Friends and fans push Willie O'Ree for Hockey Hall of Fame

A group of Fredericton residents is working hard to get Willie O'Reeinto the Hockey Hall of Fame 60 years after he broke the colour barrier in the National Hockey League.

O'Ree, now 82, became the firstblack hockey player on an NHLteam when he played his first game withthe Boston Bruins 61 years ago.

BrendaSansomhas known O'Reefor about 25 years in friendship developed over cups of coffee in a local gathering spot. She said she and many others want to see him inducted into the Hall of Fame.

"On the occasion of the 60thyear, they had a wonderful celebration in Boston," saidSansom,adding that stories and columns published at the time and after led to the push to getO'Reeinducted.

• Bruins honour Willie O'Ree on 60th anniversary of breaking NHL's colour barrier

So far, thegroup has gathered 50 letters of support, including one fromKarlSubban, father of P.K.Subban, the Nashville Predators defenceman.

"The bulk of our submission is coming along nicely," saidSansom.

Citizen submission

Sansomsaid the strategy to getO'Reeinto the Hockey Hall of Fame is to reach people at high levels of hockey but also people in the community who can speak about the impactO'Reehad on not only hockey, but the community as a whole.

She doesn't know whyO'Reeisn't in the Hall of Fame already butsaid the support for a citizens submission to make it happen has been overwhelming.

Those who want to be a part of the citizen submission can sign a letter that will be available at Fredericton City Hall on Monday.

"There's a sense of pride and a sense of ownership in Willie, so why is he not there? Don't know. We're going to fix it. That's what we said to Willie."

O'Ree's response to the efforts to get him into the Hall of Fame was, "Oh, well, that would be nice," Sansom said.

"He said, 'But it would be as a builder because you know I wasn't much of a player,'and, I said 'You know, Willie, we need to make that happen.'"

O'Reeonlyplayed two games with Boston before being sent to the minors, but he returned to the NHL in the 1960-61 season, scoring four goals with 10 assists in 43 games before being traded to Montreal. He spent a total of 21 years in pro hockey.

For the past two decades,O'Reehas served as the NHL's diversity ambassador, spreading the message that hockey is for everyone.

SansomsaidO'Reeis a builder leading the way for other black hockey players to play in the NHL.

The citizen submission will be sent on March 12, andSansomsaid letters of support can be accepted until March 9.