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From YouTube: Willie O'Ree and Street Hockey Rink Dedication
Description
Thanks to guys like Willie O'Ree, hockey is a game for everyone. On the 60th anniversary of him breaking the NHL color barrier, former Boston Bruin Willie O'Ree is honored by Mayor Walsh, Bruins CEO Charlie Jacobs, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and Bruins Foundation Executive Director Bob Sweeney at Legends Club in the TD Garden. The City of Boston Parks and Recreation department will also be dedicating an outdoor street hockey rink at Smith Playground in Brighton in honor of Willie O'Ree.
A
It's
obviously
a
special
time.
It's
the
60th
anniversary
of
Willie
breaking
the
color
barrier
in
Montreal,
January,
18
1958,
and
the
one
thing
after
meeting
Willie
about
15
years
ago.
The
word
that
comes
to
mind
for
me
is
perseverance.
Not
too
many
people
know
this
story,
but
before
Willie
turned
pro,
he
basically
lost
his
eyesight
in
his
right
eye
and
Willie
was
a
left-winger
so
upon
turning
pro
Willie
volunteered
to
play
the
right
side.
So
he
could
have
his
left
eye
as
his
strong
eye
and
basically
continued
to
play
professional
hockey
for
21
years.
A
A
B
B
B
Yes,
I
know:
it's
been
an
eventful
week.
I
heard
you
met
with
Coach
York
this
week
at
BC
from
Miami
all
I'm
alma
mater.
You
guys
had
a
good
talk,
maybe
get
our
our
Eagles
going,
other
mayors
from
BC
to
so
I
hope
they
all
support
each
other
here
and
and
if
I
may
just
speak
a
little
bit
about
what
happened
60
years
ago
today,
on
a
night,
it's
perhaps
serendipitous
that
we
happen
to
be
playing
our
archrival.
The
Montreal
Canadiens
tonight
that
Willie
O'ree
got
a
call.
I
think
this
is
probably
from
milchem.
C
B
Of
many
of
us
Bruins
here
think
of
milk
Schmidt
is
the
embodiment
of
a
Boston
Bruin
and
that
to
have
Willie
get
a
call
to
come
play
for
the
Boston
Bruins
against
the
Montreal.
Canadiens
is
truly
not
only
monumentous
and
that
it
was
breaking
of
a
color
barrier
for
the
hockey,
but
to
get
it
from
the
iconic
Milt
Schmidt.
What
I
would
call
this
the
embodiment
of
the
Boston
Bruins
his
hole
and
I'm?
B
Perhaps
what's
most
remarkable
as
it
Willie
was
completely
unaware
that
he
was
breaking
the
color
barrier
when
he
got
the
call
in
fact
I,
don't
think
it
even
occurred
to
him,
and
so
maybe
a
couple
nights
later.
I
hope.
That's,
accurate
and
I
also
think
it's
worth
noting
that
the
Bruins
won
that
night
three
to
nothing
so
we're
hoping
that
you
may
get
some
good
luck
tonight.
B
The
Bruins
and
others
are
giving
boys
and
girls
the
opportunity
to
play
hockey
and
who
otherwise
have
not
would
not
had
the
opportunity
to
do
so.
We
are
truly
committed
to
growing
the
game
and
are
so
honored
to
have
a
wonderful
ambassador
and
alumnus
such
as
Willie
to
represent
us.
So
I
want
to
thank
the
NHL
for
the
commitment
to
building
this
rink
and
Commissioner
Bettman
for
being
here
and
with
that
I'm
gonna
hand
it
over
to
the
commissioner.
B
D
Good
afternoon
everyone
Thank
You,
charlie
mayor
Walsh
guests
and
most
important
Willie.
It's
an
honor
to
be
here
today
on
January
19
1958,
the
Boston
Globe
published
a
UPI
wire
service
report
about
the
Bruins
game
in
Montreal
the
previous
night,
a
three
nothing
victory
by
the
Bruins,
as
you
just
heard,
over
their
archrival
Montreal
Canadiens.
The
report
prominently
mentioned
the
NHL
debut
of
a
rookie
left
wing
from
the
Quebec
Aces.
The
players
name
was
Willie
O'ree
and
the
22
year
olds
performance
according
to
the
story,
was
undistinguished.
D
Actually
saw
the
article
this
morning
it
was
remarkable,
Willie
didn't
score
any
goals
against
Jacques
Plante,
that
Saturday
night
at
the
Montreal
Forum
Johnny,
Buzek,
Larry,
Regan
and
Bronco
Horvath
took
care
of
that
and
Willie
didn't
play
all
that
much.
He
rotated
with
Johnny
Pearson
on
the
Bruins
third
line
and
while
I
wasn't
there
I
think
I
was
five
years
old
at
the
time.
I
would
question
the
use
the
term
undistinguished
for
a
number
of
reasons,
including
or
especially
because
of
the
challenges
Willie
O'ree
overcame
to
earn
his
number
22
Bruins
Jersey
for
that
game.
D
Willie
speed
his
skill
and
his
sheer
perseverance
earned
him
a
job
in
that
what
was
then
the
16
National,
Hockey,
League
and
obviously
jobs
as
a
player
in
those
days
were
scarce,
but
his
determination
to
concentrate
on
what
he
could
see.
Not
what
he
couldn't
see
carried
him
past,
an
eye
injury
that
you
heard
about
that
would
have
stopped
anyone
who
didn't
share
Willie's
character,
his
courage
and
his
will
to
succeed
at
the
sport.
D
The
lessons
that
the
game
teaches
with
young
people
Willie
was
a
pretty
good
baseball
player
in
his
youth
and
when
he
debuted
in
the
NHL
on
January
18th
1958.
That
was
about
15
months
after
Jackie
Robinson
played
his
final
baseball
game.
Willie
met
Jackie
Robinson
in
Brooklyn
in
1949
and
came
away
with
some
important
advice
from
Jackie,
Robinson
Jackie
told
him.
Whatever
sport,
you
choose
work
hard
and
do
your
very
best,
Jackie
Robinson
said
to
Willie,
and
he
also
said
things
will
then
were
out
for
you.
D
Willie
chose
hockey
and
we
are
honored
and
thrilled
that
he
did.
We
celebrate
not
only
the
45
games
he
played
in
the
NHL,
but
at
the
countless
thousands
he
has
inspired
since
he
became
our
hockey
is
for
everyone
ambassador
in
1998,
from
the
score
hockey
program
here
in
Boston
to
Snider
hockey
in
Philadelphia
to
Fort
DuPont
ice
hockey
in
Washington,
and
the
other
23
hockey
is
for
everyone
programs
in
all
directions.
From
here
we
celebrate
Willie's
impact
on
our
youngsters
and
on
our
sport.
D
D
As
you've
heard,
their
new
generations
of
young
players
can
learn
about
Willie
his
legend
and
they
can
learn
to
live
his
principles.
A
mural
on
display
here,
as
you've
seen
and
at
other
community
brings,
will
memorialize
Willie's,
remarkable
achievements
and
Willie
on
behalf
of
the
National
Hockey
League.
We
have
a
small
souvenir
of
the
game
in
Montreal
six
years
ago,
when
you
changed
our
game
forever
and
for
which
we
are
grateful.
We
offer
you
this
gift
with
heartfelt
appreciation
for
your
courage,
your
resolve
and
your
steadfast
commitment
to
the
growth
of
hockey.
A
E
E
I
want
to
thank
Charlie
Jacobs
and
the
Boston
Bruins
for
for
doing
this
day
and
being
such
a
great
partner
in
the
city
of
Boston
on
so
many
different
fronts,
Thank
You
charlie
for
everything
you
do,
and
your
entire
team
here
and
me,
and
everyone
else,
and
you
dad.
So
thank
you.
Commissioner
Bettman
I
want
to
thank
you
as
well.
Commissioner
Bettman
was
in
Boston
a
couple
years
ago,
dedicating
another
rink
and
he's
another
one.
That's
invested
in
our
city
and
cares
about
the
young
people
of
our
city.
E
So
I
want
to
thank
you,
Commissioner
for
being
here
with
us
today
as
well.
I
want
to
give
a
shout
out
to
a
couple
of
people
in
the
room.
One
is
I
want
to
thank
the
Boston
Parks
and
Recreation
Department
Chris
Cook,
Commissioner,
Chris
Cook
and
in
in
in
Ryan
and
Michael
and
Jennifer,
and
other
folks
that
hear
from
the
parks
department.
Thank
you
very
much
for
the
great
work
you
do.
I
want
to
thank
Austin,
Blackmun,
chief
of
the
Environment
and
the
City
of
Boston,
for
the
great
work
you
do.
E
I
want
to
thank
Kim.
Nearly
growing
up
watching
cami
Lee
play
for
the
Bruins
was
incredible
number
eight
and
before
cam
nearly
watching
Johnny
Busic,
the
chief
play
him.
Some
of
my
first
memories
of
hockey
is
watching
Johnny
beus.
We
played
for
the
Bruins
and
and
seeing
his
number
get
retired
here
in
the
Boston
Garden
and
actually
in
the
Boston
gotten
behind
us.
Well,
next
to
us
wherever
it
was,
but
and
seeing
him
score
some
of
those
goals
and
beating
the
Canadiens
I
wasn't
around
for
that
game,
but
I'm
glad
you
beat
the
Canadiens.
E
So
thank
you
very
much
and
of
course,
Willie
O'ree
Willie.
Thank
you
for
being
here.
I'm
gonna
talk
about
you
in
a
second
but
to
the
young
people
that
are
in
front
of
me.
This
is
a
big
deal.
This
man
behind
me
has
in
common
with
just
a
few
people
in
the
world,
Jackie
Robinson,
obviously
being
the
first
black
baseball
player
to
ever
play
in
the
major
leagues,
President
Barack,
Obama,
being
the
first
black
president
knighted
States
of
America.
E
This
man
behind
me
did
accomplished
something
very
special,
becoming
the
first
black
player
ever
to
play
in
the
National
Hockey
League
and
in
back
when
he
did
it
six
years
ago.
It
was
a
whole
different
world
than
it
is
today,
and
it
was
an
incredible
feat
and
incredible
accomplishment
and
he
set
the
tone
for
so
many
other
young
people
to
be
able
to
come
in
many
black
players
have
played
in
the
league
since,
where
they
re
have
come
and
skated
for
the
Bruins
and
for
other
teams
around
the
NHL,
so
I
want.
E
You
understand
the
magnitude
of
what
this
guy
is
done
to
change
the
sport
of
hockey.
Willie
O'ree
is
a
Boston
legend.
He
broke
new
ground
as
an
athlete,
and
certainly
as
an
ambassador.
He
changed
Boston
for
the
better.
In
a
couple
weeks
ago,
there
was
a
big
Series
in
the
globe
talking
about
race
in
Boston
and
race,
in
Massachusetts
and
and
one
thing
that
was
excluded
from
that
story
was
Willie
orys
accomplishments
and
what
he
was
able
to
do
by
breaking
the
color
barrier
in
the
NHL
in
this.
E
So
there
is
positive
stories
from
60
years
ago,
and
Willie
O'ree
certainly
is
one
of
them.
Our
city
will
always
be
grateful
for
his
courage
and
his
leadership
and
I
had
a
chance
to
talk
to
him
a
little
bit
about
his
playing
here
in
the
bin
for
the
for
the
Boston
Bruins
and
playing
in
Boston.
We're
gonna
continue
to
honor
him
by
sharing
his
commitments
to
inclusion
in
progress.
E
If
they
are
an
athlete,
if
they're
a
scholar
or
whatever
it
is
that
you
want
to
do,
don't
ever
let
anyone
tell
you
you
can't
accomplish
it,
because
if
you
do
that,
then
you're
not
going
to
accomplish
it
and
this
man
didn't
didn't
didn't
do
that
he
continued
to
push
forward.
We
want
to
make
sure
also
we're
excited
to
see
that
a
new
city-owned
hockey
rink
is
going
to
bear
his
name
and
the
dedication
of
the
Smithfield
and
Austin
to
Willie.
O'ree
is
gonna,
be
pretty
awesome.
E
E
It's
gonna
be
close
to
what
the
bruins
new
practice
facility
it's
a
place
where
kids
from
all
backgrounds
and
abilities
will
they
have
fun
and
come
together
and
enjoy
playing
hockey,
and
it's
also
a
fitting
tribute
to
a
person
who
certainly
made
sure
that
everyone
had
a
chance
to
play
this
game.
This
commitment
of
inclusion
is
driving
everything
we
do
in
the
city
of
Boston.
That's
why
it's
important
for
us.
E
So
it's
important
why
we
have
why
we
did
this
park
so
on
behalf
of
the
city
of
Boston,
I
want
to
thank
everyone
for
being
here
and,
as
I
said,
this
is
one
of
the
coolest
things
I
get
to
do
as
mayor
I've
been
being
out
for
four
years,
so
I'm
pretty
excited
about
today,
so
I
have
a
little
bit
of
a
proclamation.
If
you
can
bear
with
me
for
a
minute.
I
want
to
read
this
proclamation
because
I'm
special
at
the
very
end
of
it.
E
So
the
proclamation
from
the
city
of
Boston,
where,
as
Willie
Ori
broke
the
color
barriers,
the
first
black
player
in
the
National
Hockey
League,
making
history
and
paving
way
for
future
generations
in
the
sport
of
hockey,
whereas
throughout
his
playing
career.
This
is
both
in
the
in
the
professional
and
the
minor
leagues.
C
C
The
first
time
I
came
here
was
in
1957
a
training
camp
and
Johnny
Busic
took
me
under
his
wing
a
training
camp
and
I
just
felt
like
just
one
of
the
one
of
the
team,
and
then
I
went
back
to
Quebec
and
played
finish
the
year
out
there
and
then
I
I
came
back
in
1958,
but
Boston
has
been
a
second
home
to
me
and
I
just
want
to
thank
the
mayor
for
those
kind
words.
I
want
to
thank
the
city
of
Boston
and
the
Boston
Bruin
organization
for
hosting
my
60th
anniversary.
C
You
set
your
mind
to
do.
You
have
to
feel
within
your
heart
within
your
mind
and
don't
if
you
choose
a
career,
stay
focused
on
what
you
want
to
do
and
work
towards
your
goals
and
there's
no
substitute
for
hard
work.
And
if
anybody
tells
you
there
is
they're
lying
to
you,
you
only
get
out
of
a
thing
what
you
put
into
it.
So
if
you
go
out
and
put
40%
into
it
expect
40
percent.
C
If
you
go
out
and
do
your
very
best,
then
you
should
pat
yourself
on
the
back,
because
that's
all
we
can
expect,
but
I'm,
just
thrilled
and
I'm
overexcited
I
got
the
shakes
up
here,
but
it
really
is
a
fine
feeling
to
be
back
in
Boston
and
being
able
to
continue
my
work.
So
I
want
to
thank
everybody
that
that
came
today
enjoy
the
day.
I'm
looking
forward
to
tonight's
hockey
game
I
I
predict
that
the
Bruins
will
win
by
at
least
two
goals
so.
C
The
two
very
special
things
in
my
life
was
when,
first
of
all,
when
I
broke
into
the
National
Hockey
in
nineteen
1958.
The
second
is
when
I
scored
my
first
goal
in
the
National
LOC
National
Hockey
League,
and
it
was
here
at
the
old
Boston,
Gardens
and
I
just
want
to
tell
you
was
just
a
couple
of
things
of
how
I
scored
my
first
goal.
C
We
were
warming
up
and
Toronto
for
one
of
my
teammates
said
Willy
if
you've
ever
ever,
get
in
on
Hodge
keep
the
puck
low,
he's
he's
weak
on
low
shots,
but
stay
away
from
his
glove
hand.
So
we're
we're
warming
up
and
then
we
coming
out
at
the
first
period
and
played
the
second
period
and
third
period.
I'm
busting
down,
left
wing
and
Leo
Boivin.
Just
hit
me
with
a
perfect
pass.
C
Will
he
keep
it
low,
so
I
go
in
and
made
a
few
shifts
Hadj
and
then
I
shot
the
puck
either
read
along
the
ice
or
was
just
off
the
ice
that
hit
the
inside
of
the
post
and
when,
in
that
made
a
three
to
one
for
the
Bruins
and
then
about
six
minutes
later
honoree
the
pocket
rocket
scored,
but
the
gay,
the
the
gold
and
I
scored
turned
out
to
be
the
winning
goal
and
I
got
a
standing
ovation
from
the
fans
here
in
Boston.
So
thank
you.