Civil Rights Movement in the NHL

Willie O'Ree: "The Jackie Robinson of Hockey"

On January 18, 1958, Willie O’Ree broke the National Hockey League’s color barrier  when he entered the game for the Boston Bruins against the Montreal Canadiens, O’Ree is referred to as the Jackie Robinson Of Hockey,” but is often erroneously referred to as the first African American hockey player, though, he is actually Canadian born. O’Ree was born in Fredericton, New Brunswick in 1935, and midway through his second minor league stint with the Quebec Aces, O’Ree was called up by the Boston Bruins to replace an injured player in 1958. 
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Despite being  95% blind in his right eye, due taking a puck to the eye years earlier, O’Ree made his debut and kept his eye a secret, because it would have prevented him from playing in the NHL. O’Ree was recalled to the Bruins in 1961 playing 43 games, and scoring four goals and ten assists during that span. During his minor league career, O’Ree won two scoring titles in the Western Hockey League (WHL) between 1961 and 1974, scoring more than thirty of more goals four time, with a high of 38 in 1964-65 and in 1968-69. Most of O’Ree’s playing time was with the Los Angeles Blades and the San Diego Gulls. The Gulls retired his number at the San Diego Sports Arena. O’Ree continued to play in the minors until age 43.

 Willie O'Ree's Impact on the NHL

After O’Ree there was no other black player in the NHL until fellow Canadian Mike Marson was drafted by the Washington Capitals in 1974. Currently there are 17 black players in the NHL  as of the mid 2000’s with the most prominent including Canadian Jarome Iginla and American Mike Greer.  Art Dorrington was the first black player to sign an NHL contract with the New York Rangers, but Dorrington never played beyond the Minor League level. -->

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