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Article: NHL to honor hockey trailblazer's milestone 50 years later.(SPORTS)(National Hockey League)(Boston Bruins to honour Willie O'Ree )

Article from:
Jet
Article date:
January 21, 2008
Author:
Copyright

With a robust voice and charismatic body language, Willie O'Ree reflects on his history-making feat on the ice 50 years ago as if it were yesterday.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

O'Ree describes the excitement of playing in the pros and becoming the National Hockey League's first Black player in 1958.

"That was my dream when I was 14, to play professional hockey, and one day get into the National Hockey League," explains O'Ree, 72, who will be honored by the Boston Bruins this week at a game to mark 50 years since the milestone.

On Jan. 18,1958, O'Ree stepped on the ice as a left wing for the Bruins in Montreal to play after being called up ...

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