CalendarZ

  1. Home
  2. On This Day
  3. October
  4. 15
  5. Willie O'Ree

Births on October 15

Willie O'Ree
1935Oct, 15

Willie O'Ree

Willie O'Ree, Canadian ice hockey player
Willie Eldon O'Ree (born October 15, 1935) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player, best known for being the first Black player in the National Hockey League (NHL). O'Ree played as a winger for the Boston Bruins. O'Ree is referred to as the "Jackie Robinson of ice hockey" for breaking the black colour barrier in the National Hockey League, and has stated publicly that he had met Jackie Robinson when he was younger. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in November 2018.

Also in 2018, the NHL instituted the annual Willie O’Ree Community Hero Award in his honour, to "recognise the individual who has worked to make a positive impact on his community, culture or society to make people better through hockey."

References

Choose Another Date

Events on 1935

  • 26Feb

    Treaty of Versailles

    Adolf Hitler orders the Luftwaffe to be re-formed, violating the provisions of the Treaty of Versailles.
  • 16Mar

    Treaty of Versailles

    Adolf Hitler orders Germany to rearm herself in violation of the Treaty of Versailles. Conscription is reintroduced to form the Wehrmacht.
  • 25May

    Big Ten Conference

    Jesse Owens of Ohio State University breaks three world records and ties a fourth at the Big Ten Conference Track and Field Championships in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
  • 25Jun

    Soviet Union

    Diplomatic relations between the Soviet Union and Colombia are established.
  • 15Sep

    Swastika

    Nazi Germany adopts a new national flag bearing the swastika.