Who Was The First Black NHL Player?

Willie O’Ree is widely recognized as the first black player in the National Hockey League. He made his debut with the Boston Bruins in 1958 and went on to play for several other teams during his long career.

Willie O’Ree

Willie O’Ree made his NHL debut on January 18, 1958, with the Boston Bruins, becoming the first black player in league history. O’Ree played 45 games over parts of two seasons with the Bruins. He then went on to play for San Diego Gulls of the Western Hockey League for 12 seasons.

Born in Fredericton, New Brunswick

Willie O’Ree, who broke the NHL’s color barrier in 1958, was born on October 15, 1935, in Fredericton, New Brunswick. The fourth of 13 children, he learned his hockey skills on a makeshift rink his father built in their backyard. When he was just 12 years old, Willie lost his right eye after being hit by a puck during a game. Despite this setback, he continued to play and went on to compete at the highest levels of amateur hockey.

In 1953, Willie signed with the Quebec Aces of the Quebec Senior Hockey League (QSHL). The following year, he joined the Kitchener-Waterloo Beavers of the Ontario Hockey Association (OHA). In 1955-56, Willie led the Beavers to the Memorial Cup championship—hockey’s holy grail—scoring an impressive 12 goals and 22 points in just nine games.

During his time in Kitchener-Waterloo, Willie also played for Ontario’s junior provincial team. In 1957-58, he helped lead them to a gold medal at the World Junior Championships. That same year—at just 21 years old—he made his NHL debut with the Boston Bruins.

Signed with the Boston Bruins in 1958

Willie O’Ree made history when he became the first black player in the National Hockey League. He was born in Fredericton, New Brunswick, on October 15, 1935. When he was just three years old, Willie lost his right eye in a childhood accident.

Willie played junior hockey in Quebec before signing with the Boston Bruins in 1958. He made his NHL debut on January 18, 1958, against the Montreal Canadiens. Willie played just two games with the Bruins that season but made history as the first black player in the NHL.

He spent most of his career in the minor leagues but did play 43 games for the Bruins over parts of three seasons between 1961 and 1964. Willie scored four goals and had 10 assists during his time with the Bruins. He retired from hockey in 1979 after a 21-year professional career.

In 1998, Willie was inducted into the New Brunswick Sports Hall of Fame. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2018 in the “builder” category for his work promoting racial diversity in hockey.

Made his NHL debut on January 18, 1958

Willie O’Ree made his NHL debut on January 18, 1958, with the Boston Bruins, becoming the first black player in league history. O’Ree played 45 games over parts of two seasons with the Bruins before being traded to the Montreal Canadiens in 1960. He spent the majority of his career in the minor leagues, winning the 1962-63 scoring title with the Los Angeles Blades of the WHL. O’Ree was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in November 2018.

Herb Carnegie

Herb Carnegie was a Canadian ice hockey player who played for the New York Rangers in the National Hockey League (NHL). He was the first black player in the NHL. Carnegie was born in Toronto, Ontario, and grew up in the city’s West End.

Born in Toronto, Ontario

Herb Carnegie (born Herbert Edward Carnegie, November 28, 1919 – March 15, 2012) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player of African Canadian descent. He was one of the first black players in professional hockey and one of the most successful black players in any professional sport in North America prior to the Jackie Robinson era. In 1948, he was voted one of the “100 Greatest Hockey Players” of all time, the only player so honoured who never played in the National Hockey League (NHL).

Played for the New York Rangers’ farm team

Herb Carnegie was born in Toronto, Ontario, on April 7, 1919. He began his NHL career with the New York Rangers’ farm team in 1939. He was the first black player in the NHL. Carnegie played for the Rangers until 1946. He then played for the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Montreal Canadiens. Carnegie retired from hockey in 1948.

Was never called up to play for the Rangers

Herb Carnegie (January 7, 1919 – March 9, 2012) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player of the 1940s. He was never called up to play for the Rangers, despite being one of their best players in the AHL. He is also notable for his work with the Featherstone Community Centre in Toronto.

Mike Marson

On October 11, 1974, Mike Marson made history by becoming the first black player to suit up for an NHL game. He did so as a member of the Washington Capitals, taking the ice against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Though he only played in 42 NHL games over the course of his career, Marson’s impact was felt far beyond the rink.

Born in Toronto, Ontario

Mike Marson was born in Toronto, Ontario on July 9, 1958. He became the first black player in the National Hockey League when he was drafted by the Washington Capitals in 1974. He played parts of four seasons with the Capitals before being traded to the Los Angeles Kings in 1978. He also played briefly for the Birmingham Bulls of the World Hockey Association. After retiring from playing, Marson worked as a scout for the NHL’s Chicago Blackhawks.

Drafted by the Washington Capitals in 1974

Mike Marson (born July 14, 1955) is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player who played parts of five National Hockey League seasons with the Washington Capitals and Los Angeles Kings. He scored 18 goals and 27 assists in 195 NHL games.

Marson was born in Toronto, Ontario. He played junior hockey for the Toronto Marlboros of the Ontario Hockey Association from 1971 to 1974, winning the J. Ross Robertson Cup as OHA champions in 1974. He was selected by the Capitals in the second round of the 1974 NHL Amateur Draft, 15th overall. He made his NHL debut with the Capitals during the 1974–75 season, becoming the first black player in team history and one of only a handful of black players in NHL history at that time.

Played for the Capitals from 1974-1976

Mike Marson was the Washington Capitals second ever NHL draft pick. He played for the Capitals from 1974-1976, and is best known for being one of the first black players in the NHL. Born in Toronto, Marson began his junior career with the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey Association. In his two seasons with the Knights, Marson scored 80 goals and 169 points in just 123 games. He was drafted 21st overall by the Capitals in 1974, and scored 19 goals and 37 points in his rookie season.Marson’s time in Washington was short-lived, as he was traded to the Los Angeles Kings midway through his second season. In parts of three seasons with the Kings, Marson scored 18 goals and 45 points in 154 games. He would also have stints with the Cleveland Barons and Edmonton Oilers before his NHL career came to an end in 1981. Marson would go on to play several seasons in Europe before retiring from professional hockey in 1989.