O'Ree is the 12th player to have his sweater honored by the Boston Bruins in franchise history, joining Lionel Hitchman (#3, 1934), Aubrey V. Clapper(#5, 1947), Edward W. Shore (#2, 1949), Milton C. Schmidt (#15, 1957), Robert G. Orr(#4, 1979), John P. Bucyk (#9, 1980), Philip A. Esposito (#7, 1987), Raymond J. Bourque (#77, 2001), Terence J. O'Reilly (#24, 2002), Cameron M. Neely (#8, 2004) and Richard D. Middleton (#16, 2018).
O'Ree became the first Black player to compete in an NHL game when he dressed with the Bruins 64 years prior to the date of his jersey retirement on January 18, 1958, against the Montreal Canadiens. Despite being legally blind in one eye, O'Ree went on to play one more game that season and 43 during the 1960-61 season before being traded to the Canadiens. O'Ree ended his NHL career with four goals and 10 assists.
Even after his retirement in 1997, O'Ree continued to transform the game of hockey. In 1998, O'Ree was named the NHL's Diversity Ambassador, where he traveled the country to help grow the game of hockey and support Hockey is for Everyone initiatives. Thirty years later, in response to those efforts, O'Ree was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame Class of 2018 as a part of the "Builder" category, which is defined by "coaching, managerial or executive ability, or ability in another significant off-ice role, sportsmanship, character and contributions to his or her organization or organizations and to the game of hockey in general."
The jersey retirement on January 18 will feature a pre-game ceremony beginning at 6:30 p.m., with doors opening to game ticket holders at 5 p.m.
Individual tickets to attend the ceremony and Bruins-Hurricanes game on January 18 are still available to purchase at
https://www.ticketmaster.com/boston-bruins-vs-carolina-hurricanes-boston-massachusetts-01-18-2022/event/01005AF5C1F0442D?brand=BostonBruins
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The NHL's Black Hockey History Mobile Museum will also be in Boston for the weekend, celebrating the founders, trail blazers, and Stanley Cup Champions in Black Hockey History.
The ProShop powered by '47 will be commemorating Willie O'Ree with limited-edition, exclusive #22 merchandise including banner t-shirts, replica banners, pins, hats and more. Net proceeds from Willie O'Ree merchandise purchased during the month of January will benefit the Boston Bruins Foundation and SCORE Boston. Merchandise can purchased online at BostonProShop.com or in-person at the store at the Hub on Causeway.
For more information about this special event, please visit BostonBruins.com/Willie.
