The House passed a bill on Wednesday to award the Congressional Gold Medal to Willie O’Ree, the first black player in the National Hockey League.
The measure was passed unanimously by lawmakers with a vote of 426-0, coming after the Senate passed it in July with unanimous consent, according to a report.
It now heads to the White House for President Joe Biden’s signature.
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The Congressional Gold Medal is awarded “in recognition of his extraordinary contributions and commitment to hockey, inclusion, and recreational opportunity.”
O’Ree, a Canadian, became the first black player to play in the NHL when he took the ice for the Boston Bruins in a 1958 game against the Montreal Canadiens.
Another historic honor for Willie O’Ree!
Congratulations to Willie for being awarded the U.S. Congressional Gold Medal, recognizing his trailblazing impact across hockey and society.
Read more ➡️ https://t.co/1QqRahRbCj pic.twitter.com/9jOerLh3u8
— NHL (@NHL) January 19, 2022
“Blind in 1 eye and a victim of racism at times throughout his career, O’Ree persevered and played professional hockey for 22 years, tallying over 1,000 points,” the bill reads.
“I’m greatly thrilled and honored to have the Bruins organization think enough of me to honor me for my number being retired…this is just a memorable evening for not only myself but for my family…I am thrilled and overwhelmed.” — Willie O’Ree reacts after his banner raising pic.twitter.com/G5Q3e6c7EL
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) January 19, 2022
O’Ree’s number, 22, was retired by the Bruin’s organization Tuesday, and the 86-year-old trailblazer attended the ceremony remotely.
“Willie O’Ree was a young and fast left-winger. But he could not out-skate the racist backlash in response to his desegregating the National Hockey League,” said Rep. Ayanna Pressley, a Massachusetts Democrat. “As the sole black player in the NHL at the time, Willie endured relentless bigotry, racism, discrimination and even violence from fans and players, both on and off the ice.”
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“And despite it all, Willie embodied resilience, grace, dignity, and never gave up on the determination to live out his dream,” Pressley continued.
