For years, the Boston Bruins have done nothing right.Trading away Andy Moog after the 1993 season was the beginning. The Bruins haven't recovered since then, winning just two postseason series in the last 15 years.
Then there was the trade of Ray Bourque to Colorado. What on Earth did the Bruins get out of that trade? What did that accomplish?
And firing Robbie Ftorek with eight games to go despite the Bruins' being playoff-bound and having a winning record?
Dumb.
Did GM Mike O'Connell really think that he would be that great as a coach?
There was also, of course, the Joe Thornton debacle—when the Bruins got spare parts for a perennial MVP candidate.
(Then again, the other side is that Thornton chokes in the playoffs, but still...)
In any event, though, it looks like the Bruins finally did something right for a change.
There was a blurb on the radio earlier today about "Willie O'Ree Night" when the Bruins host the Rangers on Saturday (Jan. 19th), to celebrate O'Ree's breaking the NHL color barrier 50 years ago.
O'Ree made his NHL debut on January 18th, 1958 with the last-place Bruins at the Montreal Forum, becoming the first black player in league history.
O'Ree was no Jackie Robinson, in the sense that the former Bruin wasn't a superstar player the way his baseball counterpart was. But being the NHL's first black player was a major milestone in the sport of hockey.
Just ask current stars like Jerome Iginla and Mike Grier, and former greats like Grant Fuhr.
O'Ree's emergence didn't immediately pave the way for others to join him—Mike Marson was next, drafted by Washington some 16 years later. However, O'Ree deserves the accolades, and is looked upon as a role model and pioneer by many.
The NHL is doing its part too, as the league intends to honor O'Ree during the All-Star Game at Philips Arena in Atlanta on January 27th.
Ironically, the Red Sox were the last Major League Baseball team to have a black player on their roster, while the Bruins were the first in the NHL.
Unfortunately, O'Ree's career was brief—45 games all told. O'Ree, who was 95 percent blind in one eye, finished with four goals and 10 assists in the NHL.
Still, the fact that the Bruins decided to honor O'Ree shows that the team is at least capable of exercising good judgment every now and again.
One right move by the Bruins after all those horrible decisions in the recent past—that's got to count for something, right?
5 comments Last one added about 1 year ago — Leave a Comment
Sean Crowe about 1 year ago
Without acknowledging the fact that the Bruins still exist, I will say that if there were still a hockey team in Boston and they decided to have a Willie O'Ree Night that it would be a good thing.
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Paul Gotham about 1 year ago
Dude,
The Bruins are actually winning games this year. They have a winning record, and the All-Star is fast- approaching.
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Sean Crowe about 1 year ago
My boycott has nothing to do with their record. They could win the next 25 Stanley Cup championships. The fact remains, they've spent the bulk of my life treating me like I was a moron...trying to pass their low-budget roster off as quality in a big market city while raking in the money. Paying their GM in profit sharing...etc, etc...
Until they sell the team, I will not acknowledge their existence.
Think about this, the only "big time scorer" they went out and got to compliment Neely and "put the team over the top" the ENTIRE time they had Cam, Oates, and Bourque was Kevin Stevens, and it was AFTER he was so hopped up on drugs that he was completely useless as a player.
They were a player away for YEARS and refused to make the move....claiming they were poor...that they couldn't pay anyone more money than Ray Bourque......all the while, their absentee owner was raking in the dough owning the building, the concessions, and a part of the regional sports network...
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
The trade of Ray Bourque to Colorado is a picture of class.
The Bruins thanked Bourque for his loyalty and dedication by giving him a Stanley Cup, which they knew he wouldn't be able to win with their organization.
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Paul Gotham about 1 year ago
Great stuff.
Willie O'Ree frequently gets overlooked in the annals of sports history.
I think Mike Marson came 26 years later.
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