Jason McCrimmon 'very blessed' to win Willie O'Ree Award

NASHVILLE -- Jason McCrimmon took a deep breath before approaching the mic on stage after being presented with the 2023 Willie O'Ree Community Hero Award at the 2023 NHL Awards on Monday.

After gazing out to the audience inside Bridgestone Arena, McCrimmon briefly gathered himself and started to deliver his acceptance speech.

Then, according to McCrimmon, he quickly went off script.

"They have all the finalists, if you want to, write a 30-second speech," McCrimmon recently told DetroitRedWings.com. "But when I got up there, I was able to see the crowd. So the part where I talk about the city of Detroit wasn't originally in there; it was what I felt. I love my city. I want my city to be seen in a different light. I want us to be in a situation where there is so much love in the city and we can do more as a group. Hopefully getting this puts us in a better light, for everything and everyone who is involved."

The award is given annually to an individual who has worked to make a positive impact on his or her culture, community or society through hockey. It honors O'Ree, who became the first Black player to play in the NHL and spent more than two decades as the league's diversity ambassador.

This season, the NHL presented the award to one winner in the United States (McCrimmon) and in Canada (Dean Smith). Both McCrimmon and Smith will receive a $25,000 donation to benefit a charity of their respective choice.

"I knew that if I didn't win, it would have gone to another great person who is part of another great organization," McCrimmon said. "But to hear my name called was a feeling of relief and gratitude. I am very blessed."

McCrimmon is also the founder of Detroit Ice Dreams - a non-profit organization committed to making hockey more accessible for youth from underrepresented communities - and the ambassador for the Detroit Red Wings' groundbreaking Learn, Play, Score Program.

Learn, Play, Score was created in February 2020 as part of a commitment to building confidence and character, promoting positive values and imparting enduring life skills by breaking down systemic barriers and giving thousands of youth across the city of Detroit equitable access to the game of hockey.

"Experiencing first-hand the heart and unmatched energy Jason brings to growing hockey in Detroit, for him to receive the Willie O'Ree Community Hero Award is no surprise," said Kevin Brown, director of community impact for Ilitch Sports + Entertainment. "We're honored to have Jason on our team as, together, we build the next generation of Hockeytown through Learn, Play, Score and beyond."

McCrimmon, a lifelong Detroit resident, said winning this award only motivates him to continue making a positive impact in the community.

"We're in a situation where there is a lot of rebuilding, but also a lot of love here in Detroit," McCrimmon said. "We want to expand on that."