WILLIE O`REE COMMUNITY HERO AWARD

Willie O’Ree Community Hero Award

Description: First awarded in 2017-18, the Willie O’Ree Community Hero Award is presented annually “to an individual who – through the game of hockey – has positively impacted his or her community, culture or society.”

Voting: Fans submit candidates for the Willie O’Ree Community Hero Award, with Willie O’Ree – in consultation with the NHL – narrowing the field to three finalists. The public then votes for the ultimate winner.

History: The Willie O’Ree Community Hero Award honors former NHL forward Willie O’Ree, who on Jan. 18, 1958, became the first black player to compete in the League. O’Ree, who lost sight in his right eye at a young age, went on to play professional hockey for 21 years. His perseverance is unrivaled, and his impact on the game and the lives of young players still is felt today. For more than two decades, O’Ree has served as the NHL’s Diversity Ambassador, traveling across North America to schools and hockey programs to share his story and experiences as well as to promote messages of inclusion, dedication and confidence. O’Ree has used hockey as a platform to build character and teach life skills, and has used his influence to foster positive values through the sport.

2019-20 Winner: Dampy Brar received the 2019-20 Willie O’Ree Community Hero Award. Brar, alongside Lali Toor, co-founded Apna Hockey, an initiative that provides a network and support for South Asian hockey players. A former professional hockey player himself, playing in both the International Hockey League and the West Coast Hockey League, Brar works tirelessly to mentor and teach youth hockey, including coaching his own children’s teams. Brar was the first child on both sides of his family to be born outside of India and continues to play a major role in bringing hockey to his family’s native country. He worked with Hayley Wickenheiser and the Wickfest team in 2018 to bring the first-ever women’s hockey team to Canada from Leh Ladakh, India, where he travelled with the team to provide mentorship and support as an advocate for women’s hockey. Brar revisited Leh Ladakh in 2019 to watch the women’s team and provide them the support that female hockey players in India often do not receive. During that time, he also made a trip to a college in Punjab, India, to mentor students of a roller hockey program.

Awarded since 2017-18 to individual who has positively impacted his or her community, culture or society through hockey
   2023-24: Mark DeMontis (CAN)
   2022-23: Jason McCrimmon (U.S.) / Dean Smith (CAN)
   2021-22: Noel Acton
   2020-21: Kevin Hodgson
   2019-20: Dampy Brar
   2018-19: Rico Phillips
   2017-18: Darcy Haugan