Canada Post Willie O'Ree -- 'The Jackie Robinson' Of Ice Hockey.

CANADA POST on  30 October 2023 issued a FDC stamp honouring Canadian hockey player Willie O'Ree, the first Black athlete to play in the NHL.  The stamp featured a collage-themed creation. It showcased a portrait picture of O’Ree in his later years, wearing a hat, smiling and looking to the left. Alongside is an inset action picture of him playing hockey in playing years. “Willie O’Ree” text is prominently displayed in the bottom left corner. The envelope cover, captured by acclaimed Canadian photographer Philip Cheung, showcases a black and white closeup Willie O’Ree, showcasing his retirement jersey. He's holding a hockey stick and wearing a significant ring and his #22 retirement hockey jersey, which is adorned with a badge bearing the years 1957, 1958, 1960, and 1961. The issue stamp in the upper right corner is marked with a cancel mark. The cancellation postmark was inspired by the Willie O’Ree retired jersey commemorative patch, with his No. 22 inside the Boston Bruins logo. The cancellation originated from Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada -- his birthplace. Only 7,000 stamps were printed.

Willie O'Ree's lifelong love of hockey began at just three years of age. As he grew, his talent for the sport became increasingly evident. His remarkable athletic abilities extended beyond the ice, and as a gifted baseball player, in 1956, he was scouted by the Milwaukee Braves. Despite his potential in baseball, a pivotal moment occurred during tryouts in Georgia, where he experienced racial segregation for the first time. Ultimately, O'Ree chose to return to his hometown of Fredericton, dedicating himself entirely to hockey.

In 1956, O'Ree embarked on his professional hockey career with the Quebec Aces. This minor league team had an agreement with the NHL's Boston Bruins to provide players when needed. On 18 January 1958, O'Ree broke barriers when he made his NHL debut, becoming the first Black person to play in an NHL game, with the Boston Bruins winning 3-0 against the Canadiens at the Montreal Forum.

O'Ree's historic journey continued on 1 January 1961, when he scored his first NHL goal in a 3-2 victory over the Montreal Canadiens, becoming the first Black player to score a goal in the NHL.

Following his remarkable 21-year career, which included 45 games in two seasons with the Bruins, O'Ree retired from the San Diego Hawks of the Pacific Hockey League in 1979.

Willie O'Ree's contributions to hockey extended far beyond the ice. In 1998, the NHL recognised his dedication by appointing him as director of youth development and ambassador for NHL diversity. O'Ree's passion for promoting inclusion and diversity in hockey led to the establishment of 39 grassroots hockey programmes under the "Hockey Is for Everyone" initiative. His tireless efforts have inspired thousands of boys and girls from diverse backgrounds to embrace the sport.

Throughout his life, O'Ree received numerous awards, including the Order of New Brunswick in 2005, the Member of the Order of Canada in 2008, and induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2018 and Canada's Sports Hall of Fame in 2020-21.

In 2018, the NHL established the Willie O’Ree Community Hero Award to recognise “an individual who – through the game of hockey – has positively impacted his or her community, culture or society.”

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