Public Law 117-84 passed January 31, 2022

Willie O’Ree Congressional Gold Medal Act

Willie O’Ree was the first African American to play for the National Hockey League. He played for the Boston Bruins starting January 18, 1958. He was referred as the “Jackie Robinson of Hockey”.

Born October 15, 1935 in Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada.

Willie was going to play baseball but his encounters with segregation in the South during tryouts redirected him towards hockey.

While playing amateur hockey Willie was hit in the eye with a puck and lost his eyesight in one eye and never disclosed the extent of his injury to anyone.

Age 22 he was called to play for the Boston Bruins and was the first African American to break the color barrier at the top level of the sport. He played for 22 years and scored over 1000 points.

In 1996 he was hired as the Diversity Ambassador for the NHL. He started over 30 non profit youth organizations dubbed Hockey is for Everyone.

Hockey is for Everyone has impacted over 120,000 children. Along with promoting physical fitness other youth services have become available for economically underserved children such as SAT and academic tutoring, nutritional education, college counseling and much more.

2008 named Member of the Order of Canada.

November 2018 entered into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Duplicate medals can be sold in bronze and funds deposited in the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund.