An icon of the ice is getting some well-deserved fanfare in celebration of Black History Month.
Willie O’Ree, the first Black hockey player in the NHL, is front and centre in the NHL’s Black History Month initiative this year. In association with the National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA), the NHL is rolling out an array of content and programming on social media and on the NHL network that explores the contributions of NHL players and pioneers, none more so than Hockey Hall of Famer O’Ree.
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O’Ree’s story was the subject of 2019’s widely acclaimed documentary “Willie”, which, thanks to NHL partners Dunkin’ and Canadian Tire, will be made available to more than 15,000 schools and youth sports organizations in the U.S. and Canada. The group Classroom Champions worked with the NHL to develop a comprehensive digital experience and educators’ guide that, paired with the documentary, focuses on social justice and combatting racism.
In an effort to share Willie O’Ree’s story more broadly and celebrate the 63rd anniversary of his NHL debut, “Willie” is currently being syndicated across 90 million households and approximately 160 local broadcast stations in partnership with Gray Television in the United States, and in Canada the film will air nationally on TSN. The film is also available to stream on NBC’s Peacock and Crackle in the United States, and on Crave in Canada.
The film is also being distributed internationally to more than 50 nations over the next two years in partnership with the U.S. State Department’s American Film Showcase and Global Affairs Canada.
NHL clubs are also honouring O’Ree’s legacy as well as the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. more broadly by putting special helmet decals on all players’ helmets with O’Ree’s likeness and the phrase, “celebrating equality.”
