• Willie O'Ree's full name is William Eldon O'Ree
  
   

• Born October 15th 1935 in Frederiction, New Bruinswick, Canada
  
   

• He was the youngest of 13 children of parents Rosebud and Harry. O’Ree’s grandparents came to Canada from the United States through the Underground Railroad to escape slavery
  
   

• Willie was the first black NHL player.
  
   

• O’Ree made hockey history on January 18, 1958 by becoming the first Black hockey player to play a game in the National Hockey League.

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