The Autobiography of Willie O’Ree : Hockey’s Black Pioneer

On January 18, 1958, Willie O’Ree stepped onto the ice at the Montreal Forum and changed the face of hockey. Racial prejudice was not Willie’s only challenge: in junior hockey, an errant puck blinded Willie in his right eye. Doctors told Willie he would never play hockey again. Willie went on to play 1,288 games as a professional, in the NHL(R) and WHL over a 21-year pro career. Willie’s story is a heroic tale of perseverance, courage and passion for the game of hockey. Today, Willie works on behalf of the NHL(R)/USA Hockey Diversity Task Force, bringing the game to underprivileged kids across the nation.