About this book

On January 18, 1958, Willie O'Ree made history as the first black player in the NHL when he suited up with the Boston Bruins against the Montreal Canadiens. O'Ree went on to play a total of 45 games with the Bruins, a remarkable achievement considering what he overcame to get there.

In addition to dealing with racism, bigotry and name-calling, Willie lived with a secret disability: he was blind in one eye -- a fact he had to keep to himself, or he'd never play in the NHL. Thanks to his relentless positivity and love of the game, Willie's time with the Bruins was only one of his many achievements in hockey.

The Scholastic Canada Biography series aims to introduce young readers to remarkable Canadians whose lives and contributions have shaped our country and led the way for others to follow in their footsteps. Meet Willie O'Ree is no exception. This wonderful book is a celebration of his life from childhood to playing career, to his later work as an ambassador for NHL diversity, and to his eventual induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2018.

Written by award-winning author Elizabeth MacLeod, this portrait of Willie O'Ree couples simple yet compelling writing with full-colour, comic-flavoured illustrations by Mike Deas that help bring this fascinating story to life!

Reviews

Elizabeth MacLeod makes sure to tell as much of his story as possible, including a timeline with photographs at the end of the story. . . . Though [Mike Deas’s] art is cheerful, it finds a way to demonstrate Willie O’Ree’s experiences with racial discrimination and hardship related to his injury without ever trivializing either. It was a pleasure to meet Willie O'Ree, a pioneer of black achievement in hockey and a hero of sports dreams. (Meet Willie O'Ree) — CanLit for Little Canadians

Extras

See more about the Scholastic Canada Biography series.

Scholastic Canada Biography: Meet Willie O'Ree Teacher's Guide