Bruins to retire Willie O'Ree's number in early-2022

The Boston Bruins announced on Friday that they will be retiring the number of Willie O'Ree on January 18th against the Carolina Hurricanes. It will be the twelfth number retired by the Boston Bruins in their team history.

O'Ree, 86, became the first black player to compete in a National Hockey League game when he took to the ice on January 18th 1958 against the Montreal Canadiens, 64 years prior to his jersey retirement.

The Fredericton, New Brunswick native would spend most of his professional hockey career in the minor leagues but appeared in 45 NHL games with the Bruins where he had 14 points (4 G, 10 A) and 26 penalty minutes.

Off the ice, O'Ree has helped grow the game as the NHL's Diversity Ambassador, a title he was given back in 1998. He travels to schools and community hockey programs to promote inclusion in the game.

Twenty years after he became a Diversity Ambassador for the NHL, O'Ree was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in the Builder's category. An honour which is given for "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."

It's been a long time coming.

On January 18, 2022 – 64 years to the day of his historic NHL debut – the #NHLBruins will officially retire Willie O'Ree's No. 22 at @tdgarden before a game against the Carolina Hurricanes.

Full Details: https://t.co/nDbVxup7Tb— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) December 31, 2021

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