Nearly six decades after breaking racial barriers in the NHL, an athlete is finally receiving the recognition that he has long deserved. 83-year-old Willie O’Ree—the first Black player in the National Hockey League—will be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame on Monday, the New York Times reported.
O’Ree entered the league in 1958 and played for the Boston Bruins, the news outlet writes. During his career—which lasted for 24 seasons—he encountered the unthinkable all due to the color of his skin. There was an incident where during a brawl an opponent knocked his teeth out with a hockey stick and there was another time where unruly fans attempted to pull him into the stands and attack him.
There remains a lack of diversity in the NHL. According to the New York Times, 97 percent of the league is white.
Source: First Black NHL Player To Be Inducted Into Hockey Hall Of Fame
