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Archive Record
Images
Metadata
Object ID |
2024.3.9 |
Object Name |
Video Recording |
Title |
Willie O'Ree We Will Do Better Conversation Starter |
Scope & Content |
Willie O'Ree We Will Do Better Conversation Starter, 2020, Born Digital MP4, viewing time 00:03:02. We Will Do Better: Develop racism awareness and spark conversations about racism by listening to the stories of how Hall of Famers overcame the challenges of racism in their sporting career. These vidoes created by Canada's Sports Hall of Fame in partnership with TSN and Quantum Media House share these stories. Transcript: As Canada's national museum of sport, we have a platform and an obligation to amplify Black voices, and share the lived experiences of Black Hall of Famers. Today, we bring you the story of ice hockey player and Class of 2020/21 Inductee, Willie O'Ree. Willie O'Ree is best known for being the first Black man to play in the NHL. In 1958, the Boston Bruins had a vacancy due to an injury and they recruited Willie O'Ree from the Quebec Aces to play with their team, breaking the NHL's 41-year colour barrier. When asked about his experience in the NHL, O'Ree said quote "Being in Boston, you know back then, they were known for their prejudice, but I didn't notice anything. I played, I was very happy to be a part of the Bruins. I was accepted by all of the teammates Milt Schmidt, Lynn Patrick - he says 'well you're just another player that we think can help win games for us,' but I faced a lot of racism and prejudice especially when I went to New York, Detroit and Chicago, not only from fans in the stands but players on the opposition." In discussing the only racially driven fight he had, provoked by a Chicago Black Hawk's player hitting O'Ree with his stick across the face because he was Black, O'Ree spoke to his great character, explaining that despite the amount of racial remarks he heard on the ice he chose not to be provoked and to instead focus on the game he loved "I never fought because of racial remarks or racial slurs, I knew that I would be in the penalty box all the time." Unfortunately, after only 43 games with the Bruins, O'Ree was traded to Montreal Canadiens, who after 12 games with the team sent him to the Western Hockey League (WHL). O'Ree did not get the call to come back to the NHL, and finished his career after 11 years in the WHL. Due to the racism O'Ree faced in his ice hockey career, today he works towards making his sport more inclusive. When asked about his experience being an ambassador for the Hockey is for Everyone program, O'Ree said "The racism that is going on, when you see young, 10, 12, 13-year-old boys and girls coming off the ice in tears because someone made a racial slur or racial remark…it just can't be had, it really can't." O'Ree is also the NHL's Director of Youth Development, encouraging underrepresented youth to become involved in ice hockey. The NHL has since established the annual Willie O'Ree Community Hero Award in his honour. We Can Do Better. We Will Do Better. |
Year Range from |
2020 |
Year Range to |
2020 |
People |
O'Ree, Willie |
Search Terms |
Athlete Conversation Starter Ice Hockey NHL Racism Awareness We Will Do Better WHL |