Trailblazing professional ice hockey player, Willie O’Ree, made his NHL debut for the Boston Bruins, on January 18,1958. O’Ree played 45 games for the Bruins and scored 4 goals and had 10 assists in two partial seasons as an NHL player. His playing career began in the 1950-1951 season for the Fredricton Falcons and ended in 1978-1979 for the San Diego Hawks.

I had the pleasure to play one game against Willie O’Ree. I was playing for San Diego State University in 1974, and Mr. O’Ree, shortly after retiring from the San Diego Gulls, was playing for the San Diego Sharks, a semi-pro team. Prior to this game, I recall looking at the game program and reading Willie O’Ree’s name in the Sharks lineup. Needless to say, that was thrilling for me. I can’t remember the score of the game or who won. But what I do remember is lining up against Willie O’Ree for a faceoff. I was assigned to “cover” him. To my chagrin, after the puck was dropped, Willie O’Ree was nowhere to be found. His blazing speed left me all alone at the faceoff circle wondering where he was.

Willie O’Ree has had an amazing career both on and off the ice as a traiblazer and ambassador for the great sport of ice hockey.

Copyright © Marc Stockwell-Moniz