Willie / The Game Changing Story Of The NHL’s First Black Player – Audiobook Onlinne

Willie: The Game-Changing Story of the NHL’s First Black Player is a memoir by Willie O’Ree, who became the first black player to participate in the National Hockey League (NHL) in 1958. The book is co-written by Michael McKinley and features a foreword by Jarome Iginla. The book chronicles O’Ree’s life, from growing up in Fredericton, New Brunswick, to playing in the NHL, and beyond. O’Ree faced racism and discrimination throughout his life, but never allowed it to hold him back. He was determined to play hockey, and his dedication and perseverance paid off in 1958 when he made his NHL debut with the Boston Bruins. O’Ree’s story is about more than just breaking down a racial barrier, though. It’s a story about a lifelong love of hockey and a passion for the game that drove him to succeed. Despite facing numerous challenges, including vision impairment and a series of injuries, O’Ree went on to play professional hockey for more than two decades. Willie sheds light on the importance of diversity and inclusion in sports, and how O’Ree’s legacy has inspired generations of players. The book also highlights the importance of breaking down barriers and challenging what is considered “normal” within the sport of hockey. Overall, Willie is an inspiring and important memoir that shows how one person can make a significant impact on a sport and on society.

Willie / The Game-Changing Story Of The NHL’s First Black Player, Audiobook Onlinne By: Willie O’Ree, Michael McKinley, Jarome Iginla 

An inspiring memoir shows that anyone can achieve their dreams if they are willing to fight for them.

In 1958, Willie O’Ree was like any other underage player. He’s very good. Good enough to be signed by the Boston Bruins. Just not good enough to play in the NHL.

Until January 18 of that year. O’Ree was finally called up, and when he stepped out onto the field against the Montreal Canadaiens, he not only fulfilled a childhood dream he shared with so many other Canadian kids, but he can do things that have never been done before.

He broke the color barrier of hockey. Like his hero, Jackie Robinson, did for baseball.

In that pioneering first NHL game, O’Ree proved that no one could stop him from becoming a hockey player. But he soon realizes that he can never be just a hockey player. He will always be a Black player, with all that entails. There were ugly name-calling and stick-waving incidents and nights where the Bruins family had to be escorted to their bus by police.

But O’Ree never backed down. By the time he retired in 1979, he had played hundreds of professional matches and scored hundreds of goals, his boyhood dreams more than those achieved.

In 2018, O’Ree was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in recognition of not only that legacy but also how he’s built it in the decades since. He has been the chief executive officer of the NHL for 20 years and has helped the NHL’s Diversity program bring more than 40,000 boys and girls from different backgrounds unique hockey experiences.Inspiring, outspoken and outspoken with the courage and decency it takes to change the world, Willie is a story for anyone willing to persevere for a dream.

This is a great story that transcends hockey. It is a story about humanity and in some respects inhumane. Beauty is Willie’s ability to stand tall through inhumanity. And I could go on and on about the narrator, Everett Fitzhugh, a pioneer in his own right, and a valued friend. Team Willie.

The book is great. There were happy times and sad times because of all he had to go through during that time. I got this book because I wanted to learn not only more about him but also the history of ice hockey and how it was for a black player. He suffered a lot and was blind in one eye. I don’t want to spoil the story but it’s definitely worth reading if you’re interested in his life story. It’s also a quick read.

 

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