NEW YORK --The National Hockey League (NHL) today announced Noel Acton (Baltimore, MD), Ryan Francis (Cole Harbour, NS), and Meredith Lang (Minneapolis, MN) have been named finalists for the fifth annual Willie O'Ree Community Hero Award presented by MassMutual, which is given to an individual who - through the sport of hockey - has positively impacted his or her community, culture or society.
Willie O'Ree Community Hero Award announces 2022 finalists
Voting open until April 17, winner receives $25,000 donated to charity of choice
The winner will be determined by fan vote and weighted votes from Willie O'Ree, the NHL and MassMutual. Fans are encouraged to start voting today until April 17 at
NHL.com/OReeAward
. The winner will receive a $25,000 USD prize and the other two finalists will each receive a $5,000 USD prize, each of which will be donated to a charity of their respective choice.
Following are the finalists for the 2021-22 Willie O'Ree Community Hero Award presented by MassMutual, in alphabetical order:
Noel Acton (Baltimore, MD) is the founder of the Tender Bridge Foundation, a nonprofit that has supported more than 500 boys and girls in East Baltimore for 20 years. Focused on getting kids off the street and into sports programs, Noel and his team provide all levels of assistance including equipment, transportation, and meals, anything to help the kids succeed. The Foundation also runs the Baltimore Banners and Junior Banners hockey team, a safe space for at-risk youth to not only increase their chances of survival, but to become a positive influence in their community.
WATCH: Acton learns he is a finalist
.
Ryan Francis (Cole Harbour, NS) helped launch the 'Indigenous Girls Hockey Program Nova Scotia' which encourages young Mi'kmaq girls to play hockey. His efforts are focused on breaking down the barriers that commonly keep girls from playing the game by making equipment and resources more easily accessible. A member of Acadia First Nation, Francis believes in the importance of creating a safe community and support network for young girls in Nova Scotia. In its first two years, the program has had 190 unique participants from three different Mi'kmaq communities.
WATCH: Francis learns he is a finalist
.
Meredith Lang (Minneapolis, MN) is being recognized for her work introducing, and encouraging, young girls of color to learn and play hockey. The co-founder of two organizations, Hockey Niñas and Minnesota Unbounded, Lang's efforts extend beyond Minneapolis. Through the Hockey Niñas, her ability to gather information and share resources makes it easier for anyone who wants to try hockey. Her work has supported families from Mexico to California to New York. Through her work with Minnesota Unbounded, a league comprised entirely of girls and women of color from the players on the ice to the coaches behind the bench, Lang has helped grow the number of competitive girls' hockey teams from 31 girls in U10 and U12 teams, to more than 50 families from 20 different hockey organizations on U10, U12, U14 teams, as well as pilot programs for U6 and U8 teams.
WATCH: Lang learns she is a finalist
.
Last season,
Kevin Hodgson
was the recipient of the Award. Hodgson is the executive director of
HEROS
(Hockey Education Reaching Out Society) which empowers at-risk youth and SuperHEROS, which provides boys and girls living with physical and cognitive challenges with a safe and inclusive environment as well as an adapted on-ice curriculum. The volunteer-driven nonprofit, which has served more than 10,000 boys and girls, operates 28 programs in 12 cities across Canada.
The Willie O'Ree Community Hero Award presented by MassMutual honors former NHL forward Willie O'Ree, who on Jan. 18, 1958, became the first black player to compete in the League. O'Ree, who lost sight in his right eye at a young age, went on to play professional hockey for 21 years. For more than two decades he has served as the NHL's Diversity Ambassador, traveling across North America to schools and hockey programs to share his story and experiences as well as to promote messages of inclusion, dedication, and confidence. O'Ree has used hockey as a platform to build character and teach life skills and has used his influence to foster positive values through the sport. In 2018, O'Ree was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.
