For the love of the game: first black NHL player Willie O'Ree sees more diversity in hockey's future

Canadian-born Willie O'Ree spent 21 years as a professional hockey player, making his debut with the Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League, and then finishing up his career on the West Coast with the Los Angeles Blades and the San Diego Gulls of the Western Hockey League. O'Ree's presence as the only black player in hockey had more to do with his speed and ability to handle the puck than his color. Nonetheless, it was not until 1974, when the second black player, then Washington Capital Mike Marson, emerged onto the ice. Since retiring at 45 from ice hockey, O'Ree spends his days as the Director of Youth Development for NHL's diversity program, appearing at youth ice hockey clinics nationwide. Many of the NHL's 34 diversity programs target inner city youth and introduce them q to the world of ice hockey. With programs such as the Willie O'Ree All-Star Weekend, which selects the top 24 inner-city youth around the country to compete in an East-versus-West game, there is no doubt that black ice hockey players will be as prevalent as Canadians in the sport.

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Parks & Recreation: Coming from Canada, was it inevitable that you would be interested in ice hockey?

Willie O'Ree: Oh yes. Once I found out that I could skate and then maneuver a stick and a puck, I was just obsessed with playing the sport.

P&R: Why are blacks still a minority in hockey?

O'Ree: Myself, born in Canada, you have to be around ice to be an ice hockey player. There are more rinks being constructed, there are more opportunities and there are more programs available for African-Americans to get involved in the sport. There are 30 teams in the National Hockey League; when I played there were only six. When I travel around and go to the inner cities, I'm amazed that a lot of these boys and girls have a lot of natural talent. They need to get on the ice and develop from there.

P&R: What is the best sport an ice hockey player can play in the off-season to prepare himself or herself for the winter season?

O'Ree: I think the European players today ... are playing soccer. What you're doing is you're using that ball and you're using your feet to maneuver the ball. And if you watch hockey ... they use their skates often to knock down pucks and to direct pucks, and I just think it's a great sport to prepare yourself.

P&R: How often do you appear in ice hockey clinics?

O'Ree: It depends on my travels. If I go on the road 10 to 15 days, and I'm in the city I'll do a couple of clinics. Over the year, between 60 and 70.

P&R: Most people think of hockey as a boys' sport--how do the girls compare to them?

O'Ree: In the Willie O'Ree All-Star Weekend, which started back in 1995, we have a skills competition and we play a game. Two, three years ago, the most valuable player and the runner-up were both girls. These two girls were fantastic. The hockey sense that they had--skating and passing--just tickled my heart. There are more girls playing hockey today than ever before. A lot of it has to do with the USA Hockey Olympic Team. It's great to see a lot of these 7-, 8-, 9-, 10-year-old girls wanting to get in and play.

P&R: Where do you see women in ice hockey in the future?

O'Ree: There are so many organized teams right now. Women's ice hockey is gonna be right up there.