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  3. January
  4. 18
  5. Willie O'Ree

Events on January 18 in history

Willie O'Ree
1958Jan, 18

Willie O'Ree, the first African Canadian National Hockey League player, makes his NHL debut with the Boston Bruins.

Willie Eldon O'Ree (born October 15, 1935) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player, best known for being the first Black player in the National Hockey League (NHL). O'Ree played as a winger for the Boston Bruins. O'Ree is referred to as the "Jackie Robinson of ice hockey" for breaking the black colour barrier in the National Hockey League, and has stated publicly that he had met Jackie Robinson when he was younger. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in November 2018.

Also in 2018, the NHL instituted the annual Willie O’Ree Community Hero Award in his honour, to "recognise the individual who has worked to make a positive impact on his community, culture or society to make people better through hockey."

References

  • Willie O'Ree
  • African Canadian
  • National Hockey League
  • Boston Bruins

Choose Another Date

Events on 1958

  • 13May

    Richard Nixon

    During a visit to Caracas, Venezuela, Vice President Richard Nixon's car is attacked by anti-American demonstrators.
  • 30May

    Arlington National Cemetery

    Memorial Day: The remains of two unidentified American servicemen, killed in action during World War II and the Korean War respectively, are buried at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery.
  • 16Jun

    Hungarian Revolution of 1956

    Imre Nagy, Pál Maléter and other leaders of the 1956 Hungarian Uprising are executed.
  • 18Aug

    Lolita

    Vladimir Nabokov's controversial novel Lolita is published in the United States.
  • 28Nov

    French colonial empire

    Chad, the Republic of the Congo, and Gabon become autonomous republics within the French Community.

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