Willie O'Ree

William Eldon O'Ree is a former professional ice hockey player from New Brunswick. He is widely recognized for being the first black player in the National Hockey Leaguei (NHL), playing as a winger for the Boston Bruins. His accomplishment of breaking the color barrier in the NHL has led him to sometimes be referred to as the "Jackie Robinson of hockey," whom he had the chance to meet when he was younger. In 2018, O'Ree was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame, and starting that year the NHL has introduced the annual Willie O'Ree Community Hero Award in his honor.