Hurray for Hockey’s Willie O’Ree

Willie O’Ree’s story is a heroic tale of courage, perseverance, and love of hockey. Find out why he’s a New Brunswick Sports Hall of Famer.

1. Willie O’Ree broke the hockey color barrier in 1958 when he began to play for the Boston Bruins. Find out more about this first black NHL player and the challenges he overcame to achieve success in his sports career. You’ll be inspired!

2. To show your admiration, design a poster or sports card about O’Ree. Use Crayola® Twistables™ Colored Pencils to sketch a vivid portrait on a piece of construction paper.

3. List and illustrate O’Ree’s many achievements. Outline your drawing in bright red maple leaves to symbolize his Canadian background.

4. Use a Crayola Glue Stick to attach your poster to larger paper as a frame. To make cards, glue your drawing to recycled cardboard from a cereal box. Trade them with friends.

Adult supervision is required for any arts & crafts project.

Horses on a Trail Ride

Queen of Hearts Card

Tissue-Box Train

Crafts

crayola supplies

• Twistables® Colored Pencils
• Glue Sticks
• Construction Paper

household supplies

• recycled cardboard

"We used this activity to introduce kids to famous players. Great idea!"
Ramon T., hockey camp counselor.

"The boys I babysit for love sports. We’re making sets of cards like this for every sport."
Mark W., babysitter for boys 7, 8, and 10.

When Willie O'Ree stepped onto the ice in January of 1958, he changed the face of hockey forever. Willie’s challenges were many. When he was young, a flying puck blinded him in his right eye. Doctors told him not to play hockey again, but he went on for 21 years to play 1,288 professional games in the NHL and the WHL.