Willie talks about history and slapshots

by NHL | April 3, 2002

Do you have a question about hockey? About skills? About the game? Meet our expert: Willie O'Ree! You can send Willie e-mail right here: nhlkids@nhl.com.

Dear Mr. O'Ree,
Since we celebrating Martin Luther King Day today, I think it is appropriate to thank you for your efforts not just as the first black player in the NHL, but also for your efforts to bring hockey to kids. I must admit that I did not know about you until they made that Beehive set a few years ago, but I think it was great that they included you in the set.

I've done a lot of reading about the integration of baseball and Jackie Robinson, and I know about the problems he faced when he broke into baseball. Did you ever have to stay at a different hotel or have refused service at a restaurant when you were in the NHL?
Thank you for your time.
Michael Brennan

Hi, Michael Brennan,
Thanks for the e-mail. When I played in the NHL there were only six teams. There were two from Canada and four in the United States. I did not have to stay in a different hotel from the rest of the players, but the service in restaurants was different from the other players because of my color. Things have changed.

Dear Willie,
My name is Mason. I am 12 years old and I play roller & ice hockey. I've noticed that more and more kids are dropping out of hockey. I love hockey. I eat, sleep and breathe hockey. I'd hate to see it dies. Any suggestions?
Mason Tigger

Hi, Mason Tigger:
When I was your age I played street hockey and ice hockey. My love was ice hockey. I too ate, slept, and breathed hockey. It was my love. Maybe those kids that are dropping out do not have the passion for the game as we do. Always play the best you can. Always study hard in school and keep your grades up. Good luck!

Hi Willie,
I play goalie for my in-line hockey team and I really love to play. I love watching hockey and especially the goalies in particular Patrick Roy! I was wondering who do you think is the best goalie playing now and of all time?
Thanks,
Alex Speed

Hi, Alex Speed:
That's a tough question to answer. There are so many great goalies in the League now. To be honest I could not pick one. Different goalies have different styles of play. I like Patrick Roy too.

Mr. O'Ree,
How are you? I am fine. My name is Da'Morus Cohen. I am a young, black hockey player who plays for the MOS Miami Hurricanes in Miami, FL. The reason I am writing is to ask you a question. Ok, remember Jarome Iginla (black hockey player) was leading the NHL in points? Then Joe Thornton took the lead, and now Markus Naslund is leading with Jarome Iginla and Joe Thornton tied. But they have Iggy ranked as third, I know after passing first grade that I comes way before T, but NHL.com has Iggy ranked as third and Thornton ranked as second.
As I look in record books and stats form years ago, a black man (to my knowledge) has never finished the season leading the NHL in points. So my question to you, "Why is Jarome Iginla ranked third on the points list? Why can't they put him tied for second or something?" If Iggy finishes the season with the most points or wins MVP, which has been for his team; it will be a big step for black players and other minorities in ice hockey. Well, I know that as a black hockey player it will make me feel happy and proud to be a black hockey player.
Lastly, I would like to congratulate you, Jarome Iginla, Anson Carter, Mike Grier, Peter Worrell, Kevin Weekes, Grant Fuhr and the many other black hockey players who got to where I want to go.
Thank you,
Da'Morus Cohen #89

Hi, Da'Morus Cohen #89:
How are you? I am fin and thanks for the e-mail. The record books show that a black player has never finished the season leading the NHL in points. The scoring race is so close a matter of a few points. I think the players concentrate on their own performance. The media makes mistakes from time to time. I hope Jarome wins the scoring title. In the scoring it's always goals and then assists for total. If you want to make it in the NHL, set goals for yourself and go for it. Good luck!

Hey Willie,
I was wondering how to stop a shot (I'm a goalie) over the shoulder on the block side? The weight of the stick somewhat slows my arm but nevertheless the ball still goes in... how do I defend against this shot
Eddy S

Eddy S:
I guess you play in-line hockey when you refer to the ball. Try to cut the angle down from the shooter. Try to use a lighter goalie stick, it may help. Good luck!

Hey Willie,
I am such a huge fan of hockey. I play in a checking league where it is hard to avoid hits and sometimes hard to get up from one. I'm kinda small and thin yet a good player. Do you have some sort of eating tips to help me bulk up?
Thanks
IcelsLife09

Hi, IcelsLife09:
Have you talked to your coach? Some players regardless of what they eat can't put weight on. Have you thought of going to a gym and working with some weights? Hockey is a hit and get hit sport. Try doing some hitting first. Remember it's not the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog. Make sense? Sure it does. Try it! Good luck!

Willie,
I'm a goalie and I'm pretty good at it, but that's not my question. See, I live in Florida and I want to go pro so bad and I play roller hockey now, but I'm awesome at ice hockey too so how do I go about going pro?
Brickster

Hi, Brickster:
I've been to Florida several times. It's a wonderful place. So you want to be a pro goalie? Well, just go for it! It's a goal you set for yourself. Great. Believe in yourself and always do your best. The only person that can defeat you is you. No one else.

Hi,
I think that Luongo should have gone to the Olympics instead of Brodeur. How about you?
Jack

Hi, Jack:
I think they are both goalies. Maybe they saw something special in Brodeur. I've been watching some great hockey at the Olympics.

Hi Willie,
Ok, where I am from there is no really close hockey team at all. If so, they don't allow a girl to play. I have wanted to train to be an ice hockey trainer or really be in sports medicine for ice hockey teams. But would being a girl hurt my chances? I love hockey and play in my garage everyday.
Sincerely yours,
Amber

Hi, Amber:
It hurts me to know that they don't allow girls to play hockey. There are many girl hockey leagues at the present. If you want to be an ice hockey trainer then go for it. If you feel very strong about your goal, make it happen! Don't quit. Be all that you can be. Good luck!

Dear Mr. O'Ree,
What advice can you give me (I'm a defenseman) for when an opposing forward is skating down on me into my team's end?
Steven

Hi, Steven,
Well, when I played the defenseman always tried to play my body or take me out of the play. Play the body, it's bigger than the puck. When the player is coming towards you, don't look at the puck. Look at the player and try and take him or her out of the play.

Hi Willie,
I need some information because I'm becoming a goalie. Do you have to use a certain move to stop the puck coming into the net? Or can you make up anything you want?
Yours truly,
Sarah Thomson

Hi, Sarah Thomson:
I never played goal, but it's a tough position. The answer to your question depends upon in which direction the puck is coming. If you can always try to cut the angle down from the net so the player won't have too much to shoot at. Your stick, catching glove and blocker play important roles in controlling the puck.

Willie,
What do you think about summer hockey for kids? I play Atom minor AA, so I'm ten years old, and I attend hockey school where we are on the ice three afternoons a week. I love hockey, but my mom is concerned that I may burn out by the time I'm 13 or 14 years old.
Sam

Hi, Sam:
I think summer hockey is great. The more ice time you get the better the hockey player you will become. If you think three times a week is too much then just go two times. You alone know how you feel. I'm sure your mother is only thinking of you. Good luck.

Hey Willie,
I saw in your bio that you were invited to the Milwaukee Braves training camp. Why did you choose to play hockey over baseball?
Stephen

Hi Stephen,
I chose hockey over baseball because I love the game of hockey.

Hello:
I love hockey. It is my favorite sport. I practice with my friends a lot, but I want to play in a league. If I have never played organized hockey, will it have that big of an effect? My dad says I probably won't be any good since the kids there have been playing in a league for a while. It really discourages me. Should I try to play anyway?
Cody

Hi, Cody:
Yes, Cody, you should play anyway! It may take you a while to catch you with the other players, but so what. You said, you love hockey and it's your favorite sport. That's all that counts. If at first you don't succeed then try, try again!

Dear Mr. Willie O'Ree,
My son Tyler is 8 years old and plays in novice, North Sydney, Nova Scotia, I find that when he skates he tends to be off-balance. He is not a really strong skater, but he loves playing hockey and he knows how to handle the puck really well. I know that practice makes perfect, but I would like to know what would be the proper way to teach him how to skate.
My question is: Are there certain exercises he should be doing on or off the ice to help him dig his skates into the ice to get a better push when he skates?
June

Hi, June:
My first question is does Tyler have the proper size skates? If he does exercises they should be done on the ice where he gets the most value from it. Have Tyler talk to his coach. Is he using the proper length hockey stick? That is very important. He should be leaning a little forward when his stick is flat on the ice. I hope this helps. Good luck.

Hey, Willie:
It's Chase Kaiser from Toronto, Ontario. I was just watching the All-Star Game. It was a good game. Do you think that Eric Daze should have won the MVP?

Hi, Chase Kaiser:
Do you think Eric Daze should have won the MVP? Just being mentioned is an honor.

Hi Willie,
My question is did you ever play hockey as a kid and if so, at what age did you start
Kevin
Age 8
Dumont, New Jersey

Hi Kevin:
Yes, I played hockey as a kid. I started skating at the age of two and started playing organized hockey at the age of five.

Hi Willie,
I was wondering what your favorite shot was. I was also wondering if you have a favorite team to play against.
Thanks
Kyle

Hi Kyle:
My favorite shot was the wrist or snap shot. I never had a good slap shot. When I was in the NHL there were only six teams. Montreal, Toronto, Detroit, Boston, New York and Chicago. I loved playing against the Montreal Canadiens because they were winning the Stanley Cup year after year. I loved playing against the best. What a challenge!