Bruins Pay Tribute to O'Ree

TD BankNorth Garden, BOSTON -- During their game against the New York Rangers this afternoon, the Boston Bruins paid tribute to Willie O'Ree, who became the first black player to play in the NHL 50 years ago Friday.

There is an article about O'Ree on the NHL website here.

In the United States, hockey is often thought of as a game for rich, white suburban kids. While this characterization is probably true for the majority of players, thinking of hockey and hockey players in this way also belittles those players who don't fit that stereotype. The black player is still seen by many as some sort of sideshow. But black players have reached and continue to reach the highest achievements in hockey, players like Hall of Fame goaltender Grant Fuhr and former league scoring champ Jarome Iginla.

O'Ree's accomplishment was not heralded at the time as a great step forward for civil rights - he was just a young kid from New Brunswick who's dream came true when he got the call up to put on the black and gold and skate for the Bruins in the Montreal Forum. Just like every other kid, black or white, from Canada, the US, Sweden, wherever (Johnny Oduya has player on the Swedish national team).

I can say with complete confidence that no black player has ever played in the Russian Bandy League, but I wonder who the first black player was in the Russian Superleague? Perhaps Fred Brathwaite, who joined Ak Bars Kazan in 2004?