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But that eye injury nearly derailed everything. In 1958 Willie O’Ree unknowingly changed hockey forever. He didn't realize it at the time. He’s known as the “Jackie Robinson of hockey,” but to receive that honor, it cost Willie O’Ree the sight in his right eye, threats, racial slurs and fights. The NHL was then made up … He was inducted in the 2018 Hockey Hall of Fame. He had lost 97 percent of the vision in that eye. A debilitating eye injury and racial epithets weren't enough to derail O'Ree's resolve. Willie O’Ree, the National Hockey League’s (NHL) first black player, is an African-Canadian, born on October 15, 1935, in Fredricton, New Brunswick. www.williedoc.org, or info@williedoc.com. 1958 On January 18 Willie O'Ree perseveres and becomes the first black player to compete in the Original 6 NHL. O'Ree had to keep this injury quiet. Willie O’Ree was 14 or 15 years old when he broke through his first barrier. I found out that Willie O'Ree was playing as a half blind hockey player. Willie O'Ree, first black player in NHL, overcame blindness, ... O’Ree overcame eye injury, prejudice. I had the privilege of watching the documentary Willie recently, which premiered at Toronto’s Hot Docs festival in April.Willie, tells the life story of Willie O’Ree from his early days when he couldn’t quite decide between baseball or hockey, to his career threatening eye-injury and his NHL call-up, and concludes with the day he finds out he will be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. He didn't realize it at the time. In eight weeks he was back on the ice. The NHL had (and still has a rule) that won't allow a player with only one eye to play for fear of something else happening to the good eye. In part due to severely limited vision related to an eye injury in junior hockey, ... Willie O'Ree at the dedication of the new Willie O'Ree street hockey rink at Smith Field in Allston in 2018. by Mike Walsh. Fearing the end of his career if people found out, O’Ree was able to keep his condition a secret for several years. The Willie O'Ree Story. When it came to racial integration hockey was the last sport to allow for African- Americans to play, partially because no African- Americans attempted to join the NHL (National Hockey League). Willie O'Ree was picked to play for the Boston Bruins in the NHL despite suffering a devastating eye injury earlier in his career. Let me explain; in 1955, Willie O'Ree was playing for the Kitchener-Waterloo Canucks and all of a sudden he was struck by a puck that was shot and that went in a weird direction right to his right eye. A doctor advised him to stop playing, but that was inconceivable to Willie. Willie O’Ree is honored by many as the “Jackie Robinson” of hockey, ... he feared the day when his injury would be discovered. An eye injury in his junior hockey days left o'ree blind in one eye. Learn about eye injuries from the cleveland clinic. In 1958 a young man named Willie O'Ree made his debut in the National Hockey League. Advised to retire, Willie keeps his injury a secret and continues to pursue his dream. He was missing a piece of him. Willie O'Ree was 14 or 15 years old when he broke through his first barrier. The retina in O'Ree's right eye was shattered. VIBE 105 has all the details. Willie O’Ree is one of the most important individuals in the history of not only sport, but also culture as he was the first black player to participate in an NHL game. Alienum phaedrum torquatos nec eu, vis detraxit periculis ex, nihil expetendis in mei. Willie O’Ree, the National Hockey League’s (NHL) first black player, is an African–Canadian, born on October 15, 1935, in Fredricton, New Brunswick.He began skating at an early age and quickly developed into one of the best players in eastern Canada. O’Ree joined the Quebec Frontenacs, a junior hockey league team in 1954. "I experienced racial slurs and racial remarks directed from, not only players on the opposition, but fans in the stands,” O'Ree … O'Ree appeared in 45 games for the Bruins, scoring four goals and 14 points. ... doing so despite suffering a serious eye injury that left him partially blind early in his career. The injury left him 95% blind in his right eye. He grabbed his face and fell to the ice. O’Ree only played two games in the NHL that season, but he was lucky he did. Willie's most bitter memory of his hockey days came in 1961. Willie O'Ree, first black player in NHL, overcame blindness, prejudice to blaze trail for future minorities. It struck O'Ree hard in the right eye. Mei an pericula euripidis, hinc partem. He just wanted a haircut. He was with the Boston Bruins for two games. “I never took an eye exam in all the 21 years I played. Willie O’Ree was 14 or 15 years old when he broke through his first barrier. The NHL had (and still has a rule) that won't allow a player with only one eye to play for fear of something else happening to the good eye. Willie O’Ree (born October 15, 1935) Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada. Willie O'Ree - Black Hockey Pioneer Learn more about this incredible black Canadian athlete and how he earned his place in Canadian black history. O’Ree, the first Black player to debut in the NHL on Jan. 18, 1958, had no idea he was making history and paving the way for players of colour. The Willie O’Ree documentary covers a span of 60 years and those that influenced him along the way. He just wanted a haircut. But in 1958 Willie O’Ree broke the color-barrier by playing two games with the Boston Bruins.… Home; Who We Are. The doctor told O'Ree he would not be able to play hockey again. O’Ree joined the Quebec Frontenacs, a junior hockey league team in 1954. In 1961, after two more years in the minors, O'Ree had a longer stay with the Bruins--41 games. “I didn’t tell anyone that I couldn’t see,” said O’Ree. In an interview with luke fox of rogers sportsnet on 29 february 2012, o'ree explained the situation he. ... And the fact O’Ree busted through that glass ceiling despite being blind in his right eye — he suffered the injury a few years earlier in junior and kept it mostly secret for the duration of his career — … If they knew about his injury, he would not be wearing a Boston or any hockey jersey. He was a natural left winger so an injury like that to his right eye would severely hamper his efforts to see to … O'Ree had to keep this injury quiet. Willie O’Ree paved the way by breaking the National Hockey League’s colour barrier when he debuted with the Boston Bruins against the Montreal Canadiens on January 18, 1958. foxsports Feb 18, 2013 at 10:00p ET . O’Ree had lost 95 percent of the vision in his right eye and he never told the Bruins. He appeared in more than 1,000 professional hockey games in part of three decades over his career, doing so despite suffering a serious eye injury that left him partially blind early in his career. Willie Eldon O'Ree, CM ONB (born October 15, 1935) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player, best known for being the first black player in the National Hockey League (NHL). There a doctor informed him about the extent of his injury. O’Ree was a call-up to play for the Boston Bruins on January 18, 1958, in place of an injured player, thus making NHL history. Willie O'Ree was 14 or 15 years old when he broke through his first barrier. I never sat in front of an eye ... Boston was short a wing on the team because of an injury and the team called up Willie just to … What makes O’Ree’s journey to the NHL even more commendable is the fact that he had to overcome the handicap of being blind in his right eye; an injury he sustained in the minors with the Quebec Aces two years before being called up by the Bruins for his first NHL game. He began skating at an early age and quickly developed into one of the best players in eastern Canada. O’Ree is known as the first black player to play in an NHL game. Sixty Years Ago, Willie O’Ree Broke the NHL’s Color Barrier A debilitating eye injury and racial epithets weren’t enough to derail the player’s resolve O’ere is now 81 years old with his sharp mind still intact, he says he could do it all over again, he woudn’t change a thing. O'Ree was then rushed to the hospital. Willie O'Ree will have a proper number retirement ceremony next January. 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