Description
When Willie O’Ree stepped onto the ice on January 18, 1958, he wasn’t just making his National Hockey League® (NHL) debut—he was making history. Celebrate this pure silver tribute to Canadian-born hockey player Willie O’Ree, who became the first Black player to compete in the NHL. A story of courage and determination, O’Ree had to overcome discrimination and a competitive disadvantage to make his hockey dreams come true in the Original SixTM era. By breaking the league’s racial barrier, O’Ree’s legacy can’t be found in any scoring stats—it’s in the path he carved for future generations of Black players who left their own imprint on the game. Mintage is limited to 10,000. HST/GST exempt.
The Design:
The reverse design re-creates a photograph of Hockey Hall of Fame member Willie O’Ree from his playing days with the Boston Bruins (1958, 1960-61). O’Ree’s signature is reproduced above his jersey number (“22”), while in the background, the Boston Bruins logo forms a repeating field pattern. The obverse features the effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by Susanna Blunt.
