Lawmakers propose bill to give hockey legend Willie O'Ree the Congressional Gold Medal. Often called the 'Jackie Robinson of ice hockey,' O'Ree was the first black player to join the NHL. - NBCBLK
Often called the "Jackie Robinson of ice hockey," O'Ree was the first black player to join the National Hockey League.Stephen MacGillivray / The Canadian Press via AP fileLegislation to award hockey legend WIllie O'Ree with the Congressional Gold Medal will be introduced in Congress in the coming weeks, Rep. Mike Quigley, D-Ill., said at a Black History Month celebration Wednesday.
O’Ree, 83, made his National Hockey League debut in 1958 as a player for the Boston Bruins. He is often referred to as the “Jackie Robinson of ice hockey” and was the first black player in the NHL.“Racism was evident for me, the taunts in the penalty box and threats were real,” hein a recent op-ed for The Hill. “But rather than allowing these obstacles to slow me down, I used them as motivation to prove that I belonged on the ice among the greatest hockey players in the world.
The Congressional Gold Medal is considered “the highest expression of national appreciation for distinguished achievements and contributions,” according to the Office of the Historian and the Clerk of the House’s Office of Art and Archives. In order to earn the award, a person must be co-sponsored by two-thirds of the members of the House of Representatives. Past honorees include George Washington, Elie Wiesel and Jackie Robinson.
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