Willie O’Ree became the NHL’s first Black player on January 18th, 1958 when he suited up for the Boston Bruins in a game against the Montreal Canadiens. By 1959-60 he was a Kingston Frontenac in the EPHL. But during the 1960 offseason he was transferred from Kingston to the Hull-Ottawa Canadiens, though still a Bruins property. On November 13th, 1960 the Frontenacs visited Hull-Ottawa at the Hull Arena.
First period: goals by Maxwell (Kingston) and O’Ree (Hull-Ottawa);
Second period: goals by O’Ree (Hull-Ottawa) and Locas (Hull-Ottawa);
Third period: goal by Panagabko (Kingston).
Final score: Hull-Ottawa 3 – 2 Kingston
O’Ree’s performance must have impressed the suits because on November 19th he was back up with the Boston Bruins.
Past and future Bruins on the 1960-61 Frontenacs team were Dick Meissner, Carl Boone, Don Blackburn, Orval Tessier, Tommy Williams, coach Harry Sinden, Real Chevrefils, Lorne Ferguson, Gerry Ouellette, Barry Ashbee, Charlie Burns, Ted Green, Jeannot Gilbert, Floyd Hillman, Ed Westfall, Harry Lumley and John Henderson. The Frontenacs’ home rink was the Kingston Memorial Centre on York Street, built in 1950 and still standing.
Willie O’Ree entered the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2018 and recently celebrated his 90th birthday.
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