Why aren't there more black hockey players?

Willie O’Ree is the Jackie Robinson of hockey. Breaking the color barrier, he played his first game for the Boston Bruins on January 18, 1958. In an interview celebrating the 50th anniversary of this event, Willie said:

...but everybody says, “Well, why aren’t there more black players?” You have to take into consideration the geographical – where you’re born. I mean I was born in Canada. I had the availability of Ice every day. I skated to school. There were ponds, lakes, rivers, creeks that you could skate on.

The more rinks that are going to be constructed - it’s going to make it possible for more kids to get that opportunity.

Hockey’s a very unique sport. I mean, you could take a basketball and you could even dribble in this room; you could take a soccer ball and kick it around; you could take a football and make some passes. But hockey, you need to get on the ice. You need to develop your skills that are on the ice. And if you don’t get on the ice, you won’t become a hockey player.

I predict that there’s going to be more – not only black players, but players of color coming into the league in the upcoming years.

Mr. O’Ree is currently the National Hockey League’s Director of Youth Development and the hockey ambassador to NHL Diversity, a major component of the league's “Hockey is for Everyone” initiative. The NHL diversity program has pledged its support for programs in Englewood.