or her mark on the sport. Check back each Monday throughout the month for another player profile.
Born in Fredericton, New Brunswick, Willie O'Ree became the first black player to suit up in a National Hockey League game when he made his debut with the Boston Bruins on January 18, 1958. He was scoreless in two games with Boston that season, spending the majority of the year with the Quebec Aces of the Quebec Hockey League.
He spent the next two seasons in the minor leagues, but suited up in 43 games with the Bruins during the 1960-61 campaign, recording 14 points (4+10).
O'Ree spent the majority of his playing career in the Western Hockey League, playing six seasons with the Los Angeles Blades and seven more with the San Diego Gulls. He recorded 639 points (328+311) in 785 games in the WHL.
He also appeared in 56 AHL games with the Springfield Indians (six games, 1957-58) and New Haven Nighthawks (50 in 1972-73).
In 2018, O'Ree was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in the builder category for his extraordinary commitment to growing and diversifying the game.
O'Ree has served as the NHL's Diversity Ambassador since 1998, and has helped the NHL's Hockey is for Everyone initiative introduce more than 130,000 boys and girls of diverse backgrounds to the sport of hockey
His number 22 was retired by the Boston Bruins January 18, 2022 - exactly 54 years after he broke the league's color barrier.
American Hockey League Stories from February 1, 2022
- San Diego Gulls to Host Sixth Annual Pink in the Rink on Wednesday, February 2 - San Diego Gulls
- Predators Trade Richard to Tampa for Huntington - Milwaukee Admirals
- Tampa Bay Lightning Acquire Forward Anthony Richard from Nashville Predators - Syracuse Crunch
- IceHogs Close out Weekend Road Trip with Matchup vs. Chicago - Rockford IceHogs
- Belleville Sens to Welcome 500 Fans to Home Games Starting Friday - Belleville Senators
- Amerks Renew Partnership with Seneca Park Zoo for "Defend the Ice Month" - Rochester Americans
- Skarek Named AHL Goaltender of the Month for January - Bridgeport Islanders
- Condors Seth Griffith Named AHL Player of the Month - Bakersfield Condors
- Comets Forward Holtz Named AHL Rookie of the Month - Utica Comets
- Griffith, Holtz, Skarek Named AHL Award Winners for January - AHL
- Syracuse Crunch Weekly - Vol. 28, No. 16 - Syracuse Crunch
- Syracuse Crunch to Hold Women in Sports Night February 5 - Syracuse Crunch
- Griffins Begin February with Three-Game Homestand - Grand Rapids Griffins
- T-Birds Unveil Specialty, Military-Inspired Jerseys - Springfield Thunderbirds
- Tampa Bay Lightning Acquire Forward Tye Felhaber from Dallas Stars - Syracuse Crunch
- Dallas Stars Acquire Forward Alexey Lipanov from Tampa Bay in Exchange for Forward Tye Felhaber - Texas Stars
- Phantoms Power Play Presented by Provident Bank - Lehigh Valley Phantoms
- Bears Weekly #17: Rematch with Hartford on the Horizon - Hershey Bears
- Rangers Assign Four to Wolf Pack as Club Completes Numerous Transactions - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Condors Start Homestand with $2 Beer Weekend All Weekend Long - Bakersfield Condors
- Penguins Weekly - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Black History Month Profile: Willie O'Ree - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Minnesota Wild Recalls Goaltender Zane Mcintyre from Iowa - Iowa Wild
- Seattle Recalls Max McCormick, Kole Lind and Connor Carrick to Taxi Squad - Charlotte Checkers
- The Bridgeport Report: Week 16 - Bridgeport Islanders
- Islanders Leaning on Skarek as Schedule Rolls On - Bridgeport Islanders
- Barracuda Dropped at Ontario, 8-5 - San Jose Barracuda
- Anderson-Dolan Spearheads Reign Offense in Drubbing of San Jose - Ontario Reign
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