Everyone knows the name of Jackie Robinson and the legacy he left, not only in baseball, but within the fabric of American Society. Last year, the Iona College Libraries celebrated the 60th Anniversary of Robinson breaking the color barrier in baseball. In honor of Black History Month 2008, we present the legacy of Willie O'Ree

On January 18, 2958, O'Ree became the first black man to play professional hockey in the National Hockey League. O'Ree Overcame both racism and the loss of sight in one eye as he followed in Jackie Robinson's footsteps.

We invite you to visit our First Floor and Second Floor display cases to learn more about O'Ree and his legacy on the NHL. At the start of the 2007/2008 season, there were 12 black players in the NHL bringing the total to 52.

While you are viewing our displays, please enjoy our media presentation in our First Floor display case. This presentation was downloaded from the Willie O'Ree Tribute Page on the NHL's official web site