William Eldon O'Ree CM ONB (born October 15, 1935) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player from Fredericton, New Brunswick. He is widely recognized for being the first black player in the National Hockey League (NHL), playing as a winger for the Boston Bruins.

Willie O’Ree (born October 15, 1935, Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada) is the first Black hockey player to play in a National Hockey League (NHL) game. He debuted with the Boston Bruins against the Montreal Canadiens at the Montreal Forum on January 18, 1958.

A day earlier, the Boston Bruins retired O'Ree's No. 22 on the 64th anniversary of the night the forward from New Brunswick, Canada, became the first Black person to play in a National Hockey League game. O'Ree had always known he possessed the talent to play in the NHL.

Jan 19, 2022 · Willie O’Ree, the first Black athlete to play in the NHL, had his Boston Bruins jersey retired on Tuesday night in a ceremony at TD Garden 64 years after his NHL debut.

Jan 18, 2018 · Boston Bruins forward Willie O'Ree warms up prior to a game against the New York Rangers in 1960. AP Photo. Almost everybody knows about Jackie Robinson and the …

When rookie Willie O’Ree laced up his skates for the Boston Bruins on January 18, 1958, he became the first black player to appear in an NHL game. In so doing, he made history, breaking the NHL color line and removing another barrier for blacks in professional sports.

Jan 17, 2017 · O'Ree that night became the first black player to skate in an NHL game, the first of two games he would play in a weekend home-and-home series against the Canadiens -- …

Jan 18, 2025 · Willie O’Ree made history as the first black player in the NHL. Despite a hockey puck hitting him in the face and costing him a 95% vision loss in his right eye, O'Ree was called up from the minors and joined the Boston Bruins with his secret in tow.

Willie O'Ree will have his No. 22 retired by the Boston Bruins on Feb. 18 to honor him for becoming the first Black player in the NHL 63 years ago.

January 18, 1958, marked a monumental day in sports history. On this date, Willie O’Ree suited up for the Boston Bruins and skated into the record books as the NHL’s first Black player.