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After a long wait, one of the biggest hockey pioneers will be called to the Hockey Hall of Fame next season.
Hockey Hall announced its new class of 2018 Tuesday afternoon, and former Bruins forward Willie O 'Ree is inducted into the "Builder" category after crossing the color barrier as a member of the Black and Gold in 1958.
"Willie has paved the way for everyone else, so he's a true builder of hockey," said Grant Fuhr of the Hockey Hall of Fame, who will be joined by O & # 39; Ree as being the only two black players in the NHL. Hall of fame. "If you look at the word" constructor ", there should be a picture of Willie, the hockey Jackie Robinson."
O 'Ree is the seventh member of the Bruins' organization to be inducted into the "Builder" category, defined as "coaching, management or leadership ability, or ability in another important role". off-ice, sportsmanship and contribution to his or her organization or organizations and hockey in general. "
It's an honor that was long overdue, given the importance of a player who bravely breaks the color barrier, and the Bruins are clearly very proud to be in the forefront. contact with them.
"Willie is a pioneer and a tremendous hockey ambassador and, on behalf of the Bruins organization, I would like to congratulate Willie and his family on the announcement of his Hockey Hall of Fame nomination", said President Cam Neely. "The courage that he demonstrated 60 years ago when he broke the league's color barrier by wearing a Bruin sweater is a source of inspiration, and his work continues to make grow hockey and get the message that hockey is for everyone.
After becoming the first black man to play in the NHL in 1958, O 'Ree played 20 years for countless teams in various leagues, before embarking on an ambassadorial career. for hockey. O 'Ree became the first black player to participate in an NHL game on January 18, 1958, while he was dressing for the Boston Bruins against the Montreal Canadiens, even though he did not want to play the game. he was legally blind in one eye.
O 'Ree played two games with the Bruins during this relay before being referred to the miners. He joined the team during the 1960-1961 season, scoring four goals and 14 points in 43 games. O 'Ree was then traded to the Canadiens, but he never dressed for the club before spending 13 seasons in the Western Hockey League before his official retirement in 1979.
Since 1998, Mr. O. Ree has worked for the NHL as an ambassador for diversity, with a focus on Hockey for All initiatives. O 'Ree was certainly too gentleman to believe that his induction to the Hall of Fame was a reality, but he expressed his satisfaction on Tuesday that it happened while he still can fully enjoy his family. and his friends.
"I think being inducted into the Hall of Fame opens the door to thousands of kids, colorful kids, white kids, brown kids and green kids," O & O said. Ree at NHL.com. "It gives them the opportunity to play this sport if they want it, we just open the doors and say," Here you can play a sport where you've never had the chance to play. opportunity to play before.
In 2018, the NHL presented the Willie O 'Ree Community Hero Award, presented to the person who best uses hockey as a platform for participants to create character and develop fundamental skills for a family experience. more positive. O. Ree will join Gary Bettman, NHL Commissioner, Martin Brodeur, New Jersey Devils goalkeeper Martin St. Louis, Alexander Yakushev and Jayna Hefford of the Tampa Bay Lightning in the new 2018 Hall of Fame category . He should have been for such an influential figure in the NHL world, but his induction proves once again the old adage of hockey that good things end up happening among good hockey players. Everything in the life of O. Ree, 82, has been a tribute to being a good hockey player, and someone is more than willing to open the door to many others for follow him on this path of the NHL.
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