O'Ree receives honorary doctorate degree from University of New Brunswick

Call him Dr. O'Ree.

Willie O'Ree received an honorary doctorate degree from the University of New Brunswick during its graduation ceremony Wednesday.

O'Ree, who became the NHL's first Black player on Jan. 18, 1958, said he was honored to receive the doctorate of letters degree in his birthplace of Fredericton, New Brunswick.

"Receiving this degree from my hometown university is a moment I will cherish forever," O'Ree told the UNB Class of 2023 in a video message. "I learned to play hockey in the ponds of this city. My father would hose down our backyard in the winter just so I could skate. Fredericton is where I became a hockey player who had a goal of making it to the NHL. It's the place where I fostered skills, eventually breaking the NHL color barrier in 1958."

O'Ree received the degree in absentia. UNB President and Chancellor Paul Mazerolle personally presented O'Ree with a framed parchment at his home in San Diego about 10 days ago.

Longtime friends David and Brenda Samson, who were a driving force in O'Ree's induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame, represented him at the commencement to complete the formal awarding of the degree.

Notable past UNB doctorate honorees include former Canada Prime Minister Paul Martin, former Canadian Football League player Tony Proudfoot and soprano Measha Brueggergosman.

"We are deeply grateful to Dr. O'Ree for sharing his message," Mazerolle said. "He has a lot of experience and he's a very humble man, and somebody who's deeply honored to receive this. And we're deeply honored to present him with this honorary degree."

O'Ree told the graduating class that it has the power to facilitate positive change and to make history.

"It won't be easy. You will encounter roadblocks, naysayers and doubters," he said. "But, just like hockey, when you get knocked down, get back up. I know that feeling. Stay in the game, never give up. Congratulations again. The future is yours."

O'Ree made history when he debuted with the Boston Bruins against the Montreal Canadiens at the Montreal Forum.

He played 45 NHL games over two seasons (1057-58, 1960-61) with the Bruins, despite being blind in one eye because of an injury sustained playing junior hockey, and continued to play in the minor leagues until 1979.

He was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in the Builders category in November 2018 largely for his off-ice contributions, including helping to establish 39 grassroots hockey programs in North America as part of the NHL's Hockey is for Everyone initiative, which has introduced the sport to more than 130,000 boys and girls.

The Bruins retired O'Ree's No. 22 on Jan. 18, 2022, during a ceremony at TD Garden. President Joe Biden signed a bill into law on Jan. 31, 2022, to award O'Ree the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest honor bestowed by the U.S. Congress.

Photos: University of New Brunswick