Willie O'Ree

Jan 18, 2022 – NHL retired Willie O’ Ree’s no.22 jersey at Boston and it now hangs up in the rafters with other hockey legends and icons. O’Ree is the 12th number the Boston Bruins will have retired in the history of the franchise, which has been in existence since 1924.
Jan 19, 2023 – A life-sized portrait now hangs in a New Brunswick art gallery, of NHL legend and former Boston Bruins’ forward Willie O’Ree. He was the first Black hockey player to be drafted into the National Hockey League. The portrait will be on permanent display at the Beaverbrook Art Gallery. O’Ree’s portrait was unveiled on the 65th anniversary of his first NHL game.
“Having the portrait here is a fantastic privilege,” he said. “It captures the soul of the character, the dignity and the strength of Willie.” Says artist Tim Okamura.

He was inducted into the NB sports halls of fame 1984, and into the Canadian sports hall of fame in 2020.

• Became the first Black player in the National Hockey League in January, 1958 when he suited up for the Boston Bruins
• Played parts of two seasons with the Boston Bruins (1957-58) and (1960-61)
• Scored four goals and added 10 assists in 45 career NHL games for Boston
• Played 13 seasons in the Western Hockey League for the Los Angeles Blades and the San Diego Gulls
• Scored 45 points in 50 games for the New Haven Nighthawks of the American Hockey League in 1972-73
• Led the WHL in goals (38) while playing for the LA Blades in 1964-65
• His baseball prowess earned him a tryout with the Milwaukee Braves in 1953
• Appointed Director of NHL’s Youth Development/USA Hockey Diversity Task Force in 1998
• Awarded the Lester Patrick Award for outstanding service to hockey in the United States in 2003