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Willie was a pioneer for the sport of hockey. He was the first black man to play in the NHL, and has inspired countless other young black children to play hockey. The NHL now has multitudes of black players who were inspired by Willie O'Ree. With O'Ree's new "Hockey Is For Everyone" campaign, he is making a difference in the word, by allowing the wonderful sport of ice hockey to be accessed by more children.

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I am Willie O’Ree

I hear the crowd chanting racial slurs.

I taste the leftover blood in my mouth from being forced to fight because of my race.

I feel the hockey stick in my hand.

I see the dirty looks from the players and fans

I smell the concessions in the arena

I am the first-ever black NHL hockey player.

I am a Pioneer for the campaign “Hockey Is For Everyone.”

I am, “If you think you can, you can. If you think you can’t, you’re right.”

I am being called racial slurs but being the bigger person.

I am being forced to fight during games from racism.

I introduce hockey to kids in the inner cities who can’t afford it

I am an advocate for equality.

I am Willie O’Ree.

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Willie O'Ree is a major contributor to the new NHL organization, "Hockey Is For Everyone." Hockey is an expensive game to play, often resulting in inner city children being unable to play it. Figures like O'Ree want to change that narrative, by donating equipment and ice time to families with low income so they too can play a game they love.

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Similar to the mentalities of Jackie Robinson and Martin Luther King Junior, O'Ree decided to be above the racism and hate. He was quoted saying, "When I was a little boy, all I knew was that hockey WAS my life, and that ‘black’ meant the puck, and ‘white’ meant the ice” (Mortillaro 23)." This mentality became successful. Although O'Ree would have to deal with constant racism, he ignored it to make a bigger difference.

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When Willie O'Ree was young, he met Dodgers star Jackie Robinson. Robinson was known as the first black man to play in Major League Baseball. This story inspired O'Ree, who eventually decided wanted to be the first ever black player in the NHL. Since he accomplished this goal, O'Ree was often noted as the "Jackie Robinson of Hockey."

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Willie O'Ree is actually blind in his right eye! He faced a shot in his eye which caused him to be unable to see. He kept this secret though, and still continued to have a successful career.

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Willie O'Ree's playing career was extensive. Although most of his time was spent in the WHL with the Quebec Aces, he spent a good amount of time in the NHL playing with the Boston Bruins. Willie O'Ree is famous for being the first-ever black player to play in the NHL. There was a black-only league in 1894, but O'Ree broke the barrier in the NHL.

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Willie O'Ree was one of 13 children from New Brunswick, Canada. Willie's older brother, Richard, began skating, which inspired Willie to try hockey. He was originally a baseball player. O'Ree was a pretty good baseball player too! O'Ree came to the United States to play baseball, but after dealing with all the racism that came with being a black player, he decided to quit and return to Canada to focus on hockey. There was far less racism in Canada and in hockey.