Although he played only 45 games over parts of two seasons with the Boston Bruins, William (Willie) O'Ree is remembered as the first black player in the history of the National Hockey League.

A 5'10", 180-pound left wing, O'Ree played two games for the Bruins in 1957-58 and 43 more in 1960-61. He was known for his exceptional speed and his checking ability. Even though he didn't play regularly in the NHL, Willie did have an extraordinarily long professional career - 21 seasons, mostly in the old Western League with the Los Angeles Blades and the San Diego Gulls, despite losing his right eye in a junior hockey game when he was 21.

Born in Fredericton, New Brunswick, on Canada's Atlantic coast, O'Ree was an outstanding athlete as a youngster, excelling at hockey, rugby, soccer, basketball, track and baseball. A shortstop, he was invited to training camp with the Milwaukee Braves in 1956.

After O'Ree's professional hockey career ended in 1980, he became a supervisor for a company that handled security for the San Diego Chargers and later worked security at the spectacular Hotel Del Coronado in San Diego harbor.

O'Ree began doing promotional work in 1990 for the International Hockey League's San Diego Gulls. Six years later, he was asked by the NHL to assist with an All-Star Game designed to celebrate hockey's growing diversity.

The Willie O'Ree All-Star Game honors O'Ree's career and allows selected boys and girls between the ages of 14 and 16 from NHL Diversity programs across North America the opportunity to interact with NHL players, attend an NHL game, and experience the culture of -the host city. In addition, the youngsters take part in a co-ed all-star game of their own featuring an east-versus-west format.

O'Ree re-joined the NHL on January 18, 1998, the 40th anniversary of his first game in the NHL. As part of the 1998 NHL All-Star Weekend festivities, the NHL announced his appointment as the Director of Youth Development for NHL Diversity. In 2003, O'Ree was honored with the Lester Patrick Award for outstanding service to hockey in the United States.

Now 70 years old, O'Ree resides with his wife and daughter in San Diego, California.