FOR RELEASE UPON RECEIPT
Contact: Kurt D. Ludwig
516-624-6380
TOWN OF OYSTER BAY TO HOST NHL HOCKEY PIONEER WILLIE O’REE
Former Boston Bruins Star Known for his Smooth Play and for Breaking the Sport’s Color Barrier
The Town of Oyster Bay will host National Hockey League (NHL) pioneer Willie O’Ree on the
evening of Wednesday, January 18th, at the state-of-the-art Town of Oyster Bay Ice Skating Center
in Bethpage, according to Oyster Bay Town Supervisor John Venditto. O'Ree was known for his
speed and checking abilities throughout his career and was a threat every time he touched the ice.
His accomplishments on the ice, however, tell only part of his proud history. He also made an
immeasurable social impact as the first black player to compete in a National Hockey League game.
“Willie O'Ree is often referred to as the ‘Jackie Robinson of ice hockey’ due to the similarities
of both as trailblazers in their respective sports.” Supervisor Venditto said. “The Town of Oyster Bay
is fortunate to have Mr. O’Ree as a special guest at the rink. His historical significance in the sports
world can’t be understated. He is an icon to the game of hockey.”
Mr. O’Ree’s much anticipated visit to the Town of Oyster Bay will be a part of an exciting
evening at the rink. The event will include a unique instructional hockey clinic for mini-mites and mites
enrolled in the Town of Oyster Bay hockey program from 7:15 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. The Town of Oyster
Bay will then proclaim January 18th as “Willie O’Ree Day,” which marks the anniversary of the date he
made his debut for the Boston Bruins. The proclamation will be presented at a special ceremony
open to the public at 8:15 p.m. Mr. O’Ree will then have the honor of dropping the ceremonial first
puck at a high school hockey contest between rivals Bethpage High School and Cold Spring Harbor
High School beginning at 8:45 p.m.. He will remain on hand to autograph pucks and photos for all in
attendance.
The Supervisor went on to say that on January 18, 1958, playing for the Boston Bruins against
the Montreal Canadiens, O’Ree became the first black person to play in the NHL -- an extraordinary
event that paved the way for future players of diverse ethnic and economic backgrounds. O’Ree
played 45 games with the Bruins from 1958-61. His long professional career spanned 21 seasons,
mostly in the Western Hockey League (WHL) with the Los Angeles Blades and the San Diego Gulls.
O’Ree is currently the National Hockey League’s Director of Youth Development and hockey
ambassador for the Hockey is for Everyone initiative, a post he has held since January 1998. As
Director of Youth Development, O’Ree has helped the NHL’s Hockey is for Everyone initiative expose
more than 45,000 boys and girls of diverse backgrounds to unique hockey experiences. Over the
past decade, O’Ree has traveled thousands of miles across North America helping to establish 30
local grassroots hockey programs, all geared toward serving economically disadvantaged youth.
While advocating strongly that “Hockey is for Everyone,” O’Ree stresses the importance of essential
life skills, education, and the core values of hockey, which are commitment, perseverance, and
teamwork.
A native of Canada, O’Ree is the recipient of numerous awards and honors. In addition to
being inducted into the New Brunswick Sports Hall of Fame in 1984, he received the Lester Patrick
Award for outstanding service to hockey in the United States in 2003. In 2007, O’Ree became the
inaugural recipient of the Bill Walsh Champion of Change Award, which recognizes an individual
whose tenaciousness of purpose paved a path of opportunity to everyone. In January 2008, the
Fredericton, New Brunswick, City Council named its new hockey arena after O’Ree in honor of his
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accomplishments. In April 2010, O’Ree received the Order of Canada, Canada’s highest civilian
honor. He is the first black hockey player ever to receive the prestigious award. In June 2011, O’Ree
received the Sports Museum’s Hockey Legacy Award in recognition of his trailblazing NHL career and
his many contributions to the hockey community. O’Ree resides in San Diego, California, with his wife
Deljeet and daughter Chandra.
“We look forward, with great anticipation, to Mr. O’Ree’s appearance at the Town of Oyster
Bay Ice Skating Center,” Supervisor Venditto said. “We share the same goal in providing our youth
with an opportunity to participate in hockey and look forward to working with him to promote this great
sport.”
“We are proud to have Willie share his experiences along with the core values of the ‘Hockey
Is For Everyone’ initiative with the boys and girls of Town of Oyster Bay Ice Skating Center on the
54th anniversary of such a career milestone,” said Kenneth Martin, Jr., the NHL’s Vice President of
Community Affairs.
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